Inlaks, a system integrator company in sub-Saharan Africa, has introduced its innovation lab called ‘thehatch’ to scale fintech start-ups in Nigeria and other African countries.
The company, in a statement, said the Inlaks innovation hub was established to identify, nurture and scale innovative technology-driven ideas that had the potential to transform the financial service sector in Nigeria and Africa.
Femi Adeoti, managing director/chief executive officer, Africa Operations at Inlaks, highlighted critical benefits of the innovation lab to the fintech start-ups to include fostering relationships between them and several Inlaks clients and partners as well as providing a stepping stone into the marketplace.
According to him, the innovation lab will also build and scale fintech solutions through collaboration with the technological industry, private sector, government, investors, academia and the digital workforce.
It said the hub was unveiled at the Africa Fintech Festival held in Lagos, which began with a start-up fair in collaboration with the AFF where several growing companies were present to pitch their innovative ideas and services to stakeholders.
“Most of the start-up entrepreneurs do not have the experience and capability to reach the quality of customers available to Inlaks. It is our goal to hand-hold these start-ups and take them to wherever we go, so they can interface with some of our global clients and partners, and thereby take advantage of the opportunities that are possible,” Adeoti said.
He emphasised that the evolution of Inlaks termed ‘Inlaks 2.0’, was designed to bring innovative solutions to the industry, and provide young technology entrepreneurs with the experience to grow and expand their horizon.
He explained that Inlaks built thehatch to encourage start-up entrepreneurs to be creative and serve as solution providers to major challenges facing the society.
“It’s our pleasure to host Africa Fintech Festival Start-Up Fair in Nigeria at our business incubator, thehatch,” Adeoti concluded.
Among the Fintech start-ups that pitched their ideas are Esusu Africa, System Variant, Social Lender, Oyapay, Fint, XendBit, Biya Bot, and Spender.
