Wema Bank Launches Hackaholics Accelerator 2026 Cohort, Unveils Ten Startups

Wema Bank has launched the 2026 Hackaholics Accelerator Program, welcoming ten startups into its cohort. The Hackaholics Accelerator, a selective growth initiative under Wema Bank’s Hackaholics platform, aims to help promising Nigerian startups strengthen their business foundations and prepare for sustainable scaling and investment.

After six years of fostering innovation through Hackaholics, Wema Bank is expanding its support from ideation and competitions to active startup development through the Hackaholics Accelerator. The program provides founders with structure, mentorship, and access to a vibrant ecosystem to transform strong ideas into viable, scalable businesses.

The 2026 cohort comprises ten startups selected from the top 10 finalists of Hackaholics 6.0. These include Farmslate, Ploy, Stocmed, Feest (Chao), Varsityscape, MamaAlert, Sane, Cyclex, Kieva, and Loocomo.

Commenting on the evolution of Hackaholics and the new Accelerator program, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, said it reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting founders beyond the ideation phase and helping promising innovations grow into sustainable businesses.

“Over the past six years, Hackaholics has grown into more than a competition; it has become a platform that reveals the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial potential that exists across Nigeria,” Oseni stated. “With this second edition of Hackaholics Accelerator, we are taking the next step by supporting founders beyond the ideation stage and into the process of building sustainable businesses. The startups selected for this cohort represent some of the most promising solutions emerging from the Hackaholics ecosystem, and we are committed to helping them refine their models, strengthen their foundations, and scale their impact.”

On the selected startups, Babatunde Mumuni, Chief Transformation Officer of Wema Bank, added that the Accelerator will guide founders through a structured process to enhance their businesses and position them for sustainable growth.

“The startups selected for this cohort already have strong foundations, with products already in market, early traction, and clear potential for growth,” Mumuni said. “Each of the selected startups brings a unique solution to real challenges across different sectors. What Hackaholics Accelerator provides is the environment to strengthen those foundations through hands-on mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to the right networks. Over the course of the program, we will work closely with these founders to refine their models, deepen market traction, and prepare them for sustainable scale.”

All ten startup founders will participate in a series of training sessions led by industry experts across key areas critical to startup growth. Facilitators include Babatunde Mumuni, Chief Transformation Officer; Femi Akinfolarin, Head of Strategy & Investor Relations; Olamide Jolaoso, Head of Data Transformation; and Oluwatoyin Adetunji, Team Lead of Corporate Social Investment, all from Wema Bank.

Additional facilitators include Idowu Akinde, Managing Director of Impact Hub Lagos; Napa Onwusa, Managing Director of B4B Partners; Onaopemipo Dara, Startup Advisor and Scout; Rosemond Phil-Othihiwa, Google for Startups Mentor; Tega Ogigirigi, Head of Growth at Africhange; and Ademola Adewuyi, Startup Advisor and Mentor.

The Hackaholics Accelerator is part of Wema Bank’s broader innovation infrastructure, including IDEAx Labs, its innovation and venture platform, and its corporate venture program, which focuses on fostering startup growth through partnerships, infrastructure, and capital access.

Since its inception in 2019, Hackaholics has become one of Nigeria’s most influential youth innovation platforms, attracting over 15,000 applicants and supporting hundreds of digital solutions across various industries. Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank has disbursed over $400,000 in funding to young innovators and startup founders nationwide. Previous participants include Feegor, Myitura, and Bunce, exemplifying the program’s focus on supporting growth-ready companies across diverse sectors. This second edition aims to build on that success by helping startups transition from innovation to sustainable growth.