C&S Member Wins N10m Bet9ja Foundation Business Prize

Seraph Bukola Aleriwa, has emerged as the grand prize winner of the Bet9ja Foundation ScaleUp Business Pitch Night 2.0, securing a ₦10 million equity-free grant to expand her education technology platform, Schooled Afrika.

Sis Bukola, who serves as the Head of the Education Unit of the C&S Youth Fellowship Lagos and a member of C&S Holy Temple, Fadeyi, Lagos, received the top prize at the grand finale of the 10-week accelerator programme held in Lagos, after outperforming other high-potential startups from across Nigeria.

The Bet9ja Foundation also awarded a total of ₦40 million in equity-free grants to 10 finalists representing sectors including Education Technology (EdTech), HealthTech, FinTech, Sports Technology, AgriFinTech, Artificial Intelligence, LegalTech, and Cross-Border Trade.

The event marked the conclusion of the ScaleUp Business Accelerator 2.0, which attracted over 500 applications nationwide. Ten entrepreneurs were selected for an intensive programme featuring business strategy masterclasses, mentorship, and personalised advisory support to help scale their businesses.

In a surprise announcement during the Pitch Night, the Executive Director of the Bet9ja Foundation, Ada Cuomo, doubled the grand prize from the initially proposed ₦5 million to ₦10 million, reaffirming the foundation's commitment to empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the event, Cuomo said the initiative goes beyond financial support. "ScaleUp is about more than providing grants. It is about creating the conditions for Nigerian entrepreneurs to build stronger and more sustainable businesses. We want these founders to leave the programme with the confidence, knowledge, and networks to take their businesses further."

The accelerator programme, supported by strategic partners including Paystack, builds on the success of its inaugural edition and continues to strengthen Nigeria's growing startup ecosystem.

#seraphstories