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| CEO Drinks.NG |
Born and bred in the United Kingdom, Lanre Akinlagun, is a graduate
of Guildhall University, UK, a digital marketer and founder of fast-rising
e-commerce drinks store, Drinks.ng. In this interview, he speaks on his venture
and gives insight into when to start a business and how to overcome some of the
inherent challenges.
of Guildhall University, UK, a digital marketer and founder of fast-rising
e-commerce drinks store, Drinks.ng. In this interview, he speaks on his venture
and gives insight into when to start a business and how to overcome some of the
inherent challenges.
Kindly
tell us a little bit about your foray into business?
tell us a little bit about your foray into business?
My core
skill set is digital marketing and I have done this for 12 years now. I worked with IBM, which took me to
Silicon Valley frequently, and
this is where I first caught the entrepreneurial bug
and confidence. I joined the iROKOtv team as an early executive member, which initially brought me back to Nigeria occasionally. It was
on these trips, I spotted the opportunity to start drinks.ng.
skill set is digital marketing and I have done this for 12 years now. I worked with IBM, which took me to
Silicon Valley frequently, and
this is where I first caught the entrepreneurial bug
and confidence. I joined the iROKOtv team as an early executive member, which initially brought me back to Nigeria occasionally. It was
on these trips, I spotted the opportunity to start drinks.ng.
Tell us
about your experience so far?
about your experience so far?
Over the course
of the last two years, we have faced some unique challenges, especially during the last elections and even for months after. Some days believe me, I just feel like
quitting; and some time I wished I was here 10 years ago. The one thing that has gotten me through the last two years
is the tremendous level of hope within the nation no matter the challenges.
of the last two years, we have faced some unique challenges, especially during the last elections and even for months after. Some days believe me, I just feel like
quitting; and some time I wished I was here 10 years ago. The one thing that has gotten me through the last two years
is the tremendous level of hope within the nation no matter the challenges.
In your
opinion, when is the best time to start a
business?
opinion, when is the best time to start a
business?
There are only two times I think
you can consider starting a
business. One is when you spot an
opportunity and the second is when
you feel ready. There is no
perfect time, no perfect place or feeling; nothing can prepare you for running a business and giving up the safe security of a
salary.
you can consider starting a
business. One is when you spot an
opportunity and the second is when
you feel ready. There is no
perfect time, no perfect place or feeling; nothing can prepare you for running a business and giving up the safe security of a
salary.
What
were the challenges i.e. raising capital?
were the challenges i.e. raising capital?
I was extremely fortunate to have been able to raise my initial capital from spark.ng, which shares the same co-founders as
iROKOtv.com. I was informed of their fund early
on and quickly capitalized on the
opportunity by presenting my proposal. These guys have
supported several other businesses over the last three years and given great support in all aspects of entrepreneurship.
iROKOtv.com. I was informed of their fund early
on and quickly capitalized on the
opportunity by presenting my proposal. These guys have
supported several other businesses over the last three years and given great support in all aspects of entrepreneurship.
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| Source: IT Web Africa |
Who are your
role models and why?
role models and why?
I have quite a number of role
models both dead and alive. I will
like to mention a few. These are Ashish
J. Thakkar, Aliko Dangote, Pascal dozie, Brian Voakes and
Chief Joe Asien. All these men have touched my life in one way
or the other, some more directly than they realize, but they have excelled in their fields
and raised the bar to new heights for us as Africans.
models both dead and alive. I will
like to mention a few. These are Ashish
J. Thakkar, Aliko Dangote, Pascal dozie, Brian Voakes and
Chief Joe Asien. All these men have touched my life in one way
or the other, some more directly than they realize, but they have excelled in their fields
and raised the bar to new heights for us as Africans.
Where is this business
going to and when are you
getting there?
going to and when are you
getting there?
The story
of our business is still being written and we plan to grow
the largest beverage company in West
Africa. We have the support
of the industry leaders, the marketers and we have built a trusted company, one that people can trust and
believe in. As for when we will get there, when the time is
right, but we plan on moving and growing fast.
of our business is still being written and we plan to grow
the largest beverage company in West
Africa. We have the support
of the industry leaders, the marketers and we have built a trusted company, one that people can trust and
believe in. As for when we will get there, when the time is
right, but we plan on moving and growing fast.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Our biggest
challenge is time; we wish we
had more time in the day to
get things done.
Within the internet world, time is everything and speed of execution is what
makes the difference
between winning and losing.
challenge is time; we wish we
had more time in the day to
get things done.
Within the internet world, time is everything and speed of execution is what
makes the difference
between winning and losing.
What is great
about running your own business?
about running your own business?
I
can quite easily say that I wake up every morning
doing what I love doing more than anything. It feels great being able to dedicate
myself to something without feeling
like I have not given anything up and I feel like that daily.
can quite easily say that I wake up every morning
doing what I love doing more than anything. It feels great being able to dedicate
myself to something without feeling
like I have not given anything up and I feel like that daily.
