Connect with us

E-Business

Serial Entrepreneurs Tasks Entrepreneurs to Understand Business Fundamentals

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Emerging entrepreneurs have been urged to understand the fundamentals of a successful business before kick starting the journey of entrepreneurship.

Two successful and serial entrepreneurs, Simeon Ononobi, the founder of SimplePay and MyAdsApp and Adeoye Abodunrin, the ED of Xpos Technologies, were on hand to set the Startups present at the CFA’s Startups Hangout (May edition) on the right course.

The Startups were offered insight into what it takes to run successful startups.

CFA’s Startups Hangout is a monthly meetup, where Startups meet to learn and grow their businesses from successful Entrepreneurs that grace each edition of the Startups Hangout. The successful entrepreneurs divulge nuggets that assisted them in catapulting their various businesses into success as well as advice on what Startups should do to avoid pitfalls. Startups are also afforded the opportunity to network and synergize with one another.

The first invited Speaker, Simeon Ononobi, Founder of SimplePay and MyAdsApp, stated that he started venturing into business at the age of 16 by teaching people how to open emails at the University.

He later opened a cyber cafe and that was how he made his first million. He said venturing into businesses for him usually occurred from mistakes that caused him problems and the need to solve the problem by himself.

He stated that after solving the problems by himself, he now investigated to see that various other people had the same problems. This now gives him the opportunity to solve their problems for them at a price, hence, his starting a business in that line.

Simeon went on to consult for Guaranty Trust Bank PLC, offering to carry out the jib for free, but was eventually paid for his services.

His good work at Guaranty Trust Bank won him many more contracts, including YouWin, a Federal Government initiative. “Know the market you’re dealing with. Don’t be excited in entering every market. Start small”, Simeon advised the Startups present at the event. Simeon also advised that Startups should go into partnership with one another or even work with bigger entrepreneurs to have their dreams realised.

On his part, the second invited Speaker, Adeoye Abodunrin, ED, Xpos Technologies, stated that, Startups need to be level headed because they cannot afford to make mistakes as the odds are high against them.

He said that you cannot run an innovation business where your idea can be taken over by anyone with a deeper pocket, like you will run a traditional business that has a set format for its operations. He advised that anywhere the Startups see pain, discomfort and chaos, they should know that innovation is in the offing. “If you’re a Startup, you have to know how to convert pain into comfort in order to make money”, he stated.

He said that Startup businesses involves three stages that intersect each other and any Startup that wants to be successful should locate himself at the point where the three intersect. The thee are, Pain (human needs), Technology (technological understanding and how to supervise it) and Value (Business sense, creativity, funding and value creation). “Idea is cheap, but impact engineering is key”, Adeoye stated.

Adeoye went on to advice the Startups to allocate budget for Research and Development, no matter whether the Startup is at the Small approach stage (5% to 10%), Repeatable approach stage (40% to 50%) and Hybrid, but risky stage (70%).

Adeoye explained that the first point in the entrepreneurial journey is to understand the needs of the customers and identifying the target market. “You need to know exactly where you’re selling your products”.

He tasked entrepreneurs to have the broad knowledge of technology to afford then to supervise the tech aspect of their business.

“Technology is the key tool to make business flexible and it is important to understand how it works before you can start delegating responsibilities,” Adeoye said.

“If you’re thinking innovation, think about how to manage money, think about customers money, break even point, payback period, return on investment, future value of money, etc.”, Adeoye concluded.

The Hangout ended with the Startups asking the invited speakers questions to which relevant answers were given. Most of the Startups said they look forward to attend the June edition of the CFA’s Startups Hangout, as they are gaining a lot from the invited guest speakers.

 

 

 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Business

Hydrogen Hosts Catalyst Workshop, Highlights Resilient Business Models for Fintech Startups

Published

on

Kindly share this post

As part of its mission to empower African businesses with tools needed to thrive, garner admiration, and foster global acclaim, leading payment solution company, Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited (Hydrogen), recently partnered with the Co Creation Hub (CcHub), to host the latest edition of the Catalyst workshop in Lagos.

