ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator, a foremost Lagos-based program that provides funding, mentorship, and network to startups, has appointed Oyin Solebo as its pioneer managing director.
Solebo is a co-founder and former COO of Movemeback, a Google-funded elite talent startup connecting professionals globally to African opportunities. She started her investment career at Goldman Sachs and brings on board over 15 years of experience in strategic leadership, investment, and human capital development.
According to Jumoke Ogundare, Group CEO ARM Holding Company: “(Her appointment) is in keeping with our aim of rapidly and exponentially boosting the growth of African entrepreneurs. We are confident that her presence on the team will foster the rapid innovation we support in the African startup ecosystem through this program. Being a co-founder herself, she contributes a wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure that the startups benefit from this program’s expertise to scale their businesses creatively and effectively.”
In April 2022, Techstars, a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs, announced its partnership with ARM Labs, a Lagos-based innovation program focused on helping fintech startups. The partnership was to launch the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator Program. The 3-month batch program will focus on investing $120,000 each in 12 early-stage fintech and proptech startups based in Africa. It will also provide training and access to Techstars’ vast network of world-class entrepreneurs, 7,000+ mentors, 20,000+ investors, and corporate partners.
Some of the startups that have gone through the Techstars accelerator program include Treepz, HealthTracka and Smallsmall. The establishment of the Lagos-based Techstars accelerator led by Solebo, an experienced Nigerian entrepreneur and executive will improve access for participating startups to valuable local business and stakeholder partnerships crucial to their growth and success.
Solebo has an Executive MBA with distinction from London Business School, and an Economics degree from the London School of Economics. She is
With her new appointment, Solebo will steer the program to identifying the most promising startups and founders while ensuring equal gender participation, and curating the most resourceful network of partners to help participating startups become thriving businesses and global brands.
“Whilst talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not. Nowhere is this more obvious than on the African continent,! said Oyin Solebo. “The ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator furthers Techstars’ mission to support entrepreneurs everywhere and give startups the capital and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their location or background – and I’m honoured to be leading it.”
