How I ended up here is a testament to the power of networks and working for the good of a larger whole. I didn't know it but I set the ball rolling some 3 years ago when I decided to build a community around health technology entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
It was 2016, I'd moved back to Nigeria in 2015 to build a #healthtech company. After struggling for a while trying to figure things out myself, I contacted a few people and set up @DigitalHealthNg. My goal was to create a support group and share knowledge among ourselves.
The ever-optimistic @0moba was great support and jumped on board early. Also had great early support from people like @LanreAdeloye , @iakhimien, @DeboOdulana, @Ayomidejoe, @waledash and many more.
We started a WhatsApp group of some 7 or so people back then. Today that group has 170 people and has spawned many connections and relationships across many continents. We had several meetups and helped organize events.
One event we helped put together in 2017 was @EpiAFRIC's first health meets tech challenge. I recall being asked how I wanted to leverage it for my own personal ambitions and responding with: 'A rising tide lifts all boats'. Here's a summary of the event.
The event turned out excellently. @ikeanya, @ekemma, @uofonagoro and the whole team were a dream to work with. Got to meet and hangout with so many cool people. The likes of @iAmHenryMascot, @EzinneAnyanwu, the @mdaasglobal crew and more, all deeply passionate about healthcare.
So the next year in 2018 when @EpiAFRIC organized an infectious disease hackathon alongside @pandemic_tech and @EnduraVentures, I jumped at the chance to help organize that again. There I got to meet even more cool people like @AndrewNerlinger 
Later in the year, I came across the @techstars impact program in Austin. I was delighted to hear @mdaasglobal had gotten in. I made a mental note that this would be a good fit for us when the next round opens. Also got to learn that @AndrewNerlinger was a mentor at it.
In 2019, just as applications for Techstars impact opened, We got into the Google Launchpad accelerator and met another cool cat, @BWLawal. I'd been putting off the application for some reason at the time. Bola encouraged me to apply and introduced me to @zoeschlag.
Zoe said apply so I did. It was then all the tide I'd been helping to make rise, rose up in my favour. The connections and network I'd made over the last 3 years came together and vouched for my suitability to join the @techstars network with its #givefirst mantra.
We got accepted and had a tremendous experience. We are now on a trajectory to impact the lives of millions of Africa through better healthcare.
This would never have begun If I didn't truly believe that working for the good of all always benefits everyone including oneself.
This would never have begun If I didn't truly believe that working for the good of all always benefits everyone including oneself.
So today we're @techstars alum and it all began with me looking out to #givefirst and selflessly build a community. If you're ever in doubt on what to do in your life to progress, look around and help out others on their way and it will come back to you in ways you can't imagine.
