For Sesan who won the gand price of N15 million, the prize was not the end of a journey but an acceleration of one already well underway.

“It means that we have capital to scale our specialty pharmacy operations,” he said, in the measured language of someone who has learned to speak in solutions rather than celebrations. “We will be able to create additional jobs as the business is growing. It also means that more patients who need specialty medications will be able to live healthy, live longer, avoid complications and early death.” he paused. “So it’s a lot of impact.”

The grand final drew together thirteen founders, ten selected from Friday’s Sesan on and three from Thursday’s, among them Charles Dairo of Kindlybook, whose booking automation platform for beauty and wellness businesses had returned to the stage with the quiet confidence of a company that already knows it belongs.

The field also included Ravasend’s Emmanuel Isika, who had appeared on Day One and been called back as one of the first names elevated by the judges’ scoring system into the final ten; URI Social’s Precious zino, pitching her WhatsApp-native AI social media employee Jane for the third time across three days; and Dulces Jamz, whose founder Oguguah Denzel arrived at the grand final the way he had arrived at every previous day with jars of natural fruit jam for the judges, which they accepted with the gratitude of people who have been sitting in a hall for three days and know quality when they taste it.

MTN Nigeria, the event’s primary sponsor, had placed a substantial institutional bet on the proposition that Nigeria’s youth, its Gen Z founders and Millennial creatives and self-taught engineers, were not a problem to be managed but a resource to be invested in.

Omotayo Ojutalayo, general manager for Enterprise Business at MTN Nigeria, spoke at the close of the grand final, “It’s clear, as you can see, that there’s a lot of talent in Nigeria,” she said. “The talents here that have been displayed are trying to solve our problems. And it’s only if you know the problem and it’s homegrown that you can develop homegrown solutions.”

She went further, tracing the event’s origins to something more rigorous than corporate enthusiasm.

“MTN typically does surveys from time to time to feel the pulse of subscribers,” she explained. “We listen to our youthful subscribers. Some of the things that are here now are things that they have said they want to see. We collated all their ideas, what they wanted to do, and we worked across the organisation and put this together.”

The advert, she added with a smile, says it plainly enough: “If you have to miss your wedding, don’t, but don’t miss The Gathering.”

The grand final concluded with the announcement of the sectoral prizes alongside the overall winner, as a panel of industry-specialist judges delivered verdicts in categories spanning healthtech, fintech, agri-processing and social commerce.

The total prize pool, brought to the competition by the organisers, represented the single largest concentration of direct startup funding assembled under one roof in The Gathering On 100’s history.

The host, closing the proceedings with the rhetorical flair that had carried three days of live broadcasting, reached for Shakespeare: “In every play there is an exit and there is an entrance.”

What the founders leaving the National Stadium with prizes in their hands are entering, he suggested, is something considerably larger than a competition. It is, if the past 100 hours are any guide, the main event.

The competition will provide entrepreneurs with a unique platform to showcase their ingenious innovations and business concepts while vying for a monumental grand prize worth over USD 50,000.

Scheduled to take centre stage in the vibrant city of Lusaka, the X-Pitchathon beckons local entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses that have advanced beyond the ideation phase to step into the spotlight.

The winning business will receive a grand prize worth over USD50,000, including a cash prize of over USD2,000, over USD40,000 worth of marketing, and over USD4,000 worth of business tools, while the Purpose Category – winner gets over USD1,000 in funding.

The parent company, X3M Ideas Nigeria, has changed the Nigerian advertising landscape and grown into the country’s top creative powerhouse as a result. 

The firm received 18 awards at the 2023 Pitcher Awards, and made history recently by becoming the first Nigerian firm to receive the prestigious Cannes Lions Awards. The firm has since begun operations in Zambia, Congo Brazzaville, and Kenya, with further plans to expand across Africa and the Middle East.

The X-Pitchathon competition represents X3M Ideas’ dedication to illuminate the brilliance of Zambian innovators and equip them with the necessary resources to scale their viable businesses. The competition not only promises substantial funding to accelerate growth but also an invaluable opportunity to connect innovators with industry leaders, potential investors, and fellow trailblazers.

With MSMEs accounting for more than 90% of all businesses in Zambia and contributing to over 80% of the nation’s employment, as well as a growing tech startup ecosystem, organisers say the event will further inspire innovative activities within the nation.

Steve Babaeko, the Founder and CEO of X3M Ideas, emphasises that the competition is more than just about prizes, but also about encouraging the ingenuity among young innovators.

“X-Pitchathon embodies our resolute dedication to cultivating a thriving ecosystem for startups in Zambia. With this competition, we’re not only providing a stage for these brilliant minds to shine but also offering the essential resources they need to turn their visions into reality. We’re delighted that this event will redefine entrepreneurial resilience in the country,” he says.

Recognising the significance of innovation and entrepreneurship in Zambia’s economy, the X-Pitchathon comes as part of X3M Ideas Zambia’s five-year anniversary celebration on August 29th. The initiative, organisers say, is a concrete step towards supporting startups that have been in operation for under five years, channeling their potential into tangible success stories.

“At this event, we will witness firsthand the bubbling entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem dominated by Zambia’s most brilliant minds. We are inspired by this relentless zeal to develop business ideas and embrace innovation to solve problems,” enthuses Adenike Odutola, Managing Director of X3M Ideas Zambia. The competition, she adds, will offer innovators and entrepreneurs a coveted chance to showcase their vision to a distinguished panel of judges and a global audience.

Who is qualified?

To participate, innovators and entrepreneurs are required to meet specific eligibility criteria, including a minimum of 18 years of age, possession of a functional prototype or minimum viable product (MVP), and submission of essential documentation such as a National ID and PACRA registration.

The competition is expected to draw participants from various businesses, from technology to conventional sectors, all united by their determination to revolutionise traditional business models.

Entries for the X-Pitchathon began on August 29, 2023, and will close on September 29, culminating in the final pitch event scheduled for November 1, 2023. A distinguished panel of judges, comprising investors and business leaders, will evaluate the presentations and decide the recipients of the grand prize and the “Purpose Driven Category” funding.

How to apply:

Prospective participants can find further information here.