Risevest CEO Ifeanya Urum Joins SEDC VC Competition

Ifeanya Urum, the founder and CEO of Risevest, has been named a judge for the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Venture Capital Competition. This competition is part of a flagship initiative designed to accelerate entrepreneurship and venture creation across Nigeria's South East region.

The program aims to identify high-potential startups and connect emerging founders with funding opportunities and mentorship from a network of investors. Urum joins a distinguished panel that includes Ndubisi Ekekwe, lead faculty at Tekedia Institute; Eliez Ajah, head of job creation at 3MTT; Yemisi Ajeo of the Idea Fund; and Nkem Nweke from Lagos Business School.

The initiative comes at a crucial time as discussions around decentralizing Africa's startup ecosystem gain traction, aiming to expand access to venture capital beyond traditional commercial hubs. Urum emphasized the importance of building systems to identify and support entrepreneurial talent early, ensuring that innovative ideas can thrive and contribute to long-term economic growth.