Stakeholders at the SHEnovation Hackathon 2026 webinar on Saturday urged innovators to prioritise solution-driven ideas and investment readiness to scale sustainability-focused ventures.
They highlighted that strong business models, data-backed impact, and clear value propositions are critical for attracting funding and ensuring long-term viability.
The webinar, organised by the Lagos Chapter of the Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN), had the theme: “Business Development and Investment Readiness for Sustainability-Focused Innovators and Startups.”
Participants were encouraged to tackle real economic and environmental challenges while ensuring scalability.
In her welcome address, APWEN Lagos Chapter Chairman Bosede Oyekunle said the third webinar marked a shift from ideation to capital mobilisation for sustainability-driven innovations.
Oyekunle noted that previous sessions focused on environmental sustainability, waste management, digital technology, and artificial intelligence, laying the foundation for problem-solving and design thinking.
She stressed that creativity without a business model remains an idea, while sustainability without funding remains unrealised potential.
The initiative aims to equip women and young engineers with skills to transform technical prototypes into investable and scalable ventures.
Keynote speaker Seun Oluwalade, CEO of Renewable Lifestyle Engineering and EV World Africa, shared insights from his journey into clean energy and electric mobility entrepreneurship.
Oluwalade highlighted the importance of identifying real problems and building practical, scalable solutions. He noted that electric vehicles offer cost efficiency through reduced maintenance and operational expenses compared to fossil-fuel systems.
He added that integrating renewable energy with electric mobility can significantly reduce operating costs for individuals and organisations.
Oluwalade said startups often fail not due to poor ideas but due to lack of focus on solving clear and valuable problems. He stressed that investors prioritise scalable solutions, competent teams, and measurable impact over ambitious projections.
He urged innovators to present ideas with simple business models that clearly show value creation, revenue streams, and cost structures, noting that sustainability-focused, women-led ventures increasingly access global funding opportunities.
Joshua Olayinka, Founder and CEO of BuyScrap Nigeria, encouraged young Nigerians to turn environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Olayinka shared that gaps in electronic waste management inspired him to create a structured platform for collecting and recycling e-waste. He emphasised starting small, focusing on a niche, and building a clear business model to grow.
He noted that data collection, customer understanding, and consistent awareness creation are critical for scaling operations, alongside innovation, partnerships, and participation in training programmes.
Olayinka stressed that startups must prioritise revenue generation, regulatory compliance, and impact measurement to attract investors, adding that profitability is essential for sustaining environmental solutions. He highlighted the need for strong teams and co-founders, noting that collaboration and resilience are key to business success.
Dr. Olayinka Adewumi, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said the webinar is part of SHEnovation Hackathon activities aimed at fostering innovation among engineers and young professionals.
