Igor N. C. SEMANOU
Co Founder & Programme Manager, Startup Crash Lab
Igor N. C. SEMANOU is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, author, and innovation ecosystem builder from Benin. He founded La Maison Des Startups and co-founded Startup Crash Lab™, a platform helping entrepreneurs validate their business assumptions and build stronger, investment-ready ventures.
Proposed session: “From Pitching to Proof: Rethinking How African Innovation Hubs Build, Validate and Fund Startups.”
This session explores how African innovation hubs can move beyond pitch competitions and activity-based incubation towards evidence-driven support. It will demonstrate how Startup Crash Lab™ can help entrepreneurs test business assumptions, measure progress, and build credible evidence while enabling hubs to strengthen their impact and create better pathways to financing.
Hub Solutions
Meet the speakers
32 people on the programme
The line-up 32
Modupe Odele
Managing partner Vazi Legal
View profile
Marc orwuinyo watum
Vertex ecosystem chairman vertex ecosystem
View profile
Rhoda Kakoma
Client Liaison & Business Partnerships Specialist Zambia National Commercial Bank PLC (ZANACO)
View profile
Laura Kabwe
Head of the Femmes 360 Program (Female and Youth program) Centre d'Innovation de Lubumbashi (CINOLU)
View profile
Enoabasi Emah
Founder/CEO Sheedx Africa
View profile
Ijidolapo Ijiwoye
Founder and CEO Tradeflow Africa Limited
View profile
Khalila Sandrah Mbowe
Managing Director and CEO Unleashed Africa Enterprises
View profile
Aisha Bubah
Executive Director The Sunshine Series-Mindwellnest
View profile
Charlette N'Guessan
AI Ecosystem & Goverment Partnership | Sovereign AI & Data Infrastructure for the Global South Amini
View profile
Esther Mwangi
Manage Innovation and Technology Transfer Zetech University
View profile
Zumah Yahaya
Director of Programs Ilorin Innovation Hub
View profile
Rachad Alao
Vice President of Engineering Cohere
View profile
Ola Jolasun
Ceo ITTIQ
View profile
Maimouna Diallo
Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer Skaletek
View profile
Ife Adebayo
National Coordinator - iDICE Programme Bank of Industry
View profile
Andrew Lamb
Chair Internet of Production Alliance
View profile
OHOLIAB KOUADIO
CEO HOLI HUB GROUP
View profile
Grégoire de Padirac
CEO Digital Africa
View profile
Moussa Hubert Ouologuem
Executive Director Expertlabs Mali
View profile
Junaid Aziz
Founder Cogmerce AI
View profile
Abdulmumin Muslim Idris
Senior Technology Officer AfriLabs
View profile
Unyime Tommy
Managing Partner Assurdly Limited
View profile
KAZEEM OLADEPO
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, IHS NIGERIA IHS NIGERIA
View profile
Oscar Michael
Founder Africacomicade
View profile
Moyinoluwa Okedusi
Pan-African Innovation Builder N/A
View profile
Dr. Adebayo M. Ishola
Lecturer, Department of Educational Technology Tai Solarin Federal University of Education
View profile
Seth Charles Mkisi
Founder and Managing Director SHAMBA BOX
View profile
Mariem Sellami
Access to Finance Specialist Self-employed
View profile
Segun Oyenuga
Founder/CEO VeriScore Technology Solutions
View profile
Igor N. C. SEMANOU
Co Founder & Programme Manager Startup Crash Lab
View profile
Zeineb Messaoud
Community Director AfriLabs
View profile
Bede-obong Umoh
Senior Ecosystem Events Officer AfriLabs
View profile