Africa Startup University

The 15 largest banks in the United States hold a combined total of around $13 trillion in assets. 🏦⁠
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(via Bankrate)

🗓️ On this day (5th February) in 2004: "The Facebook" launches from Mark Zuckerberg's Harvard dorm room.

In 2005, it drops "The" and becomes known as Facebook.

In 2021, Facebook rebrands as Meta.

Today, Meta has a market cap of over $1 TRILLION.

You too can disrupt the social media game forever.

Could this be the definition of upwards and downwards ?

🗓️ On this day in 2000: Nokia releases its iconic 3310 phone — and goes on to sell over 126 million units.

— Nokia's valuation then: $250 billion
— Apple's valuation then: $5 billion

— Nokia today: $19.5 billion
— Apple today: $2.8 trillion

Three of the top-5 social media platforms — Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram — are all owned by Meta.

Amazon have taken over the market. With a $1.51 TRILLION market cap, it is now official that this is Amazon.com era

BREAKING: Mark Cuban has announced that season 16 of Shark Tank will be his last.

Having joined as a guest shark during the show's second season, the billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner has invested the most significant amount and has struck the most deals on screen (218) of any Shark.

Cuban also entered into the most partnerships in total (104), with Lori Greiner being his most frequent partner (42 times).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A TECH ICON

Bill Gates turns 68 today.

Numbers on Microsoft, which he co-founded in 1975:

— $198B in 2022 revenue
— $2.5 trillion market cap
— 238,000+ employees
— acquired Skype ($8.5B, 2011), LinkedIn ($26.2B, 2016), Activision Blizzard ($68B, 2022)
— net worth: $108 billion

Have you heard about the FLOATING MARKET in Bangkok ?

A floating market is a market where goods are normally sold from a boat.
Bangkok actually has about five floating markets of which Amphawa and Bang Khu Wiang are two of the most popular. On these markets, vendors sell homemade food, pastries, household items, utensil and other items from their floating boats.

Explore more of Bangkok and see 10 exciting things to do in Bangkok.

AFRICA APP & EXHIBITION CONFERENCE
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Leveraging Technology for Business Growth .
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Date: October 7th, 2023
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Lagos is set to host an exciting event called Techswitch , where technology enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders will converge to explore the transformative power of technology in driving business growth. Techswitch aims to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration, with a particular focus on leveraging technology to unlock new opportunities in Africa.

The event will feature a diverse lineup of guest panelists, esteemed speakers, and industry experts who are at the forefront of technological innovation in their respective fields. One of the guest panelists is Amb. Ruhamah Ifere, the Co-Founder of Volunteers Connect, Nigeria. With her extensive experience in community building and volunteerism, she will share insights on how technology can be harnessed to connect individuals and organizations for social impact.

Mark Idiah, the Founder of Future Leadership Magazine, Nigeria, will take the stage as a speaker. He will delve into the role of technology in shaping the future of leadership and shed light on the emerging trends that aspiring leaders need to be aware of in this digital age.

Another distinguished speaker, Sarah Munyi, the Founder of Youth in Africa from Kenya, will bring her expertise in empowering young people through technology. She will discuss the transformative potential of technology in addressing the challenges faced by African youth and creating opportunities for their personal and professional growth.

Eric Obeng, the CEO of Erictronic, a technology company based in Ghana, will also share his insights on leveraging technology for business success. With his extensive knowledge of the Ghanaian tech ecosystem, he will provide valuable perspectives on how entrepreneurs can harness technology to drive innovation, scalability, and market expansion.

The event will be convened by Inans Isah O, a passionate advocate for technology-driven growth in Nigeria. His vision for Techswitch is to create a dynamic platform that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange among industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts.

Dr. Buntu, a renowned MC from Nigeria, will guide the audience through the event, ensuring a seamless experience filled with engaging discussions and interactive sessions.

The highlight of Techswitch will be the keynote address delivered by Geoffrey Harumi, Co-Founder of Geoff & Twers Consulting Ltd, Nigeria. With his vast expertise in technology consulting, he will shed light on the transformative potential of technology in driving business growth and share valuable insights on the future of technology in Africa.

Attendees can look forward to a day filled with thought-provoking discussions, networking opportunities, and the chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for leveraging technology for business success.

Techswitch promises to be a groundbreaking event that will shape the discourse on technology and business growth in Africa. It serves as a testament to the continent's vibrant tech ecosystem and the immense potential it holds for driving economic development, innovation, and social change.

Meet the Nigerian Couples building Africa's biggest chain of Restaurant abroad.

Within 10 years, have a total of 11 locations, 9 in London, and 2 in Dubai

cc

I started my very first business with £300 my mum gave me after selling a necklace when I was a teenager, and this £300 sparked the whole Virgin story.

