imsimplydaniel

Pic:

[anu @anuatluru]

if you don’t like politics, never work at a big company

if you don’t like work, never work at a small company

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

Great company!

[(ؑᵒᵕؑ̇ᵒ)◞✧ @vivianoparah]

best leading actress shortlist. wtf . tears in my eyes in the drive thru

[(ؑᵒᵕؑ̇ᵒ)◞✧ @vivianoparah]

best leading actress shortlist. wtf . tears in my eyes in the drive thru

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

So underrated!

[Searchlight Pictures @searchlightpics]

RYE LANE has been nominated for OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM and BEST LEADING ACTRESS at the 2024 @BAFTA Awards! #RyeLaneMovie #EEBAFTAs

[Searchlight Pictures @searchlightpics]

RYE LANE has been nominated for OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM and BEST LEADING ACTRESS at the 2024 @BAFTA Awards! #RyeLaneMovie #EEBAFTAs

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

I remember the exact moment I realised I was No. 2. @nordichotelsng, Abuja. 31 March 2017.

Started building Value Africa: https://t.co/L7FMPacWnr. Still building and excited about what’s to come.

[Bradford Hardin @bradford_hardin]

What's up with people whose career looks like this:

2 years
2 years
1 year
2 years
2 years
6 months

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

Amen

[K.O. | 🇳🇬 @KolaOyeneyin]

2 months ago, I heard that a founder was paying himself $15k monthly, the company packed up. This past weekend, I heard another founder was paying himself $50,000 monthly, the company packed up. Both of them, on investor funds. Like many people like me who invest in and/or back early stage companies, I was horrified if I’m being honest. I think it’s about time we begin to talk about what it really takes to build successful companies.

I’ve recently found that there are really only a few founders in Africa who set out to solve real problems and create thriving businesses, others are just offering “entrepreneurship as a service” (EaaS). They set out to solve their own problem, poverty.

Whenever a founder, director or owner doesn’t understand or practice the principles of ‘delayed gratification’, the death of whatever they’re building is around the corner. Cash flow in business is like blood in your body, once there’s an area of serious bleeding, death could become inevitable.

For context, I founded my first company in 2011. It broke even & became profitable within 15 months. The company was unbelievable liquid by year 2 ending, but I (the founder) wasn’t. I didn’t have an office or earn a constant monthly salary. My then two senior managers earned more than me, this is still a practice in many of my companies today. I pay exec hires more than I pay myself, if at all I earn anything.

Call me an old school entrepreneur, but I don’t like paper valuation. I like:

1. Strong balance sheet
2. Healthy cashflow
3. Frugality (keep cost down at all costs)

I am brutal with cost. I do not like to run a company like I’m Santa, spending like there’s no tomorrow. Now as a fund manager, this means I’m able to return higher ROI to my investors than your favorite hedge fund managers; because of the low cost of running our funds.

Whether it’s fintech or farmland, the principles behind starting, growing and scaling a company are the same. Break them and they will hunt you down!

[K.O. | 🇳🇬 @KolaOyeneyin]

2 months ago, I heard that a founder was paying himself $15k monthly, the company packed up. This past weekend, I heard another founder was paying himself $50,000 monthly, the company packed up. Both of them, on investor funds. Like many people like me who invest in and/or back early stage companies, I was horrified if I’m being honest. I think it’s about time we begin to talk about what it really takes to build successful companies.

I’ve recently found that there are really only a few founders in Africa who set out to solve real problems and create thriving businesses, others are just offering “entrepreneurship as a service” (EaaS). They set out to solve their own problem, poverty.

Whenever a founder, director or owner doesn’t understand or practice the principles of ‘delayed gratification’, the death of whatever they’re building is around the corner. Cash flow in business is like blood in your body, once there’s an area of serious bleeding, death could become inevitable.

For context, I founded my first company in 2011. It broke even & became profitable within 15 months. The company was unbelievable liquid by year 2 ending, but I (the founder) wasn’t. I didn’t have an office or earn a constant monthly salary. My then two senior managers earned more than me, this is still a practice in many of my companies today. I pay exec hires more than I pay myself, if at all I earn anything.

Call me an old school entrepreneur, but I don’t like paper valuation. I like:

1. Strong balance sheet
2. Healthy cashflow
3. Frugality (keep cost down at all costs)

I am brutal with cost. I do not like to run a company like I’m Santa, spending like there’s no tomorrow. Now as a fund manager, this means I’m able to return higher ROI to my investors than your favorite hedge fund managers; because of the low cost of running our funds.

Whether it’s fintech or farmland, the principles behind starting, growing and scaling a company are the same. Break them and they will hunt you down!

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

Haha

[John Simpson @JohnSimpsonNews]

Once met a British oil exec in Lagos. The day before, he’d been to a disastrous party at a top minister’s house. The invitation said ‘Fancy dress compulsory’. He had no fancy dress, but was an enthusiastic scuba diver and by chance had his gear with him. He dressed up, took a cab to the house, rather surprising the driver, squelched up the drive in wet-suit, mask & fins, climbed the steps, and found himself in the midst of the party. All the men were wearing dinner jackets, since in Nigeria ‘fancy dress’ means ‘black tie’. He fled back down the drive and understandably had problems getting a cab to take him back to his hotel.

[Mazi Chukwuma Jason Njoku @JasonNjoku]

Scaling vocational training and superior technical skills ✊🏿👏🏿. China took a 100+ year bet 🚀. That is the reason why they dominate global trade flows. 🇳🇬 lacks in all these areas. Its not too late to invest. We won't be globally competitive in anything without it.

[Ibe 🎒 @maziibe_]

Finally visited Peckham and all I can say is no way you’re living there and be home sick.

First thing I saw was jedi spot, then Amala spot, then the next shop was playing pasuma.

[👍 @CLINT419]

the grass is only green where you water it.

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

@marcrandolph I think this story starts with how you met Reed. You carpooled to work and decided to start a business which focused on sharing.

I think this must be connected. If not it’d make a great narrative for a movie.

On Netflix, Summer 2025?

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

@mayahorgan The customers and partnership angles were well captured by @uchiuchibeke and @ArchibongHQ. I’d add market shaping ie how could a vc advocate for deregulation, tax incentives, outline consumer benefits and changes industry norms to benefit portfolio companies (some examples).

[Peter Archibong @ArchibongHQ]

@mayahorgan Intro to portfolio companies for partnerships,
Visa support,
Access to new hires.

[uchi uchibeke • ekê-owu @uchiuchibeke]

Intros to potential customers and partners

And connection to talent

These could be in form of:
- regular hackathons hosted by the VC with their portfolio as sponsors/partners and connection to talent
- Database of potential clients or partners. Searchable, filterable and potentially with recommendations based on Startup needs

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

@Kdenkss @KipChes Big fan of Nando’s business model. I’ve been meaning to put together and article on this for the longest time. This has given me the push to put something together.

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

Thinking out loud: It takes a village https://t.co/UPQQxIkD6m

[imsimplydaniel @imsimplydaniel]

@azeem Instagram is down 800,000,000 too.