TN Naija has announced the 2026 edition of Connect & Ignite (CXI’26), a full-day technology and business gathering designed to connect African founders, engineers, operators and investors building across the United Kingdom and Africa.
Scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, the event will take place under the theme, “Unlocking Opportunities Across Borders,” bringing together more than 400 participants for conversations focused on building businesses, accessing capital, entering new markets and developing cross-border partnerships.
Rather than positioning CXI’26 as another conventional technology conference, TN Naija is creating a platform specifically focused on the opportunities and challenges that come with operating across the UK–Africa technology corridor.
The event is expected to attract predominantly Nigerian and other African technology professionals in the UK, including startup founders, engineers, operators and investors. Venture capital firms, corporate organisations, innovation hubs and other ecosystem stakeholders are also expected to participate.
“The corridor is the community, where deals happen, markets are entered, and careers are built across borders,” said Dele Bakare, Director at TN Naija.
The programme will feature a combination of keynote conversations, fireside discussions and structured breakout sessions designed to facilitate practical conversations around some of the issues shaping cross-border technology and entrepreneurship.
Four core tracks, Build, Raise, Expand and Lead, will address areas including technology and engineering, fundraising and investment, market expansion, leadership and professional growth.
Participants will also have access to structured huddle sessions covering topics such as fundraising, engineering talent, fintech regulation and cross-border immigration, providing opportunities for attendees to exchange practical insights and explore potential collaborations.
A new feature of this year’s programme is Corridor Honours, an awards segment recognising founders, operators, investors and community builders contributing to the growth of the UK–Africa technology ecosystem.
Award categories will span entrepreneurship, engineering, investment, community building and technology impact, including Cross-Border Startup of the Year, Female Founder of the Year, Engineering Excellence, Emerging Investor of the Year, Community Builder Award, FinTech Impact Award and GovTech Innovation Award.
The experience will continue beyond the daytime programme with a structured evening social designed to encourage meaningful connections rather than conventional networking.
Activities will include timed speed-networking rounds, a 60-second founder pitch wall, a “Find Your Co-Founder” matching activity and the Corridor Wall, where participants can share what they are building, what they need and what they can offer.
The evening will conclude with an Afrobeats-focused social experience.
For TN Naija, the choice of Birmingham is deliberate. The city is home to a growing technology ecosystem and one of the United Kingdom’s most diverse populations, making it a strategic meeting point for professionals and businesses operating across borders.
The event is also designed to create value for organisations looking to engage directly with the UK–Africa technology ecosystem. Sponsorship opportunities are available for organisations seeking brand visibility, strategic positioning and access to founders, technology professionals and potential deal flow.
“Connect & Ignite is about creating the room where the right people can meet, exchange ideas and turn relationships into opportunities,” the organisers said.
As African technology professionals increasingly build careers, companies and investment relationships across multiple markets, CXI’26 aims to strengthen the networks connecting talent and capital between the UK and Africa.
TN Naija describes the event as a platform to connect, build and scale — bringing together the people already working across the corridor and those looking to become part of it.
Registration for Connect & Ignite 2026 is currently open.
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