After three months of intensive pitch sessions, workshops, masterclasses, and mentorship programmes designed to equip participants with the skills and resources needed to turn their ideas into market-ready products, Aremu emerged as the winner of MarkHack 2.0. This victory highlights the innovative potential within Nigeria’s creative and technology sectors.
Aremu Takes the Top Prize
Aremu, a robot marketing tool that helps businesses conduct experiments to enhance product metrics and conversion rates, claimed the top spot at the grand finale held in Lagos, Nigeria. Competing against nine other startups, Aremu secured the grand prize of $5,000. Ozi, a web application that streamlines customer acquisition, engagement, and management, was awarded $3,000 as the first runner-up, while Zander, an AI tool designed for automating social media marketing and brand campaigns, took home $2,000 as the second runner-up.
Incubation and Seed Funding for Top Startups
The top five finalists from MarkHack 2.0 will now enter a three-month incubation programme at the Eko Innovation Centre. Each startup will receive seed capital of $50,000, along with mentorship, free workspace, and other benefits. This support is intended to further develop their ideas into successful, market-ready products.
Focus on the Creative Economy
With the theme ‘Unlocking the Power of the Creative Economy,’ MarkHack 2.0 focused on areas such as Immersive Experience (XR), Content Creation, and Robo Marketing. As Nigeria’s premier marketing and media hackathon, organised by GDM Group and Eko Innovation Centre, the event showcased 10 startups pitching innovative ideas to industry experts, marking a significant moment for the country’s creative and technological landscapes.
Aremu’s Victory: A Testament to Nigeria’s Creative Potential
Tosin Adelowo, co-founder of Aremu, described the win as a validation of the vast potential within Nigeria’s creative sector. He praised the Eko Innovation Centre for providing a platform that nurtures new ideas and drives innovation. “This win confirms that team Aremu can bring our vision to life, with the potential to grow into a global brand within a few years,” Mr Adelowo remarked, expressing gratitude to the organisers for their support.
MarkHack’s Vision for Disruption and Growth
Victor Afolabi, the curator of MarkHack and Founder of Eko Innovation Centre and Art of Technology Lagos, reiterated his vision for disrupting Nigeria’s creative industry through MarkHack 2.0. “The creative industry is a powerhouse for innovation and economic growth in Nigeria. MarkHack 2.0 is designed to disrupt the creative economy by fostering collaboration among marketing and media professionals, tech enthusiasts, creators, and industry leaders,” Mr Afolabi stated.
MarkHack 2.0: A Platform for Collaboration and Innovation
MarkHack 2.0 attracted over 1,365 applications from 92 locations across Europe, Asia, and Africa, evaluated by 22 industry experts. The event brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and corporate leaders to create solutions to real-time marketing and media challenges. The atmosphere was electric, characterised by collaboration, creativity, and the exploration of new technological possibilities.
How GDM Group and Eko Innovation Centre Partnership is Driving Innovation
GDM Group, a leading marketing and media technology company known for its bespoke services in marketing tech solutions, big data management, and integrated marketing, co-curated MarkHack 2.0 with Eko Innovation Centre. Through this initiative, both organisations have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting enterprises by placing innovation and technology at the heart of business development.