O&J Capital, iworld and Mirsatori Pitch Startup Visas to Nigerian Founders

By Olivia Hart

Three firms — O&J Capital, iworld and Mirsatori — are marketing structured startup-and-residency pathways into Spain and France as an alternative to traditional relocation for Nigerian entrepreneurs, arguing that founder visas backed by government agencies offer a legal, investment-protected route into Europe. The pitch was made at a recent engagement with the business community in Lagos.

The programs the firms cite are real administrative mechanisms: startup routes endorsed by ENISA in Spain and the Ministry of Economy in France. Applicants must, according to the promoters, find appropriate co-founders and secure the necessary permits to do business. The framing is economic contribution rather than migration.

Johnson Anorh, CEO of O&J Capital, said Nigerian entrepreneurs must begin to think of doing business in the European market legally, and that this is needed to contribute to their nation's economy.

"Expanding abroad often presents hurdles, particularly regarding trust, guarantees, and navigating bureaucratic language barriers," Anorh said. "Firms like O&J Capital, iworld and Mirsatori, work closely with Nigerian clients to bridge these gaps by pairing vetted entrepreneurs with comprehensive legal and corporate support structures. By utilizing these structured startup and residency programs, Nigerian entrepreneurs can successfully protect their investments, and establish a permanent commercial footprint across Europe."

What exactly is on offer?

The three firms present themselves as intermediaries. They pair vetted Nigerian entrepreneurs with legal and corporate support, help draft tailored business proposals, and provide immigration support.

Maksin Mayer Nikitin, Head of the Migration Department at Mirsatori, said the collaboration connects Nigerian entrepreneurs with European markets through startup-based programmes.

"The partnership is to guide Nigerian business owners through the legal and regulatory requirements for establishing operations in Spain and France respectively," Nikitin said. "Startup creation could provide an alternative pathway for qualified entrepreneurs in Agriculture, IT, construction and logistics seeking to establish a business presence in these two countries."

Four sectors are named: agriculture, IT, construction and logistics. No figures were disclosed — no fees, no applicant numbers, no success rates. That absence matters for anyone weighing the offer.

Is this citizenship by investment?

The firms say no. Arturs Janis Plepsis, General Manager of iworld, framed residency through startup creation as an entry mechanism.

"The way we are promoting here, getting a residency through startup creation is a perfect entry ticket to these countries now as they need partners to help contribute their own economy," Plepsis said.

"The initiative does not involve purchasing citizenship but focuses on providing professional guidance for applicants seeking lawful entry and opportunities to establish businesses in Spain and France," he said.

The disclaimer is explicit, and it addresses a sensitive point: European Union states have faced pressure over golden-visa schemes, and Spain moved to wind down its property-backed programme. Distinguishing startup residency from citizenship purchases is a positioning choice as much as a legal one.

What the firms did not say

No participant in the Lagos engagement disclosed costs, timelines, rejection rates or the criteria ENISA or the French Ministry of Economy apply when evaluating a startup application. The claim that applicants "can successfully protect their investments" is a promise, not a guarantee. Nobody addressed what happens to an entrepreneur whose startup fails after relocation, or how capital brought into Spain or France is treated if a permit lapses.

The argument that diaspora business success feeds back into Nigeria's economy is also asserted rather than demonstrated. No data on remittances, return investment or job creation from previously relocated founders accompanied the pitch.

What the firms are selling is access to two government-endorsed startup residency systems, with themselves as the guide through the paperwork. Whether the value lies in the programs or in the intermediaries is a question the Lagos audience will have to price on its own.