The Nigerian startup and business ecosystem is set to once again host one of its most candid founder-focused gatherings as UnwindFest by YellowLyfe prepares for the 10th edition of its flagship experience, Founders Rant X. Scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the event will take place at the Alliance Française Lagos and is expected to convene more than 150 founders, CEOs, and senior operators across diverse sectors.
Positioned as a space for unfiltered dialogue rather than polished success narratives, Founders Rant X continues its tradition of spotlighting the lived realities of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The focus remains firmly on the everyday complexities of building and sustaining businesses in a volatile and rapidly evolving environment.
This year’s edition brings together a cross-section of influential voices from real estate, media, technology, and ecosystem development. Among the headline speakers is Paul Onwuanibe, Founder and CEO of Landmark Africa, who will deliver the keynote address centered on scaling enterprises and the long-term future of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. He will be joined by Katharina Link, CEO of Pulse Africa, alongside Kehinde Ogundare, Damilola Teida, Fola Olatunji-David, and Kelechi Nwaozuzu, each contributing perspectives shaped by experience across different layers of the business landscape.
Rather than focusing on conventional panel discussions that emphasize success stories alone, the program is designed to confront the more difficult and often under-discussed aspects of building a business. Conversations will explore topics such as hiring challenges, pricing strategies, team management, capital constraints, and the ongoing uncertainty that founders must navigate in the Nigerian market.
According to Seyi Olaniyan, Convener of UnwindFest, the initiative was born out of a gap in the ecosystem’s conversation style. He notes that many founders often operate without access to honest context about how others are navigating similar challenges. This edition, he explains, is intended to deepen those conversations by bringing more experienced voices into the room and equipping participants with insights that can directly inform their decisions.
Now marking another milestone for UnwindFest, the 10th edition reinforces its broader mission of building intentional spaces for reflection, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among founders and operators. The platform, powered by YellowLyfe, continues to position itself as a bridge between community, storytelling, and practical business learning.
Support for this year’s gathering comes from partners including Cleva Banking and Tech Pression, both aligned with the goal of fostering more sustainable business growth within the ecosystem.
Tickets for Founders Rant X are available via Unwindfest.com, while updates and ongoing discussions can be followed on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn via @UnwindFest.