Bet9ja Foundation Awards Martech Store ₦10 Million Grant at ScaleUp Challenge, Driving Nigeria’s Digital Transformation

In a remarkable win for Nigeria’s innovation landscape, Martech Store, a rising star in digital marketing technology, has emerged as the grand prize winner of the Bet9ja Foundation ScaleUp Business Pitch Challenge, taking home a ₦10 million grant designed to fast-track high-impact startups.

This landmark win places Martech Store at the forefront of tech-driven entrepreneurship in Nigeria—an achievement made possible by a powerful synergy between visionary business ideas and corporate social responsibility (CSR) with purpose.

The ScaleUp Challenge, run by the Bet9ja Foundation, is more than just a competition—it’s a structured accelerator and CSR initiative focused on empowering entrepreneurs from underserved backgrounds. Over a four-month period, finalists received expert training, mentorship, and access to networks essential for business growth.

The grant awarded to Martech Store will enable it to expand its suite of services, which includes providing digital tools to SMEs, enhancing customer data analytics, and supporting brands to scale their online presence.

Read also: Foundation Empowers 21 Young Entrepreneurs with $105,000 in Investment Grants

Speaking after the win, Founder and CEO of Martech Store, Chinedu Akinwale, expressed heartfelt gratitude:

“This isn’t just a financial boost—it’s validation. With the backing of the Bet9ja Foundation, we now have the means to grow our team, deepen our R&D, and make digital tools more accessible to small businesses across Nigeria. It’s a win for our entire ecosystem.”

For many of the program’s beneficiaries, the journey through the ScaleUp Challenge has been transformational.

Amaka Njoku, a participant who made it to the semi-final stage with her agro-tech startup, shared her experience:

“Even though I didn’t win the final grant, the mentorship and exposure I gained changed my entire outlook. For the first time, I felt seen and supported as a young entrepreneur. That kind of investment in people can’t be measured in naira.”

This sentiment reflects the deeper social value embedded in the Bet9ja Foundation’s CSR approach: programs that not only fund businesses, but foster personal growth, self-confidence, and long-term sustainability.

The Bet9ja Foundation, through initiatives like ScaleUp, is redefining what corporate social responsibility looks like in Nigeria. By directly funding and nurturing local entrepreneurs, the Foundation is helping to solve systemic issues—youth unemployment, access to capital, and financial exclusion—from the ground up.

“Our mission goes beyond charity,” said Ada Cuomo, Executive Director of the Bet9ja Foundation.

“We believe in economic empowerment as a form of nation building. Supporting entrepreneurs like those at Martech Store means investing in innovation, job creation, and community impact.”

With this funding, Martech Store is poised to hire more young professionals, roll out a new SME-focused platform, and increase its reach beyond Lagos into emerging markets across Nigeria. The ripple effect is clear: more jobs, more digital inclusion, and more local value creation.

As the private sector continues to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), success stories like this show how CSR can serve as a bridge between profit and purpose—delivering business growth while uplifting lives.