TechFusionAfrica

A digital way for Africans to save & borrow money from informal banks.

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

Each time I see myself slipping into the normal and expected, I remind myself to return to a new consciousness. Humans are designed to be insatiable for a reason. Without it, we would all die of complacency and boredom.

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

It requires agency and not wishes. It happens when you take charge of your life instead of waiting for good things to happen to you. No matter how small the returns are initially, consistently taking charge of your life creates momentum that compounds over time. Value follows it.

[Codaemon @codedaemon1]

Are you an @Arsenal fan? Test your ball knowledge with these Gunners facts.
From Dial Square to the Invincibles - how much Arsenal history do you really know? 🔴
Master every topic using https://t.co/cH0U1jCz2w flashcards📚✨
#QuizLink #Arsenal #Football #Trivia #Sports

[Ewgi @Ssaasquatch]

Remember the golden rule; you build wealth by taking high risks and sustain it by switching to defense mode by taking low risks.

So here’s what I would do if I were you:

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

That rotating model has saved many people from ruin. Cooperatives run that model very frequently and cooperatives support more small businesses than any other institution.

The best African SME bank is the cooperative.

[Alessandro Palombo @thealepalombo]

4/ Thiel shares his concerns about the U.S.

His thoughts?

To change state…or country.

He also says one of my favorite lines from the podcast here:

“Talk is often the substitute for action.”

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

I only have one spreadsheet where I list everything but I have realized that I need to do more than that. There is a product ideas lurking in there somewhere. Together with an automatic Will generator.

[Paul Graham @paulg]

If your opponents are opportunists, one way to beat them is to outlast them. Opportunists almost by definition lack staying power.

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

The most outrageous solo goal from Ibra

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn." - Alvin Toffler.

My first module at Hallam was Knowledge Management. It is one of those fields that you assume that you know about but are ignorant.

[Philosophy Of Life @PhilOfLife_]

Stay disciplined, there's no shortcut to success.

[Nairametrics @Nairametrics]

Explosion in Ibadan Linked to Illegal Mining - Seyi Makinde  - https://t.co/VYTlx5HFen

[Sam Altman @sama]

However, they are willing to work on something for a long time even if other people don’t get it. "Important" does not mean "popular".

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

I think the most important company update is when you exit. Keep all the other details for your stakeholders. Make it public only if you are a public company or have public stakeholders. Keep all else to your chest and don’t educate the competition.

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

If you don't know how to build the lowest-cost solution to a problem, you are never going to make it. It is not about fancy tech but about low-cost innovation.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Time doesn't heal psychological wounds. Perspective does.

Days passed don't guarantee insight gained. Seeing last year's disappointments through an old lens is more upsetting than viewing yesterday's setbacks from a new angle.

Time creates distance. Reflection offers wisdom.

[GREG ISENBERG @gregisenberg]

I got a pretty crazy call from a founder friend...

“I got an offer for $100M to buy my company and I’m taking it.”

Let’s grab a drink. I need to hear the story.

I’ll give you the details so you’re on the inside but keeping the company name anonymous.

So, he raised ~$25M of venture, 2 co-founders, business is 9 years old.

Owns 6% of the business after all the VC dilution.

Had an M&A offer at 20x ARR in 2021. Didn’t take it.

Had an M&A offer at 15X ARR in early 2022. Didn’t take it.

Got an acquisition offer at 5x ARR for $100M. Ended up taking it.

“I turned 30 and was just really burnt out. And truth is, I’ve been building this for 9 years and I didn’t think I could raise my next round at the valuation I wanted ”

I mean the guy did start with the best head of hair of out my friend group and now looks as bald as Mr. Clean.

After I gave him a quick cheers congratulating on the wire hitting, he got real with me:

“I’ll make $6M pre-taxes which is obviously incredible to make that much. But I wonder would of happened if I never raised that funding in 2020”.

See, my buddy ran it as a profitable business until 2020 and then swung for the fences. He was making $1.5M/year in profit at the time of the first round.

But it gets you thinking….

If you’re making $1.5M/year of free cash-flow, and you grow a conservative 30% year over year…

Your outcome is probably better than if your raised venture capital. And it’s definitely less stressful.

Less stakeholders, less pressure, more dividends.

And my favorite part is without that pressure and with those dividends, you get to live a pretty dope lifestyle.

From 2017-2019, I was the CEO of a venture-backed startup.

I was earning $75k USD/year living in SF. Could barely afford brunch on that ;).

I almost had an opportunity to do a secondary in our Series A, but it all fell through.

Being reliant on VC to sign terms sheets isn’t that fun.

I like relying more on myself.

And my friend who sold his company for $100M… I asked him if he’s going to work at the acquirer:

“No, I’m going to go buy some distressed VC-backed assets like someone did to me and not raise a penny of VC and dividend and compound like there is no tomorrow”.

Probably a pretty smart idea…

--

Follow me @gregisenberg for more startup stories. I don't use ChatGPT to write my X posts, just lots of coffee

And follow a few of my other companies if you're into...

@boringmarketer - all "boring marketing" ways to grow ur biz
@DispatchDesign - design
@youneedarobot - AI and productivity
@MultipreneurGuy - multipreneurship (making multiple cash flowing companies)
@latecheckoutplz - my holding company

Have a beautiful day!

[TechCrunch @TechCrunch]

Google Pay deepens consumer and merchant lending offerings in India https://t.co/3cJWSKe0hc by @refsrc

[Osaretin Victor Asemota @asemota]

My mother taught me the lesson. Let businesses die if they aren't profitable.

[Oo Nwoye @OoTheNigerian]

I have seen a lot of valid rejoinders pointing to "free" schools.

Those "free" schools are funded with 40% tax rates.

I rather all money the FG spends on producing low quality graduates to be spent on free, compulsory and high quality Kidergarton - Secondary school education.