TheCable

Taiwo Oluwadahunsola, on Tuesday got two minutes to present his idea, a technology that will turn carbon dioxide to methane to generate electricity and other gases for cooking.

“With this innovation titled microbialectro metanogenic reaction. Carbon dioxide can be turned to methane that can generate electricity and other gases. The essence is it helps with reducing environmental pollution and create jobs,” he said.

His mien was not exactly simple to describe, confident yet anxious, wanting urgently to please the panellists at the 2016 Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD), a creation of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari aimed at Nigerian owned start-ups, home based and in the Diaspora.

AVDD was created to encourage “innovative solutions to various challenges that have great social impact, with the aim to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and foster job creation and economic growth through the use of now and emerging technologies”.

Oluwadahunsola got an extra three minutes for a question and answer section with the panel of judges. He left the stage, but the only thing certain, was he wasn’t certain what the panellists thought of his pitch.

So he asked Biola abioye, who thought it was a “green idea” but needed to be “actionable”.

Abioye asked Taiwo, “how is this different from what you can read up on google?” And Taiwo said he was already creating a demo as a microbiologist.

Abiola Bioye speaking to TheCable on the quality of pitches said “there are good ideas that are actionable.  But some of them at conceptual level and some of them already developed and can translate to support. Others are green ideas that you can see the would create values, but they have to be actionable.”

He said the government is keen and is serious about supporting the pitches that make the cut of 50 from the original 100 pitches.

Also speaking to TheCable was Moshope Olaoshebikan, the special assistant to president on Information and Communication Technology and Media .

He said the government is “interested in discovering local talent round the country with ideas that can draw investors”.

“The government want to expose existing technology and innovative business”. According to Olaoshebikan, the government is committed to help as many start up that apply.”

He could not confirm the level financial commitment but said not all companies will need financial assistance.

He said the start ups are at different stages and do need the same kind of help.

“The government will analyze each idea or business, check out the stage and support accordingly,” he said.

“The commitment will be announced on the demo day. Government has development plans, which will be announced, discussed and unveiled July 28.”

He said the idea of the AVDD is to check start-ups and help them get to the next level where government and private sector can invest and “procure from them.”

100 start-up entrepreneurs pitched their ideas before a panel of judges at the Landmark event centre meant for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Interested start ups were draped from government social investments, ease of doing business, agriculture, housing, health care and transportation.

Fifty panellists will be chosen from the pitch and will head to Abuja to exhibit their ideas to investors and sponsors at the main event at the state house conference centre in Abuja.