Start-ups aren’t easy everywhere, not just in Nigeria. There’s a lot of planning that could take a wrong turn; wrong budgeting, inadequate funds, the economy might affect it, natural disasters or worse still, the refusal of the target market to accept your product.
Despite these daunting challenges and setbacks, many Start-ups have thrived and amongst them are young folks who started their businesses in their twenties. From Forbes Africa 30 under 30 lists, here are 10 young Nigerian entrepreneurs to encourage and inspire your Start-up 9MOBILE (45339 50894 88946)
1. Swanky Jerry; 28
Refined NG
He is the founder and creative director of Swanky signatures. He has become a popular fashion designer in Nigeria, styling the likes of D’banj, Tiwa Savage and other celebrities. Since his launch in 2012, the business has since grown to become one of the most popular and influential brands in the industry.
2. Fred Oyetayo; 27
He is the founder and CEO of Fresible, a digital agency in which he created from his dorm room. Not only was he named in Forbes 30 under 30, but he was also a TEDx speaker, SME100 Africa’s 25 Under 25, finalist at the Aso Villa Demo Day organized by the office of the Nigerian President, and Avance Media 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians.
3. Josh Okpata; 28 and Tochukwu Mbanugo; 30
Their business idea, Eazyhire was stolen in 2016. Another company copied everything and even named theirs ‘Easyhire’ with an ‘S’. Techpoint described it as a sad case of Nigerian startup plagiarism. Eazyhire is a peer-to-peer sharing platform that enables individuals and businesses to rent items to those who need them temporarily. With a great PR campaign and hard work, they got their business back on track and were awarded Nigerian Technology Start-up of 2016 by the Nigerian Internet Registration Association.
4. Silas Adekunle; 28
He is the founder of Research Robotics. In 2014, he made his prototype, the MekaMon, the world’s first augmentative reality gaming robot. Forbes Africa stated that in 2017 he and his co-founders, Chris Beck and John Rees launched the world’s first AR gaming robot and secured $7.5 million in investments.
5. Joshua Chibueze; 28, Somto Ifezue; 30, and Odunayo Eweniyi; 28
They are the founders of Piggyvest, which was launched in 2016. If you haven’t used their services, you’ve probably heard about it. The online saving and investing platform, which today is a multimillion-dollar company, helped in building the saving and investing culture in the Nigerian youths.
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6. Chika Madubuko; 28
She is the co-founder and CEO of Greymate care. She spotted a need by way of her grandma, who had no one to care for her and provided a solution. Greymate Care is a digital platform that connects patients to an insured and professional caregiver 24/7. With $4,500, she launched the business in 2016.
7. Damilola Olokesusi; 30
Tired of the Danfo, one-chance and transportation problems in the city of Lagos, Damilola decided to do something for Nigerians that didn’t require high cab fares but was comfortable. Hence, Shuttlers Logistics Company was launched. In 2017, she won Women In Africa for the Digital and Technology award.
8. Chinedu Azodoh; 30
He is the c0-founder and chief growth officer of Metro Africa Xpress. The business which was launched in 2014 was an Okada and logistics business. To beat traffic, passengers and packages were moved from one place to another.
9. Dj Cuppy; 27
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola did not follow in her family’s footsteps and join the oil company. She went for entertainment instead and founded Red Velvet Music Group. She has won several awards including Best Female DJ at the Beatz Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
10. Tracy Batta; 29
She is the co-founder and CEO of Smoothie Express. It is not only those in the tech industry that is thriving in startups, something as simple as a smoothie has become a business worth millions in the hands of Tracy. In 2014, while preparing smoothies for herself, she realized how time-consuming it was and understood why corporate people didn’t spend time making theirs because they were always busy. Hence, the business started.
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