Nigerian small business owners can now apply for the TBH MSME PITCH-A-TON 1.0, a funding and growth programme from The Business Hub (TBH) in partnership with Sterling Bank. Selected businesses can access up to ₦10 million in funding, plus mentorship, digital tools and market access over 12 months. Applying is free and open nationwide.
Read This First: It Is Mostly a Loan
Headlines call this a “hybrid grant and loan”. The official Terms and Conditions explain what that means:
- 5 Grand Winners receive a funding award made up of 20% non-repayable grant and 80% repayable loan. For example, on ₦10 million that would be ₦2 million grant and ₦8 million loan.
- The grant is only paid if Sterling Bank approves the loan. No loan approval means no grant.
- 50 finalists can get loans at a discounted rate — fully repayable, with no grant.
- All funding depends on Sterling Bank’s own credit checks, so taking part does not guarantee any money.
This can still be valuable if your business is ready to borrow and repay. If you are looking for free money only, this is not the right programme.
Benefits
- up to ₦10 million in funding (grant + loan for winners; discounted loans for finalists)
- mentorship and advisory services
- business diagnostics and digital tools
- market access opportunities
- a long-term banking relationship with Sterling Bank
- a chance to pitch to industry experts and financial partners
Eligibility
- a Nigerian MSME — open in all 36 states and the FCT
- registered with CAC, or willing to register before receiving any funding
- a valid Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- the business is operational, with a clear business model and growth potential
- consistent transactions and revenue shown in bank statements
- needs funding of up to ₦10 million
- has, or will open, a Sterling Bank business account
- signed up on The Business Hub (TBH) platform
- eligible to borrow from Sterling Bank
Documents You Will Need
- CAC registration documents
- your TIN
- your BVN
- valid ID of the business owner
- proof of address
- bank statements: businesses registered for 3+ years need 12 months of business account statements; younger businesses need personal statements for the period before registration, plus business statements if available
- any other evidence of business performance
The form also asks for your sector, state, annual revenue, monthly profit range and any existing loans.
How the Selection Works
- Apply online with your business details and funding request.
- Screening and evaluation of your application and financials.
- Pitch — shortlisted businesses pitch to an expert panel.
- Funding and onboarding for winners and finalists approved by Sterling Bank, followed by 12 months of support.
Winners are judged on the strength and scalability of the business model, growth potential, financial viability and ability to repay, and the quality of the application.
How to Apply
- Sign up on The Business Hub platform.
- Open a Sterling Bank business account if you don’t have one (you can do this during the application).
- Gather your CAC documents, TIN, BVN, ID, proof of address and bank statements.
- Complete the application on the official TBH MSME PITCH-A-TON website.
- Read the Terms and Conditions before you submit.
Deadline: no fixed closing date has been published. TBH says applications stay open until the stated deadline or until capacity is reached, so apply early. Questions: [email protected].
Tips Before You Apply
- Only request an amount you can realistically repay from your business income.
- Make sure your bank statements show regular sales — transaction history is a key requirement.
- Ask Sterling Bank about the interest rate, repayment period and any collateral before accepting a loan.
- Never pay anyone to “guarantee” selection. TBH says the application is completely free.
