The CP Innovate Pitch and Grant 2026 has once again shown how targeted funding and mentorship can push African startups forward. Held on May 2, 2026 in Lekki, Lagos, the initiative by Crosspoint Innovate awarded a total of $5,000 to promising early-stage businesses. This year’s edition placed a strong spotlight on practical innovation, with solutions that address real industry gaps and create jobs.
At the center of it all was Navidyn Limited, which emerged as the overall winner, taking home a $4,000 grant. Tuntunre followed as runner-up, securing $1,000. Both companies reflect the growing diversity of African entrepreneurship, from deep tech to sustainable fashion.
Building Local Solutions for Critical Industries
Navidyn Limited stood out for its bold approach to solving challenges in the energy sector. Navidyn is an engineering and technology company building intelligent inspection and monitoring systems for critical underwater infrastructure. The company is the first underwater robotics startup in Sub-Saharan Africa focused on designing and manufacturing Remotely Operated Vehicles. These robots are built to serve oil and gas companies across Nigeria and the wider region.
Their innovation directly addresses a long-standing problem. Underwater inspection services are often expensive and sourced from outside Africa. Navidyn is changing this by building affordable, locally made solutions. Their AI-powered underwater robot is designed for pipeline inspection, cable checks and offshore wind monitoring. It uses cameras and sonar technology to detect faults early before they lead to oil spills, outages or damage to coastal communities.
The company’s win came after a competitive process that attracted over 700 applications. Only five finalists made it to the live pitch stage, where they presented before a panel that included impact investors such as Kemi Olajide from Africa Climate Ventures.
Speaking after the win, founder Daniel Balogun pointed to the effort behind their success. He credited the team for the “rigorous application process” and confirmed that the grant will be used to scale operations and continue developing their locally manufactured ROVs for the Nigerian oil and gas sector. The founding team also includes David Ojabo, Abbas Ogaji and Shahir Abdulsalam, each contributing to building a company that blends engineering with local industry needs.
A Young Brand Making a Strong Impression
While Navidyn took the top prize, Tuntunre captured attention as one of the youngest businesses in the competition. Founded almost three months before the event, the brand is already showing strong traction in sustainable fashion.
Led by Temilade Salami, Tuntunre is a circular fashion brand that transforms discarded denim into high-quality accessories. The name itself means “This is New” in Yoruba, reflecting the brand’s mission to rethink waste. One of their standout products is a bag made from used jeans, showcasing both creativity and environmental responsibility.
Temilade shared the journey behind the brand’s early success. “Almost 3 months ago, I launched TUNTUNRE. Two days ago, we won our first grant. I pitched TUNTUNRE and placed 2nd out of 5 finalists and 700 applicants, winning $1,000,” she said. She added that the business has already upcycled over 600 pairs of jeans, generated more than $6,500 in revenue and is seeing growing demand both online and at pop-ups.
Beyond products, Tuntunre is building a broader vision. The company is creating jobs for young artisans while introducing ideas like Digital Product Passports to improve transparency in fashion. “Looking forward to our growth as we continue to rethink sustainable fashion and employ young people,” Temilade noted, highlighting how the grant will support the next phase of expansion.
Supporting Early-Stage Founders to Scale
The CP Innovate Pitch and Grant supports startups at a critical stage of growth. Organised by Crosspoint Innovate, an arm of Crosspoint Church Lagos, the programme offers more than funding. It also provides mentorship and structured business guidance. As part of the process, applicants submit a two-minute video pitch outlining their business model, traction, and how the grant will support their next phase.
The initiative is steadily establishing itself as a launchpad for African founders. By combining financial support with mentorship, it helps startups move from early ideas to execution. As it grows, there is an opportunity to expand its impact through larger funding pools and additional support such as investor connections and accelerator programmes.
The 2026 edition has already delivered strong outcomes. Navidyn is advancing local engineering in the energy sector, while Tuntunre is reshaping sustainable fashion with clear social impact. Together, they demonstrate what can happen when early-stage founders receive the right support at the right time.
