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CWEIC was delighted to support the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship: Capstone Showcase 2025, held at Imperial College London, which celebrated the achievements of the inaugural cohort of young entrepreneurs from across Africa, India and the wider Commonwealth.

Earlier this year, CWEIC helped promote the Fellowship across our network to encourage applications, and we were pleased to see over 1,400 entries from 44 countries, resulting in a final cohort of 21 innovative startups. Over the past six months, the Fellows have benefitted from intensive training, mentorship and access to networks, culminating in the Showcase where they pitched to investors, business leaders and policymakers.

The Capstone Showcase event marked the culmination of the Fellowship, hosted by Imperial College London and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. The founders travelled to London to present their ventures in front of investors, industry leaders, academics and ecosystem partners. Imperial’s President, Hugh Brady, opened the event and CWEIC Board Member and Co-Founder of Helios Investment Partners, Babatunde Soyoye, delivered the keynote address. He urged the entrepreneurs to “think big, think bold, be brave and have big ambitions,” reflecting the spirit of Commonwealth entrepreneurship and the opportunities for innovation-driven growth across member states.

A panel session brought together founders and ecosystem leaders, including Maryanne Gichanga (Agritech Analytics, Kenya), Nishant Agarwal (Lifeandlimb.ai, India), Dr. Taiwo Oyewole (Radease, Nigeria), and Nyifamu Ogechi Manzo (Farmatrix, Nigeria), to share lessons from their entrepreneurial journeys.

Standout Ventures from the Showcase

The Showcase featured a diverse range of startups tackling some of the Commonwealth’s most pressing challenges:

• Agritech Analytics (Kenya) – AI-driven soil diagnostics and pest detection to boost crop yields.

• Lifeandlimb.ai (India) – advanced yet affordable prosthetic hands for underserved communities.

• Radease (Nigeria) – enabling bulk procurement and delivery for last-mile healthcare providers.

• Farmatrix (Nigeria) – connecting smallholder farmers to markets, logistics and finance.

• Mpepu Energy (Malawi) – micro-grids bringing reliable power to rural communities.

• Sollys Energy (Malawi) – affordable solar products for off-grid households and businesses.

• Kamim Technologies (Nigeria) – solar-powered cold storage to reduce post-harvest losses.

These are just a few of the pioneering ideas presented, spanning agriculture, healthcare, energy, climate and digital innovation.

How CWEIC Partners Can Engage

The Fellowship has demonstrated the wealth of talent and entrepreneurial drive across the Commonwealth. There are clear opportunities for CWEIC Strategic Partners and stakeholders to engage with these ventures, including through:

• Mentorship and Advisory – offering guidance on scaling, regulation, or sector expertise.

• Market Entry and Pilots – providing access to networks, testbeds or early adoption opportunities.

• Investment and Funding – supporting startups beyond the Fellowship’s grant funding with catalytic capital.

• Ecosystem Visibility – amplifying their stories at events, in media and through corporate partnerships.

Profiles of the ventures are available on Startbook, where interested partners can connect directly with the founders.

CWEIC looks forward to continuing to support this important initiative, connecting entrepreneurs with the Commonwealth’s business community and ensuring bold ideas are transformed into impactful solutions.