Throughout my career I began to wonder why budding entrepreneurs couldn’t get a similar leg-up from loan providers? I asked myself: ‘What if entrepreneurs could easily get a small loan to turn their idea into reality? What would that mean for them, and what would it mean for the economy and wider society? I knew that Virgin was in a position to help too, and so the follow up question was, ‘how?’.

Virgin StartUp became the answer to the question, and 10 years later our not-for-profit incubator has given out over 5,000 loans and distributed over £70 million in funding. Here’s the full story: https://virg.in/woyW

Who is Babawande Afolabi, the founder of Green Africa?

THERE IS INVISIBLE MONEY IN YOUR HOUSE. LOOK FOR IT

Courtney Adeleye sold $10 million worth of products out of her home within three years of launch.

In 2013, Courtney Adeleye was working as a registered nurse and searching for a product suitable for treating natural hair.

"There were not many brands that used natural ingredients and specialized in healthy hair growth at the same time," Adeleye recalls. "So, I started mixing my own products at home and infused them with vitamins, nutrients and healthy ingredients."

Adeleye documented her homemade hair care routine on YouTube, and it wasn't long before she gained a large following of people who wanted to know her secret — and purchase products from her directly. So, with just $500 to her name, Adeleye developed a few deep conditioning treatments and sold them to her fans.

Those initial offerings would grow into The Mane Choice, Adeleye's hair care solution for healthy locks, featuring formulas free from mineral oil, petrolatum, parabens, sulfates and formaldehyde.

Adeleye says she sold $10 million worth of products from her home during her first three years in business, and within another two, she'd partnered with more than 60,000 retailers across the U.S. — achieving $100 million in sales and an IPO by 2019.

Last year, Adeleye launched Olbali, a health-focused direct-selling company, to house her private brands, including The Mane Choice, Cool Coffee Clique, Foolproof Body and more.

Entrepreneur connected with Adeleye during National Black Business Month to hear more about how she overcomes the limiting perceptions Black-owned businesses often face and the 10 secrets that helped her see so much success.

Adeleye says she didn't become a nurse because she wanted some people to live healthier lives — she became one because she wanted everyone to live healthier lives. The same is true of why she founded a beauty and wellness business.

Her company's products aren't just for Black consumers, but for everyone who can benefit from them, Adeleye says.

Still, all too often, Black founders are unfairly pigeonholed, and the Black-owned label can actually work against their businesses, according to Adeleye.

"I create healthy products for people to help them live healthier lives," she explains. "However, I have been asked if my products are for Black women only despite having extensive diverse marketing."

Research from McKinsey & Company highlights how pervasive the issue is.

Like all businesses, beauty brands must stay connected with their core shoppers and pursue growth opportunities — yet "there's also a persistent myth in the beauty industry that Black-brand products can only be sold to Black consumers," per the report.

Adeleye says she "must be more intentional" when it comes to displaying diversity across her brands, ensuring her business can realize its full growth potential "on a mass level." "My goal has always been to be diverse and inclusive," she says. "So, being intentional is something that comes natural to me."

Adeleye says following 10 key guidelines helped her achieve her many milestones to date — spanning product innovation, marketing tips, social media strategy and more.

Here's what she suggests for entrepreneurs who are ready to level up their businesses:

Adeleye's learned a lot over the course of her entrepreneurial journey, but perhaps her best piece of advice? "You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will."

"If you don't believe your business is just as good or even better than the next business, it never will be," Adeleye says. "There is no such thing as an oversaturated industry. I say, 'An industry cannot be oversaturated if I am not currently producing in it.'"

7 lessons from the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

1. Be proactive: This means taking initiative and being responsible for your actions, rather than being passive and letting circumstances dictate your choices.

2. Begin with the end in mind: This involves setting clear goals and thinking about the long-term consequences of your actions.

3. Put first things first: This means prioritizing important tasks and avoiding distractions, in order to achieve your goals efficiently and effectively.

4. Think win-win: This involves seeking mutually beneficial solutions in relationships and negotiations, rather than trying to win at the expense of others.

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood: This involves actively listening to others and trying to understand their perspective before communicating your own.

6. Synergize: This involves working cooperatively with others to achieve a greater result than could be achieved individually.

7. Sharpen the saw: This involves constantly improving and maintaining your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health in order to be effective in all areas of your life.

Everything seems to be business. Former NFL player Michael Oher alleges the Tuohys never adopted him but instead filed a conservatorship that kept millions of dollars from him. https://cnn.it/3qwUSK1

All roads lead to Atlanta.

We're one week away from the biggest experience ever! Click the link in our bio for tickets.