Three technology-driven startups have emerged as winners at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Lagos Innovate Idea Hub 12.0, following a competitive process that began with more than 1,000 applications from across the state.
The programme, which ran for eight weeks, selected 20 startups for intensive support, before narrowing the cohort to six finalists who pitched their solutions on Demo Day. The initiative focused on practical responses to challenges facing businesses and communities in Lagos.
Cubeseed Africa claimed the Gold Medal in the AgriTech category. In a country where the “middleman” often eats the profit, farmers’ payment is delayed or defrauded, buyers face product scarcity, poor quality, and limited access to credit. Cubeseed Africa is the digital equalizer, a market infrastructure. In partnership with Sterling Bank, cubeseed is creating a high-trust marketplace for bulk protein supply. They are connecting commercial livestock farmers directly to bulk buyers like restaurants, hotels, coldroom operators, etc. They ensure farmers get paid instantly and a guaranteed market, while buyers get reliable, high-quality protein on credit; they aren’t just selling meat; they are fueling food security by building confidence in agricultural trade.
The Silver award went to Lena, an EdTech platform founded by Faruk Bilesanmi, Danny Ombeh and Chris Ombeh. In a continent where 9 out of 10 children struggle with basic math and literacy despite being in school, and where overcrowded classrooms of 35+ students make personalized learning impossible, Lena is rewriting the rules of African education.
Using AI-driven games, Lena transforms curriculum-aligned math, literacy, and science into immersive, story-driven adventures that children actually want to engage with. The platform’s adaptive AI tutor, trained on national curricula, adjusts difficulty in real-time based on each child’s pace and struggles; delivering one-on-one tutoring at scale. What truly sets Lena apart is its mobile-first, offline-friendly design that thrives in low-connectivity environments where competitors fail. They’re building Africa’s future talent pipeline, preparing the continent’s children for the global AI economy one game at a time.
Prodevs received the Bronze award in the HR Tech category. Hiring tech talent in Lagos is famously chaotic. Prodevs is the specialized engine streamlining the hunt for developers, ensuring that growing companies spend less time “sourcing” and more time “scaling.”
Speaking at the event, Ifeoluwa Martins of LSETF said: “Idea Hub 12.0 has showcased the immense talent in Lagos State. These startups represent the future of our economy, and we are proud to support their journey from idea to market.”
According to LSETF, all 20 participating startups received training focused on product development, market readiness and business sustainability. The programme forms part of the state’s broader strategy to support employment and enterprise growth.
As the winning startups move into their next phase, the outcome of Idea Hub 12.0 highlights how structured support can turn local ideas into scalable businesses, with potential impact on jobs, services and economic participation in Lagos.
