After Owerri, the StartupSouth train made its next stop in the city of Port Harcourt for a two-day gathering of founders, investors, policymakers, and visionaries committed to building the future of innovation from Nigeria’s South-South and South-East. Held on the 2nd and 3rd of October, the event themed “Auctus: Shaping the Next Decade of Innovation, Culture and Capital” lived up to its name, offering two days of deep insight, networking, and authentic conversations about building sustainable businesses from the regions often left out of the mainstream tech narrative.
The highlight of the event was the value-packed keynote sessions led by brilliant speakers like Aniedi Udo-Obong, a staff member at Google, and Professor Sylva Opuala-Charles, President of the Port Harcourt Premier Business School and a respected economist. Professor Charles delivered one of the most profound lines of the conference when he said:
“With technology, capital will not be much of a challenge as scaling and repeatability are the major drivers in the startup space. What the government owes us is to make technology work and legislate to make both public and private sectors take it to the next level. This will also help the ease of doing business, which is capable of attracting foreign direct investments into the country and creating new economic businesses, changing lives, transforming institutions, and strengthening the economy.”
The event drew some of the most exciting voices in the regional tech ecosystem, from Douglas Kendyson of Stellar to Luther Lawoyin, Founder of Pricepally; Kelvin Umechukwu, CEO of Bumpa; David Kalu, Abia State Commissioner for Science and Technology; Justina Mensah of Deal Source Africa; and Victoria Fagbumi, a key policymaker. Each shared not just what they’ve built but also what they’ve learned on the journey, with stories that reminded many founders in the room that progress is rarely instant but always possible.
One of the standout sessions was the panel discussion on “Reimagining Food Distribution: Innovation, Access and Affordability in Africa,” moderated by Onyinye Okonkwo. The conversation, featuring Luther Lawoyin (Pricepally), Damola Soares (COO, Pastures Nigeria), and Chononso Obiora (Co-founder, Naili), unpacked the complex food supply chain in Africa and explored how technology can democratize access to affordable, quality food while creating value for local farmers and distributors. It was a practical and thought-provoking conversation that highlighted how innovation isn’t just about apps, but about solving real problems.
Beyond the sessions and speeches, one of the biggest wins of StartupSouthX was the networking. The energy in the room was electric, founders exchanging contacts, investors listening intently, and new partnerships quietly taking root in corners of the hall. Working with the live broadcast team also gave me a unique perspective, allowing me to interact directly with many of the speakers and founders. There was a tangible sense of possibility, a belief that something new was emerging from this region.
The Deal Room was another major highlight, a space where founders could pitch directly to investors for a chance to win the grand prize: a trip to Portugal. It wasn’t just about the prize, though; it was about access to capital, to feedback, and to networks that could change the trajectory of a business. As one founder put it, “This kind of access doesn’t come often here.”
Kelvin Umechukwu of Bumpa shared a deeply relatable story of resilience, recounting how they built Bumpa in 2018 but didn’t gain traction until 2020. He spoke about mentorship, how one mentor insisted they change their business name to something short and memorable, a decision that became pivotal to their growth. Stories like this grounded the conversations in reality, reminding every young founder that behind every “overnight success” are years of obscurity, persistence, and learning.
In the end, what made StartupSouthX Port Harcourt truly remarkable wasn’t just its flawless execution or its lineup of brilliant minds; it was the opportunity it gave to founders in this region to be seen, to be heard, and to learn. For many, it was a chance to step into rooms that once felt out of reach, to glean from lived experiences, and to believe that global impact can start from here.
In a landscape where so much of Nigeria’s innovation narrative is Lagos-centric, StartupSouth continues to redefine what’s possible for emerging cities. Port Harcourt, with its mix of culture, capital, and creative energy, proved that the next decade of African innovation will not be built in isolation; it will be shaped by collaboration, inclusion, and a renewed belief that our best ideas can be homegrown.
