Nigeria has become a hub for startups in Africa, with many entrepreneurs creating innovative solutions to solve real problems. These founders have not only built successful businesses but have also created a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating change.
If you’re looking for inspiration or insights into the world of entrepreneurship or motivation to kickstart your startup, here are six Nigerian startup founders you should follow:
1. Sim Shagaya – Founder of konga
If you’ve ever heard the name Sim Shagaya, you should have heard of Konga.com and uLesson. Those are two of the startups that Sim has successfully created. In case you didn’t know, Konga is one of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platforms.
But that’s not all. He is a serial entrepreneur that has established several other successful startups such as DealDey and E-Motion Advertising. Sim’s experience and expertise in building successful businesses make him an essential follow for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.
His passion for innovation and determination to create solutions to real problems have not only led him to build successful businesses but have also inspired a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating change.
Sim Shagaya’s contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem cannot be overstated, and his insights into entrepreneurship are invaluable to anyone looking to start their own business or grow an existing one. Catch Sim on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. But he seems to share more insights on his Twitter account.
2. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji – CEO of Future Africa
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is one of the top voices in the startup industry and a force to be reckoned with when it comes to building and growing a business. He is currently the CEO and General Partner of Future Africa. In case you’re wondering, Future Africa, takes care of funding for startups in Africa.
Their strategy is to connect investors with African Startups to birth opportunities for growth and development within the continent. However, Future Africa isn’t the first business that Iyin has built. He was the founding CEO of Flutterwave, a payment technology company that provides seamless payment solutions across Africa- until he sold his shares.
He also co-founded Andela, a talent accelerator that trains software developers across Africa. Iyinoluwa’s passion for technology and innovation makes him an excellent source of insights into the tech industry. His insights into the world of entrepreneurship and technology are highly sought after, and he continues to inspire young entrepreneurs through his mentorship programs and speaking engagements.
3. Oluyomi Ojo – Co-founder of Cova inc.
Oluyomi Ojo was the co-founder of Printivo, an online print shop that provides printing services to individuals and businesses across Nigeria. His passion for entrepreneurship and innovation led him to establish Printivo in 2014, which has since grown into one of the leading online printing platforms in Nigeria.
However, after six years of running Printivo, he stepped down as CEO to create another business. He currently runs Cova, a digital tracker for all your digital assets. His experience and expertise in building successful startups have made him an essential figure in Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
It also makes him an excellent source of insights into entrepreneurship. No doubt, he has an innovative approach to business growth and development and has endlessly inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs who are passionate about creating change.
His insights into entrepreneurship and technology are invaluable to anyone looking to start their own business or grow an existing one, making him a highly sought-after speaker and mentor in the Nigerian tech industry. Follow him on his social media handles to get insights on how to navigate your startup.
4. Mark Essien – Founder of Hotels.ng
Mark Essien is the founder and CEO of Hotels.ng. His passion for technology and innovation led him to establish Hotels.ng in 2013, which has since grown into one of the largest hotel booking platforms in Nigeria. Mark is also a startup investor and software developer whose vision for using technology to solve everyday problems has made him an essential figure in Nigeria’s tech industry.
His approach to entrepreneurship has been instrumental in building a successful startup that has disrupted the hospitality industry in Nigeria. He continues to inspire young entrepreneurs through his mentorship programs and speaking engagements, sharing his insights into entrepreneurship and technology with anyone looking to make a difference in the world.
He created the Remote Internship Program in 2016 to mentor and train Nigerian Youths in software development. Mark’s contributions to Nigeria’s startup ecosystem have earned him numerous awards and recognition, cementing his position as one of the most influential figures in the Nigerian tech scene.
5. Jessica Anuna – Founder of Klasha
Up next on Nigerian startup founders that you should follow is Jessica Anuna. She is the founder and CEO of Klasha, a fashion e-commerce platform that enables African consumers to purchase items from international retailers using local payment methods.
She has been featured on Forbes 30 under 30 as a new wealth creator. Jessica’s experience in building successful businesses in different industries makes her an excellent source of insights into entrepreneurship. She has a passion for fashion and technology and it led her to establish Klasha in 2017, which has since grown into one of the leading cross-border e-commerce platforms in Africa.
Her vision for creating a seamless shopping experience for African consumers has made her an essential figure in Nigeria’s tech industry. Her innovative approach to business has been instrumental in building a successful startup that bridges the gap between African consumers and global retailers.
But there’s more as she continues to inspire young entrepreneurs through her mentorship programs and speaking engagements, sharing her insights into entrepreneurship and technology with anyone looking to make a difference in the world.
6. Chika Nwobi – Founder of L5Lab
Chika Nwobi is another unique founder you should get familiar with when going through the long list of Nigerian startup founders. He brands himself as a Tech investor and entrepreneur and he has an impressive portfolio.
For starters, he is the founder and managing partner at L5Lab, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech startups across Africa. He has also founded several other successful startups such as Decagon, MTech Communications, and 440.ng, which is a forex trading platform to educate and help Nigerians invest in forex trading.
Chika is also on the board of directors of Unilever and a Partner at Rise Capital. His experience investing in early-stage startups gives him unique insights into what it takes to build a successful business from scratch. He especially has an innovative approach to investing which has been instrumental in building a successful portfolio of startups that are changing the face of business in Africa.
Conclusion
These six Nigerian startup founders are worth following if you’re interested in gaining insights into entrepreneurship or looking for inspiration to start your own business.
They have all built successful businesses from scratch and continue to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem through their mentorship programs, investments, or simply sharing their experiences on social media platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn.