The discourse addressed the potential risks and opportunities for startups and saw experts advise participants on the need to develop resilient business models that would scale across different economic climes.

Moderated by Miracle Ezechi, Digital Marketing Manager, Hydrogen, the panel session addressed dominant issues about the theme: ‘Adapting Fintech Business Models to Economic Climes: Flexibility, Agility and Customer-centricity’.

Mr. Emeka Awagu, Chief Technology Officer, Hydrogen, who spoke as a panellist, addressed the issue of customer-centricity, which according to him, is key to Fintech growth.

He advised startups to listen to customer demands and understand their needs in order to develop the right solutions that will lead to long term market viability.

“Innovation is key for startup growth. However, understanding customers’ needs and change in behaviour will help any startup to innovate better.

“Startups must be flexible and agile to develop solutions with high interoperability and processing speed, and they must be ready to learn from startups that have failed,” Awagu said.

With an estimated 61.07 percent of startups failing, the participants stressed the need for prudence.

“Statistically, a staggering number of startups fail, often due to financial mismanagement. Hence, founders must prioritise understanding and maintaining a healthy the Cost-to-Earnings ratio.

“It is not just a number, but a pivotal indicator of a company’s financial health as well as being a key attractiveness determinant for investors,” Awagu added.

On his part, Ina Alogwu, the Group Director, Digital Transformation, ARM HOLDCO, who also spoke as a panellist at the session, stressed the need for startups to develop sustainable products and solutions that will help them remain competitive in an environment that is faced with harsh economic realities.

“Many startup businesses fail within their first five years, however upcoming startups should not be discouraged, rather develop a culture that will encourage them to understand the reasons for failure and learn from mistakes.

“Startups should not be too rigid with their solutions and should be ready to accept changes that will drive innovation,” Alogwu stated.

Hydrogen will be deepening its economic impact series with a webinar planned for Thursday, April 25, even as businesses across Africa continue to face an array of challenges, ranging from inflation and currency fluctuations to rising operating costs.

Themed ‘Navigating Economic Challenges: Strategies for Sustainable Growth,’ the webinar will delve into key areas critical for businesses to not only survive but thrive in the face of economic adversity. Register using this link – https://bit.ly/Hydrogenwebinar.

Esteemed panellists for this event include Taofik Odukoya, CEO, Vanguard Pharmacy, and Okechukwu Odimgbe, Chief Financial Officer, Hydrogen. The session will be moderated by Nnenna Sam-Obioha, Ecosystem Orchestrator, Hydrogen.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Dexude Secures Funding to Revolutionize Education in Nigeria, Beyond

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Dexude, a leading edtech platform with operations in Nigeria, has announced that it has been awarded the prestigious Business Finland TEMPO funding.

Dexude Secures Funding to Revolutionize Education in Nigeria, Beyond

Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude,

This significant funding injection marks a pivotal moment in Dexude’s journey towards transforming education through its AI-powered, live-first, expert-led, and community-driven platform.

The Business Finland TEMPO funding is specifically designed to support startups and SMEs aiming for international growth by building their expertise and solutions into international success stories in innovative ways.

Dexude’s commitment to innovation, coupled with its vision to enable a billion learners worldwide, aligns perfectly with the objectives of the TEMPO funding.

Commenting on this milestone achievement, Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude, remarked, “We are incredibly honored and excited to receive the Business Finland TEMPO funding. This funding is not only a validation of Dexude’s mission to reinvent education but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. With this support, we are poised to accelerate our efforts in democratizing access to quality education and empowering learners across Nigeria and beyond.”

L-r; Kelvin Chikezie, co-founder of Dexude; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); and Charles Emembolu, founder of Dexude

Kelvin Chikezie, co-founder of Dexude, added, “Securing the Business Finland TEMPO funding is a significant milestone for Dexude. It underscores our commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to revolutionize the way people learn and grow. We are grateful to Business Finland for believing in our vision, and we are excited to embark on this next chapter of Dexude’s journey.”

