GRID 01 Launches in Lagos to Help African Startups Enter New Markets
GRID 01, a cross-border startup initiative developed by AXON Accelerator and the Talal and Madiha Zein AUB Innovation Park, launched in Lagos on September 1, 2026, with a focus on helping startups expand into new markets.
GRID 01
GRID 01, a cross-border startup initiative developed by AXON Accelerator and the Talal and Madiha Zein AUB Innovation Park, launched in Lagos on September 1, 2026, with a focus on helping startups expand into new markets.
The programme brings together market-entry support, commercial connections, mentorship and investor access, giving participating founders an opportunity to engage directly with businesses and investors in Nigeria.
The Lagos launch brought together entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and other startup ecosystem stakeholders as the initiative began its first market activation.
Nigeria Becomes GRID 01's First Market
Nigeria has been selected as the first market for GRID 01, with AXON Accelerator providing local support to entrepreneurs entering the country.
The accelerator brings its experience and business network in Nigeria, while AUB iPark contributes its venture-building experience, startup network and international connections.
The partnership is focused on one of the challenges faced by startups expanding beyond their home markets: gaining sufficient local knowledge, commercial contacts and access to potential customers.
By placing founders directly within the Nigerian business environment, GRID 01 gives participating ventures an opportunity to engage with local companies and understand market conditions through direct interaction.
Startups Receive Market and Investor Support
Participating entrepreneurs will receive support covering market entry, commercialisation, mentorship and investor connections.
The programme will also facilitate introductions to potential corporate partners, allowing founders to explore business relationships and commercial opportunities in the Nigerian market.
The first group includes entrepreneurs supported through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Entrepreneurship Fund at AUB, with ventures from Africa and Lebanon participating in the Lagos activation.
The founders are engaging with Nigerian investors, operators, mentors, corporate leaders and ecosystem partners through market-entry sessions, advisory clinics and business introductions.
Further engagement is expected at GITEX Nigeria 2026, where the participating entrepreneurs will have additional opportunities to connect with the country's technology and business ecosystem.
AXON Brings Nigerian Market Experience
Rabie Jarmakani, founder and chief executive officer of AXON Accelerator Limited, said Nigeria was chosen because of its importance to Africa's business and startup landscape.
Jarmakani said AXON plans to use more than 30 years of operating experience in Nigeria to help entrepreneurs establish business-to-business relationships in the market.
The organisation also plans to develop an investment fund that would support Nigerian and other African startups alongside its accelerator activities.
This would extend AXON's role beyond market-entry support and create a potential source of capital for startups participating in its ecosystem.
AUB iPark Connects Startups to International Markets
Maha Zouwayhed, director of the Zein AUB Innovation Park and Digital Accessibility at the American University of Beirut, said GRID 01 is designed to connect entrepreneurs with markets, capital and strategic industry relationships.
Nigeria was selected as the opening market because of the size and importance of its startup ecosystem, with Lagos serving as a major technology and business centre.
AUB iPark is also bringing its connections in the United States and Europe into the initiative, creating potential links between startups targeting African markets and international innovation ecosystems.
Supporting Young African Entrepreneurs
Raya Kalash, associate director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AUB, said the programme's involvement gives participating scholars access to resources, networks and markets that can support the development of their ventures.
The initiative also aligns with the Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young Africans, particularly young women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
AXON is the exclusive implementation partner for GRID 01 across Africa, with Nigeria serving as the first market under the broader cross-border programme.
Building Cross-Border Startup Connections
The Lagos launch gives GRID 01 a starting point for connecting startups with markets and commercial networks outside their home countries.
The initiative combines AXON's local operating experience in Nigeria with AUB iPark's international startup network and connections. Its expansion into additional markets will depend on the commercial relationships, investor connections and market opportunities generated through the programme's first activation in Nigeria.
