The inaugural cohort of the Fashion Advancement and Startup Training (F.A.S.T) Accelerator has completed its programme with a Pitch and Graduation Ceremony held at the British Council in Lagos.

The accelerator, jointly organised by FashionEVO Programs and 360Creative Innovation Hub, was established to equip emerging fashion entrepreneurs with practical skills in business management, financial literacy, marketing and other areas essential for building sustainable businesses.

Selected participants received fully funded training through physical and virtual sessions focused on brand positioning, financial literacy, storytelling, marketing, business pitching and strategic expansion.

The programme culminated in a pitch competition where 10 finalists presented their business models, identified market opportunities and outlined growth plans before facilitators, industry representatives and other stakeholders.

Moses Agosu of MAK emerged as the winner and received a N500,000 cash prize from FashionEVO. His prize package also included business consultation, brand visibility and an opportunity to showcase his business at an upcoming FashionEVO event.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FashionEVO and YD Company, Dr Yetty Ogunnubi, said the accelerator was established to address the business knowledge gap facing emerging fashion entrepreneurs.

“F.A.S.T was created from the understanding that talent alone is not enough to build a sustainable fashion business,” Ogunnubi said.

She explained that the programme was intended to strengthen participants’ business knowledge, improve their understanding of their respective markets, equip them with practical strategies and build the confidence required to grow their ventures.

“This first cohort is the beginning of a long journey of growth and impact,” she added.

Elizabeth Funmilayo Aweda of Fúmi emerged as the second-place winner, while Kusoro Samson of Kush Atelier took third place.

The three top finalists also received British Council gift packages and three-month onboarding opportunities with the Idozi Collective Retail Store.

The Co-founder and Managing Director of 360Creative Innovation Hub, Blessing Ebere Achu, emphasised the role of creativity and collaboration in developing the participating businesses.

She encouraged the graduates to put the knowledge gained during the accelerator into practice as they work to strengthen their businesses.

Deputy Country Director at the British Council, Chilufya Besa, said completing the programme should serve as the starting point for further opportunities for the participants.

“Today is about recognising your commitment, creativity, and hard work, but more importantly, it is about celebrating what comes next,” Besa said.

The event ended with the certification of the cohort and a business showcase, during which participants displayed their collections to facilitators, industry representatives and other stakeholders.

Through its combination of creative development and practical business training, the accelerator exposed emerging fashion entrepreneurs to financial management, marketing, customer understanding and business pitching, among other areas considered critical to building viable fashion enterprises.

Source: msmeafricaonline.com