Dexude is on a mission to redefine education by providing learners with access to influential experts and thought leaders, live interactions, and a vibrant community-driven learning experience.

Through its platform, Dexude aims to break down barriers to learning and empower individuals to pursue their passions and unlock their full potential.

 

 

 

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

SOPHiA GENETICS Announces Syndicate Bio as First Liquid Biopsy Customer in Africa

Published

on

Kindly share this post

SOPHiA GENETICS, a cloud-native software company in the healthcare space and a leader in data-driven medicine, has announced that Nigeria-based Syndicate Bio has signed on to implement MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™.

Syndicate Bio is the first lab in Africa to adopt the MSK-ACCESS® assay via the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, and the first company to make comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy widely available to patients throughout the entire continent.

The implementation of this new technology will further existing work from SOPHiA GENETICS, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and Syndicate Bio to advance health equity on a global scale.

There are roughly 1 million new cancer patients each year in Africa and currently, comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy testing options are not widely available.

This means that patients are forced to forego this testing or travel out of continent for these testing options. Syndicate Bio’s implementation of this new offering will provide cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to many of these patients and will help progress the company’s goal of advancing genomics and precision medicine in an area of the world that has been historically underserved in these areas.

“Partnering with SOPHiA Genetics to bring MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ to our lab is a monumental step in accelerating the cancer treatment and research landscape across Africa, beginning in Nigeria. Next-generation sequencing technologies in oncology and liquid biopsy, which this collaboration enables, hold the potential for creating a leapfrogging opportunity in the oncology treatment and research landscape in Africa,” said Abasi Ene-Obong, PhD., Founder, Syndicate Bio.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to enable the widespread application of precision medicine in oncology across Africa, and thus contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes across the African continent.

“We believe our scientific expertise, combined with AI-enabled technologies and data-driven solutions enabled by SOPHiA GENETICS, presents a unique opportunity to fundamentally transform the journey of cancer patients through non-invasive cancer analysis, predictive genetic testing, and effective precision medicine.”

Syndicate Bio is driving genomics and precision medicine initiatives across the world’s most diverse regions through large-scale partnerships with governments, industry, and other stakeholders. Through its work, Syndicate Bio is making local impact while accelerating drug discovery and development.

By focusing on Africa, Syndicate Bio is poised to make a significant impact, starting with Nigeria, by introducing its pioneering clinical oncology offerings in an underserved region.

Through this endeavor, Syndicate Bio aims to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for African patients. This initiative not only facilitates local next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing and liquid biopsy testing but also extends access to clinical trial participation, empowering patients and healthcare providers alike.

MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™  is a decentralized version of a highly validated ctDNA test developed by MSK that involves the deep sequencing of 146 key cancer-associated genes, and will augment Syndicate Bio’s tumor profiling capabilities, allowing them to utilize a small blood sample to generate a comprehensive report in an efficient and expedited time frame.

The use of liquid biopsy is less invasive than traditional biopsy, and can help simplify patient monitoring, whilst driving the uptake of precision medicine.

The offering combines the sophisticated analytics, state-of-the-art algorithms, and decentralized, cloud-based offerings of the SOPHiA DDM™ Platform, with the scientific and clinical expertise of MSK in cancer genomics to provide a best-in-class liquid biopsy solution.

“In our mission to democratize data-driven medicine, our decentralized global network and unique set of partnerships enable us to help reach underserved populations, just as those that are served by Syndicate Bio,” said Philippe Menu, MD, PhD., Chief Medical Officer, SOPHiA GENETICS.

“By implementing this solution, Syndicate Bio will make a measurable impact throughout Africa, while also helping to generate an unparalleled and comprehensive dataset and provide invaluable insights and knowledge to shape the future of global healthcare.”

In late 2023, SOPHiA GENETICS and MSK announced they are working in partnership with AstraZeneca to bring the world-class MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ testing solution to countries and regions around the globe, including underserved areas where access to testing remains scarce.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending