DTC™ Innovator In Residence
The flagship venture support system rooted in the belief that systemic innovation requires a dedicated community and rigorous methodology.
DTC™ Innovator In Residence Program is the flagship venture support system rooted in the belief that systemic innovation requires a dedicated community and rigorous methodology. It serves as a central nexus to cultivate high-potential ventures across Nigeria and the wider ecosystem.
The Design Thinking Challenge is the SXSW of African innovation: the definitive convergence where the world's boldest innovators, creators, wildcards, designers, entrepreneurs and policymakers collide to prototype, fund, and launch global solutions to global challenges in energy, healthcare, and agriculture.
While rooted in Nigeria — Africa's largest economy and most populous nation — the problems we tackle and the solutions we build are profoundly global in relevance.
From rural India to off-grid Indonesia, from maternal health crises in Latin America to smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia, the prototypes born in Nigeria will carry lessons, open-source code, and business models that travel.
Core Philosophy
Real solutions to real problems faced by real people — everywhere.
The Innovators In Residence program is a 3-month, full-stack incubation designed for founders who want more than an idea. Using the rigor of Design Thinking and the clarity of the Business Model Canvas, we take you from problem validation to investor-ready venture.
Our Four Innovators Profile Type
We look for diverse talents that together build unstoppable teams.
Hard-Tech Specialist
Engineers, scientists, hardware experts who will drive technical feasibility and proof-of-concept (future track). Highly motivated to work on the biggest problems, and see entrepreneurship as their chance to build something significant.
Software/Data/AI Specialist
Developers, data scientists, and ML engineers who build scalable digital infrastructure and intelligence layers. This participant type is for software developers, data scientists, and AI/ML specialists interested in building products which will actually make a difference to the sector's crisis.
Commercial/Operator Leader
Experienced entrepreneurs, sector operators, or corporate leaders who excel at customer development, go-to-market strategy, and fundraising.
Catalyst (Wildcard)
Designers, farmers, sustainability experts, product managers, or domain insiders who bring unconventional insight and break conventional thinking.
Why This Matters Globally
700M
people worldwide still lack access to basic healthcare services
Source: WHO
675M
people live without electricity; 80% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: IEA 2025
70%
of the world's food produced by smallholder farmers yet the most food-insecure
Source: FAO
Program Objectives
Equip participants with world-class design thinking and prototyping skills.
Support Innovators to develop investable, technology-enabled solutions that directly address systemic challenges in healthcare access, energy reliability, and agricultural productivity.
Build high-performing founding teams capable of taking ideas from concept to market.
Deliver measurable social ROI while enhancing the visibility and leadership of our partners and stakeholders.
Stakeholdership
DTC Innovators are backed by an Ecosystem
Curated Network
Innovators gain access to a curated network built to de-risk and accelerate:
- Mentors & Industry Experts: Sector-specific guidance from operators who've built and exited
- Facilitators: Design thinking coaches and MBA-level business advisors
- Investors: Angels, VCs, and impact funds attending Pitch Day and office hours
- Public & Private Sector Partners: For pilots, procurement, and regulatory navigation
This is a network effect designed to shorten your path to market.
Pitch Day: Showcase
At the end of the 3-month cycle, innovators present to investors with:
- Validated problem-solution fit
- Traction data and unit economics
- A clear 12-month growth plan
- A legally and financially structured entity
Goal: Secure pre-seed/seed funding, strategic partnerships, or pilot contracts.
Tailored Support Across Venture Stack
DTC Innovators don't build in isolation. Our in-house and partner network provides:
Legal & Company Setup
- CAC registration
- Contracts
- Founder agreements
Accounting & Finance
- Bookkeeping systems
- Financial models
- Investor reporting
Branding & Design
- Identity
- UI/UX
- Pitch deck design
Digital Marketing
- Funnel setup
- Growth experiments
- Content strategy
No generic workshops. Support is tailored to an innovator's venture stage and sector.
A Sustainable Model Aligned to Innovators' Success
DTC operates on a mission-aligned, equity-light model:
DTC takes <1% equity in each venture.
Revenue share only activates on success. When innovators raise or generate revenue, DTC gets paid. This keeps the program self-sustaining without extracting early-stage capital.
Transparency by design: All early investments are placed into an Innovator/DTC joint account. Funds are released against pre-agreed milestones for venture development and scale.
Why: It gives investors confidence, protects founders from misuse of funds, and ensures accountability across the board. This structure aligns incentives: Innovators win, DTC wins, Investors win.
The Innovators In Residence Program
Phase 1: 3 Months Incubator
Finding problem-solution fit & build a credible business case
- Phase 1 focuses on building proof points around the venture — especially customers, the problem you are solving, your value proposition, and impact
- All deliverables flow into the team's pitch deck and data room, refined with the help of a storyteller
- At the end of Phase 1, teams pitch in front of the DTC™ investment advisory committee
- Teams who meet criteria become eligible to present to the Investment Committee for funding
- Our mentors and facilitators are at their side throughout
Phase 2: Accelerator
Customer traction and Series A readiness
- Intensive growth sprint with an incredible network of enablers, corporate partners, mentors, and investors
- Customer acquisition, product-market fit, and Series A readiness
- Access to TD Africa channels, partners for pilot opportunities, and international networks
- Preparing a funding strategy and help bringing in the next round of finance
Program Journey
Three months of structured progression from problem discovery to investor-ready pitch
Month 1: Discover & Define
Problem-Solution Fit
- Onboarding + intensive onboarding and cohort alignment
- Customer discovery sprints and empathy interviews
- Define problem statement, value proposition, and initial MVP scope
- Legal basics foundation: Company registration and IP
Month 2: Build & Test
Prototyping + Business Model Validation
- Rapid prototyping and user testing cycles
- Build out Business Model Canvas with mentor input
- Financial modeling, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan
- Branding, design, and digital marketing setup
Month 3: Scale & Pitch
Traction + Investor Readiness
- Run pilot, capture traction metrics, iterate
- Legal, accounting, and compliance systems put in place
- Investment deck and data room preparation
- Pitch Day: Present to a curated room of investors, VCs, corporates, and partners
Why This Framework Works
1. Design Thinking: Build for Real People
We start with empathy, not assumptions. Innovators use human-centered design to uncover unmet needs through user research and ethnography, ideate and prototype fast reducing wasted time and capital, and test solutions in market before scale.
Result: Products people actually want, with a lower failure rate and faster product-market fit.
2. Business Model Canvas: Make It Viable
Once the problem is validated, we pressure-test the business. Innovators map and stress-test customer segments, value propositions, channels, revenue streams, cost structure, key partnerships, activities, and resources needed to scale.
Result: A coherent, investable business model with clear unit economics and a path to profitability.
Together, they close the gap between “cool idea” and “bankable venture.”
