By the time most people hear about a successful innovation, the hard part is already over.
What they don’t see are the early mornings spent disassembling prototypes, the sleepless nights troubleshooting circuitry, the blank stares from potential investors who just don’t get it, or worse, the silence. In Nigeria, this path is especially steep, but it’s also where some of the continent’s most promising solutions are quietly being built.
That’s exactly what made the recent LinkedIn Live session hosted by iFAIR and Innov8 Hub so refreshing. Titled “Innovating for Impact: From Prototype to Market Success,” the conversation didn’t revolve around shiny finished products. It focused on the journey; the lonely, messy, often invisible one.
…and that’s where iFAIR comes in.
Hardware is Hard. But It’s Necessary.
“Everything was built from scratch,” said Dozie Igweilo, founder of Quadloop and a fellow of iFAIR’s inaugural cohort. He wasn’t exaggerating.
Quadloop takes electronic waste like old laptop parts, busted circuits, and discarded batteries and transforms them into solar-powered hardware. Their flagship product, Idunnu Lantern, is made from over 70% recycled components. It’s not just functional. It’s beautiful. And it’s already lighting up off-grid communities in Nigeria.
But before it was a product, it was an idea. One Dozie tried (and failed) to fund. One he built with his own tools and tested by hand. One that gained structure, clarity, and serious forward momentum during his time at iFAIR.
“iFAIR gave me access to tools I couldn’t afford, engineers I couldn’t hire, and mentorship I didn’t even know I needed,” he said. “It gave me the confidence to take Quadloop from a local idea to a company with national relevance.”
Read Also: Scaling Local Innovation for Global Impact: Strategies for Founders
A Different Kind of Innovation Program
Despite the plethora of options in pitch contests and short-cycle accelerators, iFAIR feels different. It doesn’t just focus on pitch decks and valuations. It focuses on builders. On giving time, space, and resources to innovators developing solutions that require more than code — solutions that need welding equipment, sensors, labs, hands-on collaboration, and, above all, patience.
Backed by the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria and implemented by Innov8 Hub, iFAIR provides access to:
- Prototyping workshops with cutting-edge tools
- Mentorship from top engineers and product developers
- A community of peers solving real problems
- And a network of government and private-sector actors invested in the success of their work
And it works.
From heat-powered period pain relieving pads to modular agri-processing equipment and diagnostic health devices, iFAIR has quietly become one of the few programs in the country enabling deep-tech innovation at the grassroots.
Why This Matters Now
Across Africa, many innovators are building solutions for communities overlooked by big tech. But too often, these entrepreneurs don’t get the infrastructure support they need to scale.
iFAIR isn’t just a launchpad for early-stage founders; it’s a signal in the ecosystem.
It signals that Nigeria is ready to fund and support serious research and development efforts. It signals that local manufacturing isn’t a dream when it’s already happening. It signals that African founders don’t have to leave the continent to build world-class solutions. As Dozie put it, “What we need is belief. iFAIR believed in my work before anyone else did. That made the difference.”
Read Also: i-FAIR Success Story: Dozie Igweilo
iFAIR is Open to More Builders
As the latest iFAIR call closes, this isn’t just the end of an application cycle. It’s the start of something deeper.
If you’re an entrepreneur tinkering with a new product or a researcher with an idea that’s too bold for traditional funding, know this —you’re not alone. iFAIR believes in ideas like yours, and we offer you more than a seat at the table; we’ll hand you the tools to build your own.
? Missed the Live Conversation? You can still catch every insight from the session, ? Watch the LinkedIn Live Replay
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