Akure, the capital city of Ondo State in southwestern Nigeria, is steadily emerging as a thriving center for innovation and entrepreneurship. With more startups finding their footing and gaining traction, the city is positioning itself as one of Nigeria’s promising tech ecosystems.
At the forefront of this movement is The Hive Incubator, a community-driven innovation hub that provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, seed funding, business coaching, and access to a state-of-the-art workspace. The Hive goes beyond traditional incubation by hosting pitch events, such as The Launch Lab, facilitating weekly learning sessions, and fostering strategic partnerships with over ten local businesses to amplify job creation and startup growth.
With a cohort-based approach, The Hive nurtures early-stage startups by helping them structure their ideas, access markets, and connect with valuable networks. Founders describe it not just as a physical space but as a vibrant support system that empowers them to dream bigger and build sustainably.
In this article, we highlight four startups that have gone through The Hive’s entrepreneurship program, each contributing uniquely to Akure’s innovation journey and showcasing the city’s growing potential as a thriving startup hub.
Meet the Startups
NiO Agro
Founded by: Adegbamigbe Adewumi
Focus: Agritech—Animal husbandry and vegetable farming
Impact: NiO Agro is transforming Nigeria’s agricultural space through innovative, sustainable farming practices. By integrating modern technologies with eco-friendly methods, the startup enhances food production, minimizes waste, and supports food security in local communities.
How The Hive supports them: Through its entrepreneurship program, The Hive provided NiO Agro with business mentorship, structured coaching on investment readiness, access to a vibrant entrepreneurial community, and support with building scalable operations.
YesBeauty
Founded by: Damilola Akinterinwa
Focus: BeautyTech—SaaS solution for salons and spas
Impact: YesBeauty empowers salons and spas to streamline their daily operations with an all-in-one mobile app. The platform enables businesses to manage bookings, digital payments, inventory, staff schedules, and customer relationships, thereby enhancing efficiency and the overall customer experience in the beauty industry.
How The Hive supports them: The Hive offered guidance on product development, mentorship to refine their business model, access to peer networks, and opportunities for visibility through pitch events like The Launch Lab.
Avs Integrated Farm’s
Founded by: Adekanye Samuel
Focus: Agritech—Livestock rearing and food processing
Impact: Avs Integrated Farm bridges the gap between rural farming and urban markets by combining livestock farming with hygienic processing and packaging. Their value-added products help address food safety and accessibility while supporting local agricultural development.
How The Hive supports them: With a focus on building sustainable agribusinesses, The Hive provided Avs Integrated Farm with mentorship, market access strategies, and tools to scale operations responsibly.
iBOSS FOOD
Founded by: Ajuwa Patience Sinla
Focus: FoodTech—Traditional grilled delicacies
Impact: iBOSS FOOD preserves and celebrates Nigerian culinary heritage by offering authentic, smoky grilled dishes rooted in traditional methods. The business delivers high-quality food experiences that resonate with cultural pride and premium taste.
How The Hive supports them: The Hive supported iBOSS FOOD with structured business coaching, branding guidance, and access to a community that helped the founder shape a compelling food venture.
The Hive’s Model: What Sets It Apart
The Hive Incubator operates with a mission to democratize entrepreneurship in Akure by supporting both startups and SMEs across various sectors, including agribusiness, clean energy, food processing, and reimagined local services. What makes The Hive unique is its commitment to backing businesses at the idea stage, long before they achieve traction or generate revenue—a rare find in Nigeria’s startup landscape.
The incubation program spans six months and is divided into two phases:
- Phase One (3 months): Focused on intensive business training covering everything from business structure and financial literacy to marketing and operations.
- Phase Two (3 months): An implementation stage where founders apply their learnings, receive weekly mentorship, and track progress through real-world challenges.
This structured yet flexible program equips entrepreneurs with both foundational knowledge and hands-on experience essential for building scalable, sustainable ventures.
Key Support Pillars
The Hive’s value proposition is built on four critical support pillars:
1. Mentorship: Weekly one-on-one sessions and cohort-wide check-ins guide founders through problem-solving and decision-making.
2. Training: Structured classes and workshops provide the knowledge base needed to build and scale a business.
3. Networking: Cohort members benefit from access to a growing network of founders, investors, advisors, and domain experts.
4. Access to Markets and Capital: The Hive provides seed funding in exchange for 10% equity.
Community-First Philosophy and Its Effect on Collaboration
More than just a workspace or funding source, The Hive is a community-driven ecosystem. It welcomes anyone building something innovative, regardless of whether they identify as a “startup.” This inclusive approach fosters cross-sector collaboration and reduces the isolation that early-stage founders often face.
By treating every member’s success as a shared win, The Hive cultivates a culture of support, accountability, and openness. It’s not just about building companies; it’s about building a thriving entrepreneurial community in Akure.
Why Akure?
Akure is fast becoming one of Nigeria’s most promising startup destinations. While Akure’s foundations are strong, The Hive Incubator is helping to unlock its full potential. By providing hands-on mentorship, pre-seed funding, structured training, and access to a supportive co-working community, The Hive is empowering local founders to turn bold ideas into scalable businesses.
Beyond programs and funding, The Hive fosters a community-first model, connecting founders, technologists, and creatives into a shared mission. It plays a catalytic role in turning Akure from an under-the-radar town into a credible innovation hub in Nigeria. Through The Hive, Akure isn’t just a place to build quietly; it’s a place to build boldly.
Conclusion
As The Hive Incubator continues to expand, it’s helping to elevate Akure as a key hub in Nigeria’s tech and entrepreneurship scene. With a vision to scale its impact, back more startups, and grow its programs, The Hive is building a lasting foundation rooted in innovation, community, and economic development.
For founders seeking a nurturing environment to launch and grow their ideas, The Hive is showing that Akure isn’t just a place on the map; it’s a gateway to opportunity.
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