Wema Bank Launches Hackaholics Accelerator 2026 Cohort, Admits 10 Nigerian Startups

Wema Bank Launches Hackaholics Accelerator 2026 Cohort, Admits 10 Nigerian Startups

Wema Bank has launched the 2026 cohort of its Hackaholics Accelerator Programme, admitting ten promising Nigerian startups into the initiative designed to help founders strengthen their business models, scale sustainably, and attract investment.

The acceleratoWema Bank launches the 2026 Hackaholics Accelerator cohort, selecting 10 Nigerian startups for mentorship, training, and support to scale their businesses.r programme, a growth-focused extension of the bank’s Hackaholics innovation platform, aims to provide emerging startups with mentorship, structured training, and access to industry networks needed to build viable and scalable businesses.

The 2026 cohort comprises ten startups selected from the top-performing finalists of Hackaholics 6.0. They include Farmslate, Ploy, Stocmed, Feest (Chao), Varsityscape, MamaAlert, Sane, Cyclex, Kieva, and Loocomo.

Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said the accelerator reflects the bank’s continued commitment to supporting Nigerian innovators beyond the ideation stage.

According to him, Hackaholics has evolved over the past six years into a major platform showcasing the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial talent across the country.

“Over the past six years, Hackaholics has grown into more than a competition; it has become a platform that reveals the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial potential that exists across Nigeria,” Oseni said. “With this second edition of Hackaholics Accelerator, we are taking the next step by supporting founders beyond the ideation stage and into the process of building sustainable businesses.”

He added that the selected startups represent some of the most promising solutions emerging from the Hackaholics ecosystem and that the bank is committed to helping them refine their models and expand their impact.

Also speaking, Chief Transformation Officer at Wema Bank, Babatunde Mumuni, noted that the selected startups already have products in the market and early traction, making them well-positioned for growth.

“The startups selected for this cohort already have strong foundations, with products already in market, early traction, and clear potential for growth,” Mumuni said. “Through the accelerator, we will work closely with founders to refine their models, deepen market traction, and prepare them for sustainable scale.”

During the programme, the founders will participate in training sessions facilitated by industry experts across key areas essential for startup growth. Facilitators include Babatunde Mumuni; Head of Strategy and Investor Relations at Wema Bank, Femi Akinfolarin; Head of Data Transformation, Olamide Jolaoso; and Team Lead, Corporate Social Investment, Oluwatoyin Adetunji.

Other facilitators include Managing Director of Impact Hub Lagos, Idowu Akinde; Managing Director of B4B Partners, Napa Onwusa; startup advisor Onaopemipo Dara; mentor at Google for Startups, Rosemond Phil-Othihiwa; Head of Growth at Africhange, Tega Ogigirigi; and startup advisor and mentor Ademola Adewuyi.

The accelerator is further supported by IDEAx Labs, the bank’s innovation and venture platform, as well as its corporate venture programme aimed at enabling startup growth through partnerships, infrastructure, and access to capital.

Since its launch in 2019, the Hackaholics initiative has become one of Nigeria’s most influential youth innovation platforms, attracting more than 15,000 applicants and supporting hundreds of digital solutions across multiple sectors.

Through the programme, Wema Bank has disbursed over $400,000 in funding to young innovators and startup founders across Nigeria, with startups such as Feegor, Myitura, and Bunce among those that have participated in previous editions.

The second edition of the accelerator builds on that progress by helping startups transition from innovation to sustainable growth.