TWO promising startups, Navidyn and Tuntunre, emerged as winners at the Innovate Pitch and Grant 2026, securing a combined $5,000 in funding during the entrepreneurship-focused initiative hosted by Crosspoint Church.

At the event held on Saturday, May 2, Navidyn clinched the top prize of $4,000, while Tuntunre received the $1,000 runner-up grant after impressing judges with the strength, scalability, and long-term potential of their business models.

The competition, which attracted five finalists from a broader pool of applicants, positioned itself as more than a conventional pitch event, offering entrepreneurs direct access to industry leaders, strategic feedback, and practical conversations around business growth.

The judging panel featured some of Nigeria’s leading corporate and investment executives, including Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Tobi Adeniyi; General Manager and Divisional Head of Conglomerates at Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnenna Kayode-Lawal; MD & Partner at Boston Consulting Group, Olayinka Majekodunmi, and Kemi Olajide Principal at Africa Climate Ventures.

With extensive experience in business growth, investment, and enterprise development, the panel’s endorsement of the winning startups added significant credibility beyond the financial grants. The finalists — Floats, Navidyn, Hushaid, Tuntunre, and Smashrite — each presented their business models, growth strategies, and long-term impact potential before the panel.

Navidyn distinguished itself through its innovation, clear vision, and scalability, ultimately securing first place, while Tuntunre earned the judges’ confidence with a compelling business case that secured second position.

Beyond the competition itself, the event featured robust conversations around Nigeria’s evolving tax and regulatory environment, addressing practical concerns often overlooked in startup conversations but critical to entrepreneurs navigating real business challenges.

Another panel discussion focused on investment readiness, sustainability, and what African businesses must do to move beyond survival and achieve long-term, profitable growth. An interactive trivia session brought a lighter moment to the day, with one attendee winning a N100,000 cash prize, underscoring organisers’ commitment to creating value for participants beyond the entrepreneurs on stage.

Speaking at the event, the Lead Pastor of Crosspoint Church, Ladi Soyombo, addressed the participants and attendees, highlighting the importance of the Innovate platform in helping shape the economic future of the church’s wider community. He described Innovate Pitch and Grant not as charity, but as a strategic investment in people, ideas, and entrepreneurial potential.

This year’s theme, “The Next Growth Stage: Positioning African Businesses for Sustainable Growth and Profitability,” reflected a growing shift in how faith-based institutions across Africa are engaging economic development, moving beyond ceremonial interventions toward practical empowerment.

For Navidyn, the $4,000 grant represents more than seed funding; it offers validation that could open doors to partnerships and future investment opportunities. For Tuntunre, the recognition from a high-level panel strengthens its credibility in a way likely to attract investor attention.

Though Floats, Hushaid, and Smashrite did not secure grants; the value of their participation extended beyond prize money. Exposure to investors, direct feedback from seasoned executives, and meaningful networking opportunities provided intangible benefits that may prove just as valuable in the long run.

As the echoes of the event continues to resound, one thing became clear: while only two startups walked away with funding, five emerging businesses left with visibility, momentum, and a stronger pathway toward growth.