David Lanre Messan (DLM)

💼 Founder/CEO @firstfounderscc Venture Builder/Investor/Advisor - building and investing in AI startups in Africa

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

My 2022 Highlights

1 Facilitated Syarpa’s $500k pre-seed raise from Yolo Investments alongside CrossFund. 

2 Became a James Currey Society Scholar.  

3 Was appointed Campaign Manager for Oxford Councillorship candidate, Dianna Regisford. 

4 Skydived to celebrate Africa Day.

[Startup Lagos @startuplag]

Happy Birthday, David Lanre Messan! @DLMtheIcon

May this new year bring you greater achievements, fresh opportunities, and continued fulfillment as you keep championing founders and driving progress.

Wishing you joy, good health, and many more milestones ahead!

[Daniel Adeyemi @DanielTAdeyemi]

In 2023, I started a newsletter to document African business. Then life happened, and I stepped back.

But the curiosity never left. 📡

Today, I’m relaunching as Questing to deconstruct how the continent's best operators actually win.

A thread 🧵

[Daniel Adeyemi @DanielTAdeyemi]

Our first deep dive is live: DLM: From losing ₦20M to building a 'Company Factory'.

@DLMtheIcon shares his "Minimum Viable Test" (MVT) framework.

The goal? Stop building on hope and start building on data. It cut his build costs by 50%.

[BloomVestHQ @BloomvestHQ]

We need a visionary operator ready to lead strategy, fundraising, team building, and scale.

If you understand fintech, Nigeria’s ecosystem, and what it takes to build trust in financial products — this role is for you.

📩 Send your CV and a brief note on why Bloomvest excites you to [email protected]

[Blahk - First of His Name @blahk_sam]

I deeply respect what the TEF does, investing and supporting entrepreneurs with seed grant.

For many entrepreneurs that early belief in them and their idea alone is more important than the actual grant money.

But Sir @TonyOElumelu, what if you created a similar engine not for philanthropy (you’re already excelling here) but for real monetary ROI?

An institution that funds early-stage ideas that align with your business goals and gives you the opportunity to discover and back the next set of African startup unicorns.

Sir, if this sounds remotely interesting to you and you’d like to explore how this could potentially work, I’m more than happy to jump on a quick 30 minutes call at your earliest convenience.

I’m in a great position to do this because I run one of Nigeria’s most active venture studios— @firstfounderscc with my partner @DLMtheIcon

I look forward to hearing back from you, Sir.

Kind regards.
Samuel Kemeshi.

[Blahk - First of His Name @blahk_sam]

If you don't have the most stellar team, quite frankly, the only thing that makes you attractive to investors is your revenue.

There are so many startups building fantastic products.

Investors use consistent revenue as a filter. Without that, you're already trailing.

Whatever you do, optimize for revenue from day one.

['Tayo Ajayi @popoyeh]

@TheYorubaTimes @AKakanfo @terraindustries Now we need you guys faster than presumed.

I remember meeting one of you in the small office you were using at @DLMtheIcon's @firstfounderscc office in Yana about 2 or 3 years ago, talking about building plastic parts with @ScrapXInc for you.

Nigeria needs you now.

[PocketLawyers.io @pocketlawyersio]

Send this to your Lawyer friends to help them with visibility; this is 2026! They need to stop winking in the dark; they need to set up a professional website/store front for FREE on

https://t.co/LC2hN06z0t

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

Check out my 2025 LinkedIn Rewind! 🎬

Made with @coauthorstudio https://t.co/YsD7DM9qLH

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

@MayMayspeaks The fifth sister is playing chess too. It takes two to play chess.

[Alliance for Business and Project Mgmt Excellence @abpm_x]

ABPMX Connect 2025 is bringing project and business excellence closer to you.

Join us in Lagos, as we connect professionals, ideas, and opportunities that shape the future.

📍 Lagos: J. Randle Centre, Onikan (roundabout), Lagos Island
🔗 Register here: https://t.co/RHPNqgRwn8

[Alliance for Business and Project Mgmt Excellence @abpm_x]

ABPMX CONNECT LAGOS 2025 IS HERE!

Meet our inspiring speakers

We believe in cutting a room full of innovators, leaders, and achievers, not just listing speakers.

We are proud to bring together this exceptional group at ABPMX connect Lagos.

#ABPMX #ProjectManagement

[Alliance for Business and Project Mgmt Excellence @abpm_x]

A proven founder, investor, and global thought leader, DLM has helped launch high-growth ventures and shape innovation conversations across Africa and beyond.

Come ready for insight that challenges how you build and scale.

#ABPMXConnect #Leadership #Innovation #Execution

[Alliance for Business and Project Mgmt Excellence @abpm_x]

From ideas to scalable impact.

David Lanre Messan (@lanremessan) joins ABPMX Lagos Connect as a Featured Speaker, bringing deep experience in venture building, investment, and ecosystem leadership.

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

Final edition of the newsletter for the year.
Reflections from inside the decision room, what mattered, what didn’t.
Read here ↓ #dlmbuilds

https://t.co/fKYCAhEDZG

Dangote / Cardiff City/ Farouk / GM CT

[Mother-In-LAW of Businesses✌️ @NgoziNBZ]

Get your Lawyer friends to sign up on PocketLawyers (the future of legal work) From next year, WE RUN THE NUMBERS UP👍😁 https://t.co/z8gYWeIYlM

@pocketlawyersio
@firstfounderscc
@lanremessan

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

2025 reshaped African startups in ways we can’t ignore.
Here are the biggest lessons founders must carry into the new year.
👇🏽 Read the full newsletter.
https://t.co/G9Um6jENV6

Carragher / Liverpool/ GM CT / Atalanta

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

These SMEs proved success is about strategy, structure & disciplined innovation. From tech to traditional businesses, the calibre was inspiring.

Congrats to all recognized SMEs, your resilience defines Nigeria’s entrepreneurial future! #smes

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

Honored to judge @BusinessDayNg ’s Top 100 Fastest Growing SMEs in Nigeria 🇳🇬.
Theme: Driving Nigeria’s Economy: Empowering SMEs for Global Competitiveness.
#dlmbuilds #innovation

Wolves/ Benin / Burkina Faso / #GrandeFratello

[David Lanre Messan (DLM) @DLMtheIcon]

Flashback to speaking at the Ogun Digital Summit 2025.
The depth of innovation and ambition I witnessed in Ogun underscores a key truth: the state is positioning itself as a serious force in Nigeria’s tech landscape.
#techleadership

#SpotifyWrapped / Tosin/ Leeds