Acecore wins TC Battlefield 2026 with $10,000 prize for home energy storage

Acecore’s winning product

Acecore secured the $10,000 grand prize at the TC Battlefield 2026 competition, held during the Moonshot by TechCabal event in Lagos on October 29. The startup manufactures home energy storage systems locally in Nigeria, pricing them over 20% below comparable imported products. Its base model starts at $5,250 and operates at a 62% margin, according to claims made during the competition.

The startup also offers a smart socket that allows users to remotely control household appliances. The win follows Nigeria’s rise as Africa’s second-largest importer of solar panels from China, with 1,721 megawatts imported in the year leading to June 2025.

Other finalists and their models

Supplya, a fintech platform, took second place and $5,000. The company provides credit to small shops and has extended over $150,000 since October 2024, with a reported 98% repayment rate.

Navidyn, which builds underwater robots for inspecting offshore oil and gas sites, finished third and won $2,500. A representative from energy conglomerate Sahara Group approached Navidyn during the event for a $5,000 inspection job, despite the product not yet being market-ready.

Seven other startups competed: Growwr (agritech), Kuraway (healthcare logistics), Fertitude (reproductive health), Lena (housing construction), QiqiFarms (agritech), Riwe (clean energy), and Swiftway Shippers (freight logistics).

Funding and residency opportunities

Navidyn, Supplya, and Fertitude earned spots in Antler’s residency programme, which offers up to $250,000 in pre-seed funding. The programme targets early-stage startups and provides access to Antler’s global network of investors and mentors.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Acecore’s victory underscores the potential for hardware startups in Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly those that localise production to undercut imports. The 62% margin it claims on its home battery system suggests a scalable model, even in a market where affordability remains a barrier. For founders, the competition’s lineup signals investor appetite for solutions beyond fintech, including maritime robotics and credit platforms for small merchants.

The involvement of Antler and the prize money—while modest—could serve as a springboard for startups like Navidyn and Supplya, which are addressing niche but critical gaps in industries like oil and gas and retail credit. Their inclusion in Antler’s residency programme also highlights the growing role of accelerators in backing pre-revenue ideas in Africa, provided they demonstrate traction or demand—such as Navidyn’s pre-launch contract with Sahara Group.

Key takeaways

• Acecore’s win highlights the growing viability of local manufacturing in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, offering a cost-competitive alternative to imported solutions.
• The competition’s focus on hardware and clean energy reflects rising investor and founder interest in sectors beyond fintech and software.
• Antler’s residency programme for Navidyn, Supplya, and Fertitude signals early-stage funding opportunities for startups in niche industries like maritime robotics and embedded finance.

Related on Lazyfounder

• TechCabal
• Antler
• More startup news