Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp 7.0: Over 10,000 SMEs Impacted

A Dream Turned Reality at Bootcamp 7.0

On November 9, we witnessed something incredible—Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp 7.0. I’ve been thinking about this for days, reflecting on how it all started and where we’ve come. It feels surreal, honestly. What started as a small idea back in 2018 has grown into something much bigger than I could’ve imagined. More than 10,000 SMEs have been impacted by this journey, and this year’s Bootcamp showed me that the best is yet to come.

This year’s edition was powerful. There’s something about being in a room full of passionate, driven entrepreneurs who are hungry to grow and succeed. We gathered at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos, a place buzzing with knowledge, strategy, and the real talk that only comes when you get down to the business of real business.

If you’ve been following this journey, you know we’re not just about handing out business tips. We believe in building something deeper—a community. A community that supports, educates, and empowers. Over the years, The Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp has evolved from a one-off event into a thriving space for SME growth. We’re not just giving you advice; we’re giving you the tools to succeed—through mentorship, micro-funding, and an ecosystem that continues to grow with you.

The energy at CLSME Bootcamp 7.0 was contagious. You could feel it in every speaker’s words, in every session, and most of all, in every conversation. Entrepreneurs walking out of those rooms with new ideas, refreshed perspectives, and actionable strategies to face today’s volatile market. That’s what makes this work so meaningful to me—it’s not just about ideas; it’s about execution.

If you missed it, check out our event photos, video highlights, and exclusive interviews. You can also download the 2024 Caladium Nigerian SME report here.

I’ll tell you one thing: I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m even more excited for where this journey is headed. To all the entrepreneurs who came to The Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp 7.0, thank you for showing up. You’ve made this event what it is, and together, we’re changing the game.

Here’s to the next chapter of this movement. Together, we’re not just talking about change; we’re making it happen.

Let’s keep pushing forward.

Warm regards,

Ayo Bankole Akintujoye

Convener Caladium Lagos SME Bootcamp & Caladium SME Community