Bolt, Nigeria’s foremost ride-hailing platform, culminated its groundbreaking Bolt Den initiative under the Bolt Accelerator Program with an awards ceremony honoring the top ten innovative ideas from its driver community.
The initiative, designed to empower drivers beyond ride-hailing services and cultivate entrepreneurial roles, as well as economic growth prospects across Nigeria, provided a €25,000 seed fund to the selected drivers.
“Nigeria holds immense significance for Bolt, and we are unwavering in our dedication to supporting the growth and success of our driver partners,” remarked Caroline Wanjihia, Bolt’s Regional Director for Africa and International Markets. “The Bolt Accelerator Program stands as a testament to our commitment to empowering our drivers and creating opportunities for them to flourish.”
The program garnered an overwhelming response with 1,600 applications, underscoring the enthusiasm for sustainable transport solutions aligned with Bolt’s Africa City Vision. From this pool, 100 drivers advanced to the ideation phase, with the top 20 embarking on an intensive business development boot camp to prepare for pitch day.
During the pitch session, the top 20 drivers presented inventive business solutions to a panel of judges, with the ten most compelling ideas selected. The concepts showcased drivers’ ingenuity, encompassing the conversion of petrol vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG), the development of mobile applications for on-the-go mechanics, and the design of solar-powered equipment, among other innovative ventures.
The grand awards ceremony, held on November 21st at Lagos’s Oriental Hotel, unveiled the top ten drivers, each receiving a €2,000 seed fund and access to a six-week business mentorship program. Additionally, the top 20 drivers were recognized with participation certificates, while three drivers received laptops for categories such as best pitch, most scalable idea, and most innovative idea.
Distinguished personalities, including government representatives and industry leaders, graced the ceremony, endorsing the initiative’s positive impact on Nigeria’s transportation sector.
“The Bolt Accelerator Program is a valuable endeavor that is empowering Nigerian drivers to become entrepreneurs,” asserted Peter Ogedengbe, Co-founder of The Nest, a leading innovation hub in Nigeria. “We are honored to partner with Bolt on this program and foster the growth of the Nigerian startup ecosystem.”
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