iROKOtv’s Jason Njoku, Bastian Gotter and Nollywood superstar Mary Remmy-Njoku have launched SPARK - a
$1m-backed company to support and develop aspiring Nigerian tech and
Internet entrepreneurs.
Based in Lagos and launched just a few weeks
ago, the new company has attracted attention from around the world,
having featured in US-based black entertainment website BET as well as BBC World radio. It has been praised as a pioneer
in revolutionizing the start-up ecosystem for young, talented Nigerians
looking to make their mark in the country’s emerging tech sector. Continue...
Since
its launch on 8 May, the company has received hundreds of emails from
entrepreneurs looking to join the SPARK network, as well as interest
from investors around the world looking to collaborate with the new
company.
Jason Njoku says:
“Myself, Bastian and Mary meet so many young, talented tech
entrepreneurs who fall at the first hurdle because the culture for
funding start-ups doesn’t exist in Nigeria at the moment. Lagos is the
gateway to the tech scene in Africa. It is currently worth
about $200million. In 3-5 years time, it will be $1billion. We, SPARK,
plan to be behind Nigeria’s first wave of dotcom millionaires”.
Bastian
Gotter says: “The reaction to SPARK has been fantastic and it proves
that now is the time to be investing in the tech market. Following on
from our success with iROKOtv, we
feel that there is no-one in a better position than us to drive forward
the tech start-up sector in Nigeria and this is why we’ve launched
SPARK.”
So
far, SPARK has funded 13 companies, all internet based, supplying
services such as dating, property letting, hotel booking and other
service that more and more Nigerians are going online for. The 13
companies include Hotels.ng, Christians. ng, Bus.com.ng, Giddimint.com. ng, Borro.com.ng, Insured.ng, ToLet.com.ng, Foto.com.ng, blink.com.ng, Healthy.com.ng and Drinks.ng
Mary Remmy-Njoku says: “Three years ago, no-one thought to come online to watch Nollywood movies and now, it is an every day occurrence for millions of people around the world and in Nigeria. People log in to www.irokotv.com and
they have instant access to Mercy Johnson, Majid Michel, Mama G…..
whoever is their favourite star. They have iROKOtv as their first port
of call for their Nollywood movies.
“The same is going to happen for these SPARK companies; people who are interested in fashion will go online to Giddimint to buy a cool t-shirt, to Hotels.Ng to book a hotel room or to Drinks.ng to
order good priced drinks for a wedding or big occasion. Our SPARK
companies will become an everyday part of Nigerian lives in the next few
years”.
nigeria is becoming an american dream type society...wow...Jason Njoku and his crew are doing sme good things, investment is what alot of techy ppl need... and Njoku and his crew are on their way to becoming billionaires...wow...
ReplyDeleteCool.
ReplyDeleteVery nice concept. ..more grease to ur elbow
ReplyDeleteCool.. we can now have incubators in Nigeria too..
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDeletewhoa brilliant idea
ReplyDeleteshare your US visa experiences here
usimmigrationdiary.blogspot.sg
Wow I love dis couple already, baba God abeg bless me wit som1 wit whom I can grow in all aspects(financial, spiritually, intellectually,emotionally etc) AMEN.
ReplyDeleteWat a power couple..
ReplyDeleteIntelligent ppl..
Billie jean
Now, that's different. Proud!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! God don bless this girl pls come bless me too o
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to them!!!.. nice
ReplyDeleteWow this is gonna be good I can feel it already. Nigeria now going online seriously.
ReplyDeleteNice. Good to see she's not a trophy wife.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I have always said it, we have natural/human resources abound in Nigeria. Let them give us constant power for one year and see how Naija go blow in, business, entertainments, Agriculture, Health care, etc.
ReplyDeleteWow.... great job guys
ReplyDeleteLinda, u dey craze o. Mary-Remmy na superstar? Mschewwww....
ReplyDeleteRe u better dan her??
DeleteVery aspiring innovation.kudos 2 u guys n more grease 2 ya elbows
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a nice innovation. More grease to their elbows and keep the flag off. The sky is your starting point
ReplyDeleteI thought I would see a link on how to sign up with SPARK. This post is incomplete.
ReplyDeletesorry remmy i have been watching nigerian movies online since 2004. the only difference is that they were free and iroko on most part isnt.
ReplyDeleteI love Mary Remmy bt calling her a superstar? Linda nwannem fear God biko kwanu. Abeg no make me laugh
ReplyDeleteGreat one guys. Tnx for believing in your Country and doing a positive thing
ReplyDeletePlease are they hiring? Direct me...
