Aboyeji mentors Teesas Summer School kids, offers startup tips before contest
Nigerian entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji spent a day mentoring children aged seven to 18 at the Teesas Summer School, listening to their business ideas, challenging their thinking and sharing practical tips to help them refine concepts ahead of the Startup Spark 2.0 pitch competition. Most teams incorporated artificial intelligence and mobile apps into ideas spanning automotive technology, EdTech, HealthTech and FashionTech.
Notable presentations included an EdTech app by 11‑year‑old Ugobuze Kaitochukwu that works online and offline, using a personalised AI to generate courses in real time for underserved communities; a self‑driving, solar‑powered car with adaptive technology and smart sensors presented by 10‑year‑old Aloba Oluwatoni Joel; and a 24‑hour cafe concept by 16‑year‑old Destiny Agbodu that uses robots for welcome and big‑screen orders to free staff for cooking and service.
After feedback, teams will submit video pitches; judges will select three teams to face the top three from the second cohort at the Startup Spark 2.0 competition scheduled for August. Teesas founder Osayi Izedonmwen said the programme nurtures children who build, not just dream, and the creativity shown proves they are on the right path. The mentorship is part of Teesas Education’s effort to expose young learners to accomplished entrepreneurs who can inspire them to turn ideas into viable businesses.
The first cohort ends on August 7; registrations are ongoing for the second cohort starting August 10. Parents can sign up their children using https://teesas.com/summerschool