BLACK #STORIES::::Five Things Nigerian Startups Should Embrace In 2015.

As we usher in a new year, startups will be looking to get back to work and making sure that they start the new year with the right mindset.

2014 was an eventful year, so many things happened in the Nigerian tech space, we saw the launch of accelerators, Cc-Hub becoming a fund accelerator, 440NG happened, the big boys got more funding and many more.

Touring and exploring 2015, it’s important that startups get it right and work/walk in the right path so as to achieve success. Here are the things I believe startups should work on and subscribe to so as to find success and accelerate the new year with.

1::::::: Pay Attention To Social Media And What It’s Saying

Last year, was a huge year for the social media. In the sense that, there was an increase in the use of social media and it had a lot of impact positively and negatively. 2014 was the year that people began to see social media not just as a way for communication but as a tool for change, revolution and impact. I mean, people have lost their jobs over their actions on Twitter and don’t even get me started on that Uber debacle.
So, it would be advisable for startups to use the social media as a tool for connecting to its users and also bearing what they have to say.

2::::::: Always Think Users First

There are often at times when you can be distracted from your original plan when working on your startup. I know this.
It’s important that you always think users first, whether in your product design or your sales strategy, it’s very crucial that you think of your customers all the time as your product is meant for them.
Yes, you designed it and came up with the idea and you feel a sense of ownership but it’s your customers who will make or break you. As they say, customers are always right.

3::::::: Think Globally, but act locally

This is a quote I’ve come to terms with over the past few months. It means that there’s no crime in thinking globally but you have to start from somewhere.
Nigerian startups or rather the technology ecosystem is quite young, so while it’s a good thing to think of world domination, act locally first. That means, what works somewhere else might not work here. This is a different settings and it would be profitable to research on your target market before planning on operations.
By researching, you get to discover the things that do work here, and you find a way to implement it in your startup and you’ll be on your way to success.

4:::::::Be Different

This one is for founders and entrepreneurs. Like I mentioned earlier, what works somewhere else might not work here (although there are exceptions for that). It would be interesting to see if there are unique startups launched in this year that would cater to some of the Nigerian problems. The technology ecosystem is quite young like I mentioned, so it’s not late for you to come with that solution that offers something different and appeals to users out there.
Not every time copy and paste, sometimes innovate.

5:::::::Have Fun

Whatever you are doing, have fun. I really cannot stress enough how important it is to have fun in your startup. Whether you are planning to launch a new startup or you founded one already, having fun and/while creating something is a very good combination for success.
If you aren’t having fun, why else aren’t you working 9-5.