Risevest CEO Appointed Judge for SEDC Venture Capital Competition

Eleanya Urum Eke, Founder and CEO of Risevest, has been announced as one of the virtual interview judges and a prominent figure in the South‑East Venture Capital Programme Pitch Competition. The competition is a flagship initiative of the South‑East Development Commission, which aims to accelerate entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture creation throughout Nigeria’s South‑East region.

The programme, organised under the SEDC’s broader economic development agenda, was designed to spot high‑potential startups and emerging founders from the South‑East and connect them with funding opportunities, mentorship, investor networks, and long‑term venture support.

Eke joins a distinguished panel that includes entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders such as Ndubisi Ekekwe, Lead Faculty at Tekedia Institute; Eliezer Ajah, Head of Job Creation at 3MTT; Yemisi Ajeoo of Ideas to Funded; and Nkem Nweke, Growth Advancement Partner at Lagos Business School/PAU, among others.

The pitch competition arrives at a time when discussions about decentralising Africa’s startup ecosystem and expanding access to venture capital beyond traditional commercial hubs are gaining traction.

As Founder of Risevest, Eke has become closely associated with initiatives focused on opportunity creation, youth development, and long‑term economic participation through technology and innovation.

Speaking about the importance of the programme, Eke stressed the urgent need to build systems that identify and support entrepreneurial talent early.

“One of the most expensive things a society can do is allow brilliant people to remain undiscovered. Across the South‑East, there is no shortage of intelligence or ambition. What has often been missing is access: access to capital, mentorship, networks, and the kind of visibility that allows great ideas to move beyond survival mode. If people can build despite constant limitations, imagine what happens when they finally have access to the right environment,” Eke said.

He added that supporting founders at an early stage is essential to building sustainable economic growth across the continent.

“The future of Africa’s economy will be shaped by people building practical solutions to real problems. Programmes like this matter because they create room for innovation to be taken seriously before it is forced to leave the continent to survive,” he continued.

Beyond venture capital and technology, Eke has also backed several education and youth‑focused initiatives in recent years, including contributions to Chess in Slums Africa, the South‑East Olympiad, and academic infrastructure projects aimed at improving learning and research environments in Nigeria.