**Nigeria's iDICE Startup Bridge Launched with Grants and Equity Investment** In a bid to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across the country, the Nigerian federal government has launched the iDICE Startup Bridge, a two-track initiative designed to support founders at the early stages of their startup journey. The program, which is part of the broader Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative, aims to provide Nigerian entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to turn their ideas into validated business models. Through the iDICE Startup Bridge, founders can access grants of up to ₦10 million (approximately $7,215) and equity investment of $100,000 for post-Minimum Viable Product (MVP) startups. The program, which is implemented by the Bank of Industry and financed by the African Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and the Islamic Development Bank, is now open to applications for its first cohort. The iDICE Startup Bridge is significant because it signals a deliberate attempt by the federal government to broaden Nigeria's innovation pipeline beyond Lagos and Abuja, which have historically been the hubs of startup activity in the country. By targeting all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the program aims to reach founders outside of these traditional tech hubs and provide them with the necessary support to grow their businesses. According to Cindy Ezerioha, Head of Founders Lab, iDICE Startup Bridge, the program is designed to connect potential to proof and proof to capital. It will support 125 aspiring entrepreneurs in each cohort, with a clear target of ensuring progress from concept to validated business models. The program is built for people with innovative ideas, early prototypes, or unanswered questions about how to take their first real step. The iDICE Startup Bridge is part of the iDICE initiative, a federal government program launched in 2023 with $617.7 million in funding. The initiative aims to promote investment in Nigeria's digital and creative sectors and has already made its first startup investment through Ventures Platform, one of Africa's most active seed-stage venture capital firms. The iDICE Startup Bridge is the government's latest effort to deepen early-stage startup support through structured training, mentorship, and access to capital.