ReplyDeleteGud entreprenural skill.
ReplyDeleteThank guys n GOD bless.You guys ve shown the NIGERIA youth we can do positive things.
ReplyDeletewow how nyc dats wot ma blog is up to ....check it out at www.bolsey.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWe already have dot.com millionaires. I am one. But congrats anyway on this noble venture. God bless ur hustle.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and concept for once ..... Well done
ReplyDeleteApplytojobs.blogspot.co.uk
The man is clueless in saying "3years ago no one thought to watch movies online" what happened to YouTube? And all those free websites. If he said "formal" place to watch online that will be different. Wording makes a diff in a sentence *sighs* good job though :)
ReplyDeletenice biz enterprise! Wsh u gr8 success. Minwyl mary luks lyk she has added weight
ReplyDeleteWow!nice one mary!u guys deserve a big pat on ur back!all d best
ReplyDeletenice one Njoku, keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThis is very creative, I like. Will really boost ICT in Nigeria. It is really true that two heads are better than one (Mr&Mrs Njoku). BTW I'm the first to comment. Yay.
ReplyDeleteYeeeey......Nigeria go better, cool innovation, although itz obvious una go chop our money still buh the good news is that Nigeria will improve Tech wise......thumbs up
ReplyDeleteMmtchew....
ReplyDeleteSo wat Sud I do about it?????
Dix is wonderful
ReplyDeleteNollywood 'superstar' tho??!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very creative idea I must confess. Thumbs up guys. Good work
ReplyDeleteThis is a very creative idea I must confess. Thumbs up guys. Good work
ReplyDeleteWowww dats a nice one. Thumbs up to u guys!
ReplyDeleteWHY DIDNT THEY PUT THE CHICK INFRONT, SEE AS DEM COVER HER FOR BACK.
ReplyDeleteCos the truth is she's just a shareholder and didn't bring any idea to the table or else she no go gree dey back #husbandinsurancethinz
DeleteDamn! where can I get one of them tee shirts Njoku is wearing??? THE GREMLIN HAS SPOKEN!
ReplyDeleteThis is good.Real economic empowerment.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. Real economic empowerment.
ReplyDeleteThis is good.Real economic empowerment.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive! So nice.. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good initiative. I just checkd d hotel.ng i was woooowed!All hotels in naija there. Nice one Jason
ReplyDeleteIrokoTV crew ....... very good PR but the reality/inside is a big mess if only they knew.... I am waiting for the final battle when are these would blow up... hehehe
ReplyDeletehi Linda pls hw do i contact SPARK cos i got a biz plan i would luv to submit to dem, tnx.
ReplyDeleteLinda , i can tell you that this may end up not working in Nigeria. I am a geek in Abuja, my biggest challenge isn't funding but my environment. I do well in an extremely quiet space, any little noise always distracts me. I find it very difficult to go outside due to crowd and noise,i don't go out too often, because of this, people think i am sick or posses but it is just me, i am much happier being alone. So all i need is, please beg Nigerians to respect the environment and accept other people that are not like them. I will be grateful if the government can build a library for tech people and enforce environmental law to night noise. I tried to be productive at night but churches close by use loudspeaker, making it extremely hard to find any moment of quietness in my life. All you need for creativity to thrive is quiet environment
ReplyDeleteThis is cool. I love mary remy. This fat man wifed her already lol
ReplyDeleteWOW, NICE CONCEPT, I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE a naijatech.ng.com domain name for people like us that are into computer technology.
ReplyDeletebloggers and netpreneurs have you all positioned yourselves to benefit from this? good one
ReplyDeleteGreat job Jason. I can't wait to join your team.-Stephen
ReplyDelete@anonymous 'Gremlin' u can get the tees @ www.giddimint.com I jus checked them out. Cool stuffs and also for ladies too.
ReplyDeleteCool t-shirts on giddimint.com !!!!!! Nice one guys!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can get the t-shirt Jason is wearing from www.giddimint.com
ReplyDeletegood project
ReplyDeletePls how do i get in contact to SPARK
ReplyDeleteThis is cool!
ReplyDeleteMost driver and passengers talk about this topic and i appreciate your sharing. I have got much clear idea
ReplyDeleteconcerning from this piece of writing. List of Book Bus Tickets from lagos.. Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
www.exclusives.com.ng
ReplyDeleteSpark It Up!!!