UK market access for Nigerian founders.
A focused, high-bar programme from Nigeria into the UK.
The bar is high. The strongest companies feed into the pan-African pipeline that connects to the Global Entrepreneur Programme and our UK partners.
Two tiers, focused by design.
What is it?
A live, expert-led webinar series that gives you the full map of UK market entry before you commit to anything: an open orientation session on the Sandbox and the UK opportunity, then expert webinars working through setup, structuring, fundraising and go-to-market. Free, open, and always built around your questions.
Who is it for?
Founders at the exploring stage. If the UK is on your radar at all, even as a distant question, this is your front door. You don’t need a plan, a UK entity or a decision, just the appetite to understand the UK value proposition and what entering the market would take. The webinars are the educational and capability-building layer of the Sandbox, designed to move you from maybe to an informed decision.
How does it work?
The series opens with Session 0, a one-hour orientation AMA hosted by the Sandbox team: what the Sandbox is, how the tiers fit together, and which support to apply for. Each webinar that follows is a two-hour interactive session, hosted by the Sandbox with two guest market entry experts, mapping a key component of UK market entry with live Q&A throughout. Registration is instant: no application review, no selection. Pick the sessions you want and you’re confirmed. From your first session you’re in the Sandbox system, which means we can point you at the right next step when you’re ready for it. Dates and registration for the current series are in the programme calendar.
Not actively planning UK entry right now? That’s exactly who the webinars are for. Attending never obliges you to go further, and it never rules you out of office hours or future in person engagements. Companies regularly graduate from one tier to the next.
What is it?
Direct 1:1 time with the Sandbox team, and a tailored UK market entry and feasibility roadmap built for your business. One engagement can save you months of guesswork: structuring, setup costs, routes to market, regulation, who to know on landing, all worked through for your business, not in the abstract.
Who is it for?
Founders at the point of decision or action on UK entry. You’ve either decided the UK is your route and are working out how, or you’re seriously weighing it against other markets and need expert input to decide. If you’re still at the general education stage, start with the webinars, they’ll get you here faster than you think.
How does it work?
Apply through the single Sandbox form; we acknowledge every application within 48 hours, and selection follows ahead of each cycle, with dates in the programme calendar. Sessions run 1:1 with the Sandbox team, virtually and are fully subsidised. The support runs in three steps:
Step 01 · Deep dive session. One to one, in person or virtual. We get under the hood of your business and its UK fit.
Step 02 · Your market entry roadmap. We build your tailored UK market entry and feasibility roadmap.
Step 03 · Live whiteboard session. One to one again. We walk the roadmap with you and plan your next steps.
The whole engagement asks for around four hours of your time: an hour for each session, a short prep guide before the first, and time with your roadmap before the last. Companies that come through office hours ready for the UK are connected onward into the pan-African platform and its partner network.
Applying and not being selected this intake doesn’t close the door. Your application keeps you in the pipeline for the next round, and the webinars stay open to you throughout.
One application covers both tiers. Tell us what you’re interested in, give us a picture of where your business is at, and we’ll confirm your webinars instantly and acknowledge your application within 48 hours, with selection dates in the programme calendar. Whatever you choose now, you’re in the Sandbox system, and the deeper tiers stay open to you as you progress.
Two tiers, focused by design.
On the ground in Lagos for West Africa Tech Week.
August to October. Sharp, focused and anchored by Lagos.
What Happens
Sessions in the phase
What happens
Key Dates
Session 0 · Sandbox Orientation
Wed 19 Aug, 11:00–12:00 WAT · Virtual · 1 hour
Webinar 1 · Setting Up in the UK 101
Wed 26 Aug, 10:00–12:00 WAT · Virtual · 2 hours, interactive
Webinar 2 · Structuring for Investment & Growth
Wed 2 Sep, 10:00–12:00 WAT · Virtual · 2 hours, interactive
Webinar 3 · Go-To-Market in the UK
Wed 9 Sep, 10:00–12:00 WAT · Virtual · 2 hours, interactive
Built with the UK-Nigeria ecosystem.
The UK Nigeria Sandbox is delivered in collaboration with key Market Enablement Partners who provide founders with real-world tangible support on Market Entry.
Nigerian founders through
the programme.
from the programme.
Shuttlers
Tix
FAQ
Nigerian tech founders building toward international growth: from those taking their first serious look at what going global involves, through to early scale-ups and growth-stage companies actively considering or pursuing UK market entry. You do not need to have decided on the UK to take part. The programme builds the knowledge, networks and readiness to make that decision, whether the UK is the final path or not.
No. The UK Nigeria Sandbox is a fully subsidised programme, funded by the UK Nigeria Tech Hub, a UK Government initiative supporting Nigeria's tech ecosystem. Webinars are free and open to all. Office hours are selective, entered via application.
One application covers everything: it qualifies you for the right tier of support and routes you to the next intake. If international expansion is a new consideration for your business, start with the webinars; they are the natural first step. If you are already past that phase and at the point of decision or action, apply directly and you will be considered for office hours and in-person engagements.
The UK Nigeria Sandbox is complete in itself: its job is to build your capability and readiness, whichever route your growth takes. For companies that come through the programme successfully and choose the UK, we route you onward where appropriate: into the pan-African UK Africa Sandbox's additional support such as the Global Entrepreneur Programme (the UK Government scheme that helps international founders establish and grow their businesses in Britain), and our consortium of growth and exit-stage partners.
Ready? Apply now.
Complete our application, whether you know what support you want to access, we will recommend and route you to everything that fits your stage.
