Barclays Black Founder Accelerator 2022 member
Ethco Group
I am a career product owner who ventured into entrepreneurship in the last 5 years. I have successfully exited an e-commerce and fulfilment service company operating in West Africa.
Why did you join the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator?
I have been looking at successfully founder stories, and I couldn't help but notice that it is harder for black founders out there. I believe the combined expertise of foundervine and Barclays will help black founders like myself stand a better chance. I also wanted to meet other founders like me that are facing similar challenges.
Why did you want to start your business?
Nobody is going to build for our communities if we do not do it ourselves. Ethco is helping ethnic and independent store owners go digital using low-touch technology. I started ethco because of a personal need and later discovered that the store owners and their families were suffering from a lack of structure.
What would be your desired outcome from this programme?
I would love to meet more founders, get a network of investors that can join our pre-seed and also get the right help to enable us to gain traction with our angel investment.
Which entrepreneur inspires you the most and why?
I love Jack Dorsey of Twitter and Square. I love how his journey has been about creating products that matter to people and ultimately change their lives. I also like that he is worried about sustainability and inclusion.
What has been your biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey?
My biggest win is being able to sell a company I ran for 5 years in a country battling multiple recessions. I still can't believe it.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been staying focused and not getting distracted by an overflow of ideas.
Where did you go for business advice and how did it help you?
I went to Birmingham Enterprise Community, then eventually to Supertech west midlands. They helped me to connect with founders like myself and also with resources that reduced our time to market.
What drives you to make your business a success?
Inspiration! I want a young lady, from Northern Nigeria to be able to look in the mirror and say she can do this, there is no limitation in this world that can stop her from achieving her dreams or founding a successful company.
What advice would you give other founders thinking about starting their own business?
Connect with other people in the field you are looking to start a business in. This can save you a lot of time and expensive mistakes and will increase your speed to market. It is also an easy way to validate your idea.