By Princess Adeola Shittu
In a world where technology is reshaping how businesses operate, the 2025 Africa Startup Festival (ASF), proudly sponsored by Spark Africa, provided the perfect platform for African entrepreneurs, startups, and tech enthusiasts to explore innovative solutions driving the continent’s economic growth. The festival, held at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together over 3,000 participants, including founders, investors, product managers, and tech professionals.
Among the standout exhibitors was NexHRM, returning for its second consecutive year after debuting in 2024. Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Damilola Ogedengbe, explained that the company’s presence was aimed at networking, connecting with prospective clients, and showcasing their all-in-one HR platform designed for small and large businesses.
“We are exhibiting one of our products, NEXHRM, an all-in-one HR software designed to help organizations automate processes and operate more efficiently. With NEXHRM, companies spend less time on operational tasks and more time on strategy,” Ogedengbe said.
NexHRM’s platform covers payroll, recruitment, performance management, leave management, and other core HR functions, using automation to minimize errors and boost efficiency. As part of its promotional drive, the company is offering a one-year free subscription for organizations onboarding now, allowing them to experience the software firsthand.
“NEXHRM is built for all businesses, whether you have two employees or 20,000. To access the one-year free offer, simply contact us at info@nexhrm.com. We’ll provide a demo, understand your needs, and onboard your company accordingly,” Ogedengbe added.
Francis Oladosu, CTO and Co-Founder of NexHRM, also highlighted the company’s innovations during the festival, emphasizing automation, cloud-based security, and AI-powered recruitment tools.
“Our platform is fully cloud-based on Google Cloud, with multiple layers of security, especially for payroll. We integrate Paystack for payroll automation and offer a comprehensive recruitment system where AI scans resumes, scores candidates, and streamlines the hiring process,” Oladosu explained.
Moses Durosaro, CEO and Co-Founder of NexHRM, spoke about the platform’s affordability and value proposition for African businesses.
“Our pricing is designed to be accessible. Many foreign HR software providers price in dollars, making it difficult for Nigerian businesses, especially SMEs. We want every company to benefit from automation without financial strain,” Durosaro said.
The festival also provided an opportunity for collaboration and benchmarking.
“We’ve met several organizations offering complementary solutions. While competition is healthy, we are confident in our platform’s ability to fill gaps and deliver value,” Oladosu said.
NexHRM’s tailored approach for Africa addresses the limitations of foreign HR solutions that often do not align with local regulatory and business realities.
“Our aim is to provide solutions specifically for African businesses. Many foreign platforms are not suited to our regulatory environment, and we wanted to change that,” the team explained.
The response at the booth was overwhelmingly positive, with startups, investors, and ecosystem partners exploring NexHRM’s HR, CRM, and finance tools, all designed to streamline operations while remaining affordable for small and large enterprises alike.
Reflecting on their journey, the CEO shared their long-term vision:
“Our platform is designed to support businesses end-to-end, from HR management to finance, procurement, CRM, etc. We are committed to creating a transformative experience for every client that joins our ecosystem,” they said.
As the Africa Startup Festival continues to grow, NexHRM remains at the forefront of delivering impactful, homegrown solutions that empower African enterprises to thrive in an increasingly digital world.