Demo Day: ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator Showcases 12 African Technology Startups

By Salami Adeyinka

The ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator wrapped up its Demo Day event in Lagos, bringing together startup founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders to mark the completion of its 2023–2024 cohort.

The event marked the end of a 13-week accelerator programme that began in November 2023 and supported 12 early-stage technology startups operating across Nigeria, Ghana, and East Africa. The cohort spans multiple sectors, including fintech, healthtech, B2B SaaS, logistics, e-commerce, cleantech, and data-driven platforms, reflecting the breadth of digital innovation emerging across the region.

Throughout the programme, participating founders engaged with more than 90 mentors and speakers drawn from across Africa’s technology, investment, and corporate sectors. The accelerator focused on strengthening product development, operational execution, and market readiness, with the goal of preparing startups for sustainable growth and investor engagement.

Demo Day featured live pitches from all 12 startups, providing founders with the opportunity to present their products, traction, and growth plans to a curated audience of investors and ecosystem stakeholders. The event also included a keynote address delivered by Joshua Aaron, who spoke on the practical realities of translating early-stage digital products into deployable, production-ready systems.

In his keynote, Joshua drew on his experience building and operating digital platforms in live environments, highlighting common execution challenges faced by early-stage founders. His session addressed system design considerations, operational decision-making, and the trade-offs involved in moving from prototype to scalable digital infrastructure, themes that aligned closely with the objectives of the accelerator programme.

Programme leaders noted that the cohort demonstrated strong progress over the 13-week period, with several startups reporting product launches, pilot deployments, and early commercial traction. The event concluded with networking sessions, allowing founders to connect with investors, mentors, and partners to explore opportunities beyond the programme.

With the conclusion of this cohort, the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator continues its efforts to support early-stage technology companies and contribute to the growth of Africa’s digital innovation ecosystem.