Wema Bank’s Hackaholics has been running since 2019, and for most of that time it’s operated as a fairly typical hackathon — pitch your idea, build something in a set window, win a prize.
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The 2026 Accelerator represents a real shift in who it’s for: rather than early-stage ideas and prototypes, it’s built specifically for Nigerian startups that are already generating revenue, already have a working product with real customers, and need structured support to scale — mentorship, technical infrastructure help, investor access, and strategic partnerships, not a cash prize for a good pitch. If you’re a founder past the idea stage and looking for growth support rather than seed-stage validation, this is worth understanding clearly, including the fact that there are currently two live routes into it.
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About the Wema Bank Hackaholics Accelerator Programme
Hackaholics built its reputation over seven years as Africa’s leading open innovation platform under Wema Bank, engaging more than 50,000 participants annually and supporting over 10,000 startups since it began, across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Historically, the programme centered on hackathon and ideathon formats — discovering promising early ideas and teams through competitive building sessions.
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The Accelerator marks a deliberate evolution beyond that: Wema Bank identified that many startups coming out of earlier Hackaholics cohorts, or simply operating in Nigeria’s broader ecosystem, had already validated a product and secured paying customers, but were stuck navigating the harder, less glamorous problems of scaling — compliance, system maturity, capital efficiency, and building the kind of institutional partnerships that unlock the next stage of growth.
The Accelerator is Wema Bank’s answer to that specific gap, combining structured mentorship with direct, hands-on access to partners and ecosystem players who can actually move a mid-stage startup forward, rather than another round of pitch competitions aimed at early-stage validation. For 2026, this exists alongside the broader Hackaholics 7.0 programme, themed “Powering Possibilities,” which runs its own Startup Pitch, Hackathon, and newly introduced Social Impact tracks, with top performers from that competition progressing into the Accelerator as a culminating stage after the Grand Finale.
Wema Bank Hackaholics Accelerator Programme Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Wema Bank Hackaholics Accelerator Programme |
| Host Country ⇒ | Nigeria |
| Study Level ⇒ | Training |
| Benefits ⇒ | Mentorship, technical support, funding pathways, and strategic partnerships |
| Funded by ⇒ | Wema Bank Plc |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Nigeria |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Not fixed. A standalone Accelerator application opened around January-February 2026; separately, Hackaholics 7.0 (feeding into the Accelerator via its Grand Finale) opened in July 2026, with its exact closing date still to be confirmed by Wema Bank. |
What Participants Actually Gain
- Expert mentorship from industry and business leaders, focused specifically on refining strategy and operations for startups already past the idea-validation stage
- Technical infrastructure integration support, helping founders strengthen the actual systems underpinning their product rather than just business advice
- Exposure to funding opportunities and investor networks, positioning selected startups in front of people who can meaningfully move their capital-raising forward
- Strategic partnerships with ecosystem stakeholders and corporate partners, including connections a startup likely couldn’t access independently
- Market access guidance and networking channels, aimed at expanding a startup’s actual user reach, not just its visibility
- A hybrid structure combining virtual and in-person collaboration, giving founders flexibility while still providing the depth of engagement in-person sessions offer
Given the Accelerator’s specific focus on scaling challenges — system maturity, partnerships, compliance, capital efficiency — the real value here is targeted at problems most seed-stage accelerators don’t address, which is worth recognising if you’re comparing this against other Nigerian startup support programmes aimed at earlier-stage ideas.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a registered Nigerian business operating within Nigeria
- Your startup must have been operating for at least two years, with genuine revenue generation — this isn’t an early-stage or pre-revenue programme
- You must have a working MVP or live product with measurable traction, not a concept or prototype still in development
- Your founders or senior decision-makers must be actively involved in day-to-day execution — this isn’t a programme suited to a startup run entirely by hired management disconnected from the founding team
- You must demonstrate genuine readiness to engage directly with partners, customers, and investors — the programme is built around active engagement, not passive learning
- You must be willing and able to commit to the full duration of the hybrid programme, including both virtual and in-person sessions
The eligibility bar most likely to disqualify an otherwise promising applicant: the two-year operational history with actual revenue. If your startup is younger or still pre-revenue, this specific Accelerator track isn’t the right fit yet — the broader Hackaholics 7.0 Startup Pitch or Hackathon tracks may suit an earlier-stage venture better, with the Accelerator becoming relevant once you’ve built real traction.
Required Documents
- A business profile, detailing your product, team, and traction to date — be specific about actual usage or customer numbers rather than describing potential or projected growth
- Operational and financial information, demonstrating your revenue generation concretely — this needs to substantiate the two-year, revenue-generating eligibility requirement directly, not just assert it
- A pitch deck or growth strategy overview, outlining where you are now and specifically what kind of scaling support you’re seeking
- Founders’ profiles, establishing who’s actively involved in running the business day to day
- Any additional supporting documents requested during the application process, which may vary depending on your specific sector or the track you’re applying through
How to Apply
- Visit the official Hackaholics website (hackaholics.wemabank.com).
- Confirm which pathway fits your startup’s current stage — the direct Accelerator application if you’re already revenue-generating with two-plus years of operation, or one of the Hackaholics 7.0 competitive tracks (Startup Pitch, Hackathon, or Social Impact) if you’re earlier-stage and aiming to progress toward the Accelerator through the Grand Finale.
- Click “Apply Now” and select your track if applying through Hackaholics 7.0.
- Complete the online application form with accurate business details.
- Upload your business profile, financial information, pitch deck, and founder profiles as prompted.
- Submit your application and await communication from the programme team — applications for the direct Accelerator track have historically stayed open until qualifying candidates are found, so submitting early rather than waiting is worth doing given there’s no fixed cutoff.
Given the Current Timing
Since Wema Bank hasn’t published a single fixed closing date for either the standalone Accelerator track or the newly launched Hackaholics 7.0 competition feeding into it, the most useful approach right now is direct and practical:
- If your startup already meets the Accelerator’s specific eligibility (two years operating, revenue-generating, live product), apply to that direct track as soon as you’re ready, rather than waiting, since Wema Bank has historically closed these applications once sufficient qualifying candidates are found rather than on a fixed calendar date.
- If your startup is earlier-stage, consider entering through Hackaholics 7.0’s Startup Pitch, Hackathon, or Social Impact tracks instead, since this year’s competition is confirmed open as of July 2026, with strong performers progressing toward the Accelerator through the Grand Finale.
- Check the official Hackaholics website directly for the current closing date, since Wema Bank has stated this will be confirmed and communicated on the platform itself rather than fixed in advance.
- Sign up for Hackaholics’ own alert system if available, since the programme has offered opportunity alerts matched to applicants’ profiles in past cycles, which can help you avoid missing a closing date that isn’t fixed months in advance.
Deadline
There is no single fixed deadline currently published for either the standalone Accelerator track or Hackaholics 7.0 overall — Wema Bank has stated the exact closing date is still to be confirmed. Historically, standalone Accelerator applications have stayed open until qualifying candidates are identified, rather than closing on a set calendar date, while Hackaholics 7.0 (opened July 2026) runs through multiple stages, including a nationwide pitch tour across 10 centres in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, before its Grand Finale. Check the official Hackaholics website directly for the current status rather than relying on any fixed date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an application fee for Hackaholics or the Accelerator?
No. Wema Bank states explicitly that applying to and participating in Hackaholics, including the Accelerator, is completely free, with no registration fees or hidden costs.
My startup is still pre-revenue — can I still get into the Accelerator?
Not directly. The standalone Accelerator track requires at least two years of operation with actual revenue generation. Earlier-stage startups should consider entering through Hackaholics 7.0’s Startup Pitch, Hackathon, or Social Impact tracks instead, with the possibility of progressing toward the Accelerator through strong performance at the Grand Finale.
Is this only open to Nigerian startups?
The Accelerator specifically requires Nigerian registration and operation. The broader Hackaholics platform has expanded its reach across Africa in recent editions, with a particular focus on Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, so check the specific track’s eligibility if you’re based outside Nigeria.
What happens if I’m not sure which track fits my startup?
Review your operational history and revenue status against the Accelerator’s specific two-year, revenue-generating criteria. If you don’t yet meet that bar, the competitive Hackaholics 7.0 tracks are likely the better entry point for your current stage.
Disclaimer: All programme details and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official and reported sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice, particularly closing dates, which Wema Bank has not yet fixed. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Hackaholics website before submitting an application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Wema Bank Plc.
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