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Kola Aina Profile picture
Kola Aina
@kola_aina
Striving…
Jul 12, 2021 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
We underestimate what relative confidence in the institutions of state & legal system’s that work can do for business & consumer confidence.

And so I laugh when govt. folks still ask me why most startups/investee companies are domiciled offshore. As they say business moves at the speed of trust.

In different ways; Delaware, YC safe, 500’s KISS, Mauritius, etc are all assets of trust that build entrepreneurial ecosystems.
May 4, 2021 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Every month @vp_fund publishes the Series V newsletter where we aim to provide founders and investors - insights on company growth in Africa. 1/6 In our latest edition, we covered “Churn” - what it is, how to calculate it, and how to minimise it. We also shared some simple steps you can take to get a grasp of how churn can impact your company. Read it here: bit.ly/3eicSic 2/6
Apr 10, 2021 • 19 tweets • 6 min read
It’s not even 9:30 am yet, and I have had so many exciting conversations already & am on my 2nd thread.

This is one of the benefits of my brief & rare period of solitude and reflection. #Thread A random chat about HOV & DMX with egbon @obiasika this AM soon drifted to us talking about hubs, talent vs. opportunity in Nigeria, and the importance of solving the disparity across this vast land.
Apr 10, 2021 • 9 tweets • 7 min read
@eldivyn You need both. As they say; there is morning work, and their is night work. 😀

Chew gum and dance.

Whatever y’all decide; ignoring it is not an option.

They are legion.

They have always being there.

Some of y’all just got the memo. @eldivyn I remember remarking at a dinner that @JasonNjoku hosted with other founders and investors- years ago at the Wheatbaker Lagos.

Guys, “we can't sit in Lagos building & ignore what happens in Abuja.”
Aug 24, 2020 • 12 tweets • 7 min read
When the coronavirus pandemic first really hit Nigeria in March, we all didn't know what to expect. As the impact on supply chains, employment, funding rounds & national economies became more manifest, many startups braced themselves for The End. As layoffs were announced, some businesses folded up, VC’s (we @vp_fund kept investing) warned of dark times ahead & restructuring experts predicted the beginning of a “great unwinding” after a decade-long boom.
Aug 6, 2020 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
#Startuplessonsfromkids

My son lobbied me to buy him a bracelet making kit from amazon.

I reluctantly agreed.

Thread A week after arrival of said kit he walks up to say he has started a jewelry making company called “Braclee” and wished that I be customer number 1.
Jul 31, 2020 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
If you follow me you already know how much of a fan I am of ⁦@EfosaOjomo⁩ work on the Prosperity Paradox.

Last week I shared his new paper titled; “Avoiding the prosperity paradox.”

#Thread
christenseninstitute.org/publications/a… What that title doesn’t easily giveaway is that this new paper shares 3 practical steps for entrepreneurs & innovators who are keen to tackle non-consumption and successfully build market-creating innovations, that we desperately need in the global half I call home.
Jun 29, 2020 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
Hello Nigerian Fintech Fam;

Tomorrow at 1pm WAT I will be moderating a very important panel:

Facilitating Financial Innovation and Inclusion through Effective Regulation - Lessons from Bank of Lithuania.

Bit.ly/DE_DS Image This is an institutional knowledge exchange of @vplatformhub and partners - Digital Explorers Program digitalexplorers.eu

Please sign up here: Bit.ly/DE_DS

You want to sign up to engage with;
Jun 24, 2020 • 20 tweets • 6 min read
As @EfosaOjomo says, “all innovations are not equal.”

I have since drank this ”kool-aid” and am further convinced that as we work to eradicate poverty & democratize prosperity in Africa we must focus our energies on Market Creating Innovations. This is why I have always loved the product that @paystack has built.
Jun 13, 2020 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
Big Chief!

Let me tell you a story.

3 years ago I was meant to deliver a keynote at @UNIONBANK_NG Centenary. The audience was going to be largely bank execs & corporate leaders from across Africa.

So I thought it apt to challenge them on this issue. I titled the talk “The last mover advantage: a case for innovation & tecnology”

& my intent was to challenge these leaders to see our sector as their next investment destination, partly for nationalistic reasons but also because it was starting to make ecocnomic sense.
Jun 8, 2020 • 7 tweets • 1 min read
Sexual harassment is wrong.

The allegations against Kendall Ananyi of Tizeti are rather unfortunate. That type of behaviour is unreservedly condemned. Rather than just make a comment, I spent the last few days trying to ensure due process, in the form of a truly independent investigation, is carried out. This would require Kendall to step aside for the period; this is the only acceptable course of action.
May 21, 2020 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
2 weeks ago I tweeted about my pals luxury men’s resort wear line. This tweet prompted a message from another freind enquiring how I managed investing across so many broad verticals. :)

Besides the joy its being to witness the resilience of this founder-pal of mine, it’s been fascinating to see how a consumer / fashion brand is built.
May 21, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Challenged by my colleague @juliuxv:

Day 2/7 #mylifeinpictures. One photo per day for seven days. No comment. Players nominate one person and carry on. I invite my pal @victorsozaboy to take part. Image Day 3/7 Image
May 17, 2020 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Like our entire lives that are going through “unprecedented change” (tired of that line already 🤓 ) Covid-19 is forcing the art world to evolve in many ways. Galleries & museums are embracing tech at a pace we haven’t seen before and so I was super excited to learn from a board update that from the comfort of my couch I could dig into the collection of the @shyllonmuseum here: museum.pau.edu.ng/collections/ys…
May 16, 2020 • 20 tweets • 6 min read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article recommended my pal @EfosaOjomo

“Innovation can’t be forced, but can be quashed.”

#Thread

wsj.com/articles/innov… His sharing it was promoted by a raging debate we have been having about what African entrepreneurs must to do about governments.

May 11, 2020 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
I am blessed to have a friend in @SOgidigbo

This morning he shared some thoughts with me and then sent me this podcast. shorturl.at/deER3 I found it very apt and timely. Lots of nuggets. The speaker is a pastor, but I didn’t find it overtly preachy. I am sharing my key take aways in a thread. I hope you enjoy the listen and find the lessons useful.
May 9, 2020 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Only problem is you don’t “hack” good leadership.

It’s not like growth hacking or conversion etc.

Seeing results from investments in education reform can take decades.

A cultural renaissance even longer.

We have to take the long hard road starting now. This is why the lack of urgency displayed is very depressing. We haven’t even began the journey towards developing the crop of leaders at scale that we need as a nation. It’s not like a 4 year term or even 8 year term will deliver the goods.
May 7, 2020 • 4 tweets • 4 min read
It’s being really inspiring working quietly with
@subomiplumptre @iaboyeji @NaijaFlyingDr @KolaOyeneyin for the past several weeks on various fronts to #FlattenTheCurve Now we shift gears to raise awareness in the most affected regions with the support of traditional rulers. We have being fortunate to have with us @Hameo1 @EditiEffiong @OluyomiOjo @obiasika and many others. Please follow our handle here and on IG: citizensactiongroup and FB: citizensAG
Apr 5, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
This morning I learnt of the tragic and untimely death of a close friend’s wife. Due to the lock down they were unable to access the critical medical care she needed internationally. She died.
Apr 2, 2020 • 10 tweets • 10 min read
Hello fam.

A quick update on the #COVID19InnovationChallenge

What started off as a spur of the moment tweet has become this phenomenon that has culminated in a demo day event for the first cohort. From 500+ applications, 15 were selected to pitch to a panel of seasoned judges and finally, 7 were selected to build. For the last 5 days, the 7 startups have undergone mentorship from industry experts and have received benefits from strategic partnerships.
Mar 21, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
Thank you all for the support so far. But, we are just at the beginning of what may be a very long journey.

To that end we are still calling all hackers, developers, enthusiasts or founders with products, solutions or ideas in the following areas. Thread; Image CONTACT TRACING - product or solution that helps to identify people who might have been exposed and could infect others.