New technology hub makes debut in Lagos

V8 Africa, a premier co-working space and technology accelerator has opened in Lekki, Lagos for entrepreneurs and independent professionals.
 
The hub, a brainchild of former Head of Intel Capital Africa, Tobi Oke, and Chief Executive Officer of iConcepts, Ugo Okoye, is a community and collaboration platform that will provide professional support services to entrepreneurs or business owners, start-ups and small businesses especially those in the Digital Technology space. 
  
Speaking on the initiative, Oke said V8 Africa was birthed from several years of actively creating conducive environments, strategies for new technology businesses and shared experiences of both founders in identifying, enabling and accelerating start-up growth across Africa. 

“Also, we do not see ourselves as a competition to other co-working spaces; we see ourselves as part of the ecosystem in Nigeria enabling entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration.”

On the partnership, Ugo said: “our culminated 30 years’ experience in investing and delivering world class technology solutions will contribute to the ecosystem by enabling innovation within Nigeria and Africa.”
 
“As a mandate, V8 intends to invest in the best and brightest African technology companies through mentoring, funding and the provision of infrastructure. Furthermore, despite the focus on technology, the company is looking to build a community that encourages a broad range of African talent to grow and flourish.” 

On the offerings of the hub, he said, “V8 will provide services such as on-demand workspace, mentorship, capacity building, business strategies and funding. Members of the co-working space will have access to secure enterprise grade Internet and wifi, uninterrupted power supply, business meeting and training rooms. These will all be provided as a service saving V8 members the significant capital costs if procured on a stand-alone basis.”