# AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program Allocates $168K in Grants to African Onchain Builders


By [AyaHQ](https://paragraph.com/@ayahq) · 2025-03-28

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Building in Web3 isn’t just about great ideas; it’s about execution. Yet, over 80% of builders never make it to the market phase. 

Why? Lack of funding, mentorship, and the right network to scale. For many African founders, the dream of launching a Web3 startup often fades before it even takes off.

You've got tons of amazing ideas that could change lives and transform various sectors, but these Ideas burn out before they even see the light of day, not for lack of brilliance, but because building is tough, lonely, and often underfunded.

Now, imagine you have a community that works twice as hard as you to ensure your dream product/project becomes a reality… a successful one at that!

At the [AyaHQ](https://ayahq.com) x [Lisk](https://x.com/LiskHQ) incubation program, we not only believe in your vision but also give you the funding and mentorship to make it real.

With over $168K in grants, hands-on mentorship, and technical training, our initiative is giving African Web3 startups the tools to go from raw ideas to market-ready products.

The initiative, launched in October 2024, aims to empower and equip early-stage African blockchain startups with the resources they need to thrive.

The success of our graduated startups in our very first cohort is the evidence you need to join a community like ours.

Lets walk you through a bit about the first cohort;

From over **10** countries, we received over **116** applications**;** **25** were shortlisted, **12** participated in the founders summit, and **6** successfully graduated.  
  
Over a tough four-month ride, these 12 ventures didn’t just survive; they built, battled, and emerged as key players in Africa’s Web3 ecosystem.  
  
The incubation program concluded in a high-stakes Founders Summit in Kilifi, Kenya, where founders pitched their visions to investors and industry giants.

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**The Journey: From Ideas to Market-Ready Products**

*   Phase 1 (Oct 21 – 15, 2024): Over 41 hours of advisory sessions, founders ripped apart their ideas. What’s the problem? Who’s it for? How do you land your first believers/customers?
    
*   Phase 2 (Nov 25 – Dec 13, 2024): In 43 hours of grind, MVPs took shape. One fintech crew pivoted twice, tripling users overnight. Failure? Just fuel.
    
*   Phase 3 (Jan 13 – Feb 8, 2025): A high-stakes finale in Kilifi, Kenya, where founders pitched to investors, secured partnerships, and set their startups on a growth trajectory. Kilifi’s 54-hour summit was a pressure cooker, but like one of the founders said “It was gold.”
    

The AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program isn't just about theory, it is about building real-world solutions. Out of the 25 shortlisted ventures, 12 finalists stood out. Take a closer look at some of the visionary projects that emerged from the first cohort. You can check them out [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mFGz7c54JwPnpPw69apgIGw5uu73tuA5/view)

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**The Impact: More Than Just Funding**

The numbers tell a powerful story:

*    **88%** of participants exceeded their expectations.
    
*   **76%** refined their MVPs and secured early adopters.
    
*    **94%** grew as leaders, ready to scale globally.
    

From product development to marketing and leadership, every aspect of these ventures evolved. Founders also highlighted the value of personalized mentorship, one-on-one sessions, and practical tools like templates and pitch practice.   

The message is clear as AyaHQ and Lisk welcome future cohorts: Africa is not just a participant in the blockchain revolution but a leader.  

By providing tailored support, real funding, and access to an invaluable network, the AyaHQ x Lisk Incubation Program is equipping African startups to shape the future of decentralized technology.  

And for the next wave of innovators, the journey is just beginning. 

Registrations for the 3rd cohort comes up in July, 2025. 

Africa’s blockchain revolution is already making waves, and AyaHQ x Lisk are handing out the keys to finding your balance. With 12 startups transformed, 6 graduated, and a ripple effect felt across 10 countries, our program’s proving one thing: give African founders the right tools, and they’ll build empires. So, what’s your move?

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*Originally published on [AyaHQ](https://paragraph.com/@ayahq/ayahq-x-lisk-incubation-program-allocates-dollar168k-in-grants-to-african-onchain-builders)*
