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Dragon’s Den: From Classroom of Fire, Cash

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Episode 3 of the Dragon’s Den was packed with more dramatic energy, more ambitious smooth-talking entrepreneurs, and more ruthless dragons.

The first entrepreneur Aniekeme Friday Bassey came in search of 8 million naira in exchange of 20% equity in a business he believed would solve Nigeria’s electricity problem for good. He came hoping to convince the dragons to invest in a business that would make wind turbine power-generating sets available in Nigeria. He revealed that the wind turbine apparatus generated up to 2 mega watts of electricity, and was currently being employed in Europe, where this technology is responsible for generating more than 40% of the continent’s energy.

Femi Tejuoso’s question initiated his undoing and before long, it was obvious that this entrepreneur’s idea was not only unoriginal to him but he lacked faith in his business plan. He was sent home with only a piece of advice from Ibukun Awosika. 

Emmanuel Achukwu barely escaped being scorched by the infuriated dragons who felt enormously insulted by his bizarre demand for 5 million naira in exchange for 60% equity in a company that would specialize in writing business plans for other businesses when the business plan he had presented to the dragons for this business was flawed by an overwhelming dose of mediocrity, incompetence, and severe lack of any fundamental knowledge in the art of business writing. 

It was not long before this entrepreneur went crashing down with yet another advice from Awosika, "please don’t try again. Go back to school. Make yourself more qualified to do this kind of work- but for now, you don’t have a business."

The third entrepreneur, Alao Olatunji had the idea of starting what he dreamt was a ‘Modern Day Carwash’, and in order to turn his dream into an growing enterprise, he requested for 31 million naira in exchange of 70% equity.

During his presentation he had revealed his plans to roll out a bouquet of car-washing services under the glam titles ‘Flexi’, ‘Supreme’, ‘Instanta’ etc. He pegged the prices for his services at N1, 000.

Attacks came from Chris Parkes, Awosika and John Momoh and Olatunji could not keep up. He lost out!

Michael Ijegwua and his partner Idu Paul went into the den, looking smart, and confident that they were going to secure an investment in a business they had tagged the "Mobile Aided Mail-Box", which was ear-marked to provide a service that would replace the conventional Private Mail Box (PMB) addressing system with a subscriber’s mobile phone number. The idea sounded very brilliant but confusing at first.

However, on closer examination the Dragons discovered it was just a value added service which would prove profitable if only they made plans to work with the postal agency to introduce this concept to their subscribers.

 

They opted out.

The fifth entrepreneur, Walter Asikaro, the chairman of Consolidated Gems Limited, came to expand his business of exporting rough and processed gem stones with a 6 million naira investment from the dragons. But his undoing was not being able to convince the dragons on the legality of the business. He lost out!

Abiodun Bolaji came to ask for 6 million naira in exchange for 60% equity in his refuse disposal business. But indications that he would use bribery to advance his business put the dragons off whom of course, opted out.

The seventh entrepreneur, Jumobi Daniel and his "Jumoby Fruity Eatery" left a fruity taste in the den when he came asking for 5 million naira in exchange of 30% equity in his business, an outlet where fruits can be savored by customers all day long

The dragons on a closer look discovered that his business plan was not feasible, and his idea was not well-researched. They advised him to allow his business to grow from bottom upwards instead of jumping from start-up to becoming a conglomerate.

However, he went home with Chris Parkes 1Million Naira advice only after the dragons had opted out.


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VFD Group Proposes SplitXchange for Financing Nigeria’s Creative Industry

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VFD Group Plc has proposed the introduction of a specialized Exchange that would address the issue of financing in Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries to bolster foreign exchange earnings and economic development.

Folagbade Adeyemi, the Managing Director of Splitar Limited,  stated this while speaking at the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) quarterly Forum, sponsored by VFD Group Plc.

Adeyemi revealed that the Group is actively pursuing an exchange platform tailored to the media and entertainment sector, offering diverse investment opportunities for both domestic and international investors.

Currently in its development stage, SplitXchange when launched, would offer a platform for financing the media and entertainment industry, among other alternative assets.

According to him, “Seeing the huge potential in alternative assets, Splitar Holdings, through Split Exchange, would drive the alternative assets space with its revolutionary digital exchange.”

He emphasized the potential of this sector to significantly improve the GDP of the country and called for a collaborative approach towards establishing robust frameworks and clear guidelines to support investment in alternative assets leveraging technology.

“Unless we collaboratively set up institutions that can provide data around these asset classes and place a true value on these asset creators to make seeking finance a lot easier, we will not see significant returns.

“A lot of transactions have been ongoing within that space which are not captured within the country’s value chain. That is what SplitXchange seeks to address.”

With Nigeria’s estimated population at 208.8 million people, Adeyemi highlighted the increasing demand for Nigerian content locally and on a global scale.

Speaking on the theme: “Beyond Tradition: Increasing Relevance of Alternative Assets in the Capital Market,” Adeyemi lamented the absence of robust funding pillars in the country.

He emphasized the potential of Entertainment and Media, noting that globally there is an average market size of $41 billion as of 2021 with an estimated growth of 4.2 per cent.

While pointing out investments by Netflix and Amazon, which have churned out blockbuster movies that have gained viewership and streams across the globe, he noted that Nigeria’s biggest investor in the form of Pension Assets was yet to invest in the entertainment or streaming services.

He stressed the need to solve the problems of liquidity, efficiency, and barriers to entry in the country.

“In today’s market, the quick conversion of assets into cash is a challenge due to the absence of a well-structured marketplace that oversees and regulates these assets.

“The automation of processes such as compliance, escrow account management, dividend distribution, corporate action management, and drag-along actions technology presents a significant challenge in today’s alternative market. The high initial cost of assets in this market restricts participation to only affluent individuals and corporate investors,” he said.

He noted that the sector remains excluded from the organized financial sector due to the inability of intermediaries to recognize Intellectual Property (IP) as suitable collateral to access funding. “Projects are financed informally through a network of angel investors, high net worth individuals, non-governmental organizations, government, and personal savings,” Adeyemi said.

Furthermore, he pointed out that investors and asset creators face challenges when seeking investment opportunities or raising capital through traditional financial avenues.

“Traditional financial institutions are ill-equipped to appraise industry opportunities due to poor visibility, data, and income/revenue leakages leading to mispricing through high-interest rates, market illiquidity of associated securities, poor market depth, and lack of accessibility for retail investors,” he said.


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Konga Travel Commences Canadian Visa Services for Professionals and Students

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Konga Travels and Tours, a leading provider of travel services in Nigeria is pleased to announce the launch of its Canadian visa assistance services through strategic partnership with a licensed Canadian immigration company.

Konga Travels is now equipped and in a vantage position to assist clients in realizing their relocation dreams.

The new Canadian visa services cater to the travel needs of diverse category of individuals including students, workers, professionals, and investors looking for new opportunities in Canada.

Applicants can get exclusive packages on business immigration, study in Canada, work permits, as well as visit and tourist visa services with the professional assistance of Konga Travels and Tours.

