Lion’s Den returns to celebrate the entrepreneurial talent of the Afro-Irish community and African diaspora.
Wood Quay Venue in Dublin will host the competition organised by the African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI).
The competition sponsors are Dublin City Council, Dogpatch Labs, META and HoaQ.
Six businesses are vying for the 2022 prize. The companies offer services in healthcare, fintech, commercial model management, fashion and food.
The public can vote until 16th May to select three finalists from the six company shortlist. The three finalists will pitch on the 25th May in front of Ireland’s tech and investment communities.
The Lion’s Den is not only a competition but a unique networking opportunity. Representatives from Enterprise Ireland and the Irish VC community will be in attendance. The pitch finale will be one of the largest events celebrating Africa Day in Ireland. Africa Day is a global event which has been running since 1963.
Against the historic background of the viking city wall dating from 1100 AD – the future game changers in Afro-Irish community get a chance to storytell about how they have built thriving businesses in the COVID era.
Lion’s Den is a platform that can contribute to building the first Irish unicorn with an Afro-Irish founder.
The shortlisted companies gain access to sponsor led workshops on brand building and expansion.
Previous winners include Wellahealth and the Jungle Food Company. Wellahealth have received seed investment from AXA Mansard (one of the largest insurers globally). Jungle Food Company are now listed with national retailer SuperValu.
Ayo Olabimtan, investment manager and president of the APNI spoke about the contest:
“It is the only business pitch competition in Ireland focused on entrepreneurs of African descent. It provides the companies access to an invaluable support network and access to capital. It is a unique springboard for growing businesses to connect with investors from the growing start up scene in Ireland.”
The public can vote for their top business until the 16th May. They can also register for their free ticket to attend the grand finale on the 25th May at the link below
Lion’s Den is an APNI event. APNI is a non-profit organisation with over 1,700 members connecting African and Afro-Irish professionals and business owners through webinars, workshops, competitions and mentorship schemes.
Full information is on the website
Shortlist
| Business | Founders | Mission | Website |
| Eko Model Management | Tessy Ehiguese and Dave Olu | Providing diversity in the commercial model space. | https://www.ekomodelmanagement.com/ |
| La Ruche Health | Rory Assandey | Increasing access to essential healthcare in low-income communities. | https://laruche.health/ |
| K Pesa | Leyla F Karaha | Funding for women lead start-ups. | https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpesa/ |
| Surejobz App | Alex Oshunloye | Helping Africans find work across boundaries. | https://www.surejobzapp.com |
| Mama Shee | Edizemi Onilenla | Bringing West African cuisine to Ireland’s local stores. | www.mamashee.com |
| Umoja Linn | China Soribe & Meneliswa McDonald | Creating a marketplace for African fashion designers. | www.umojalinn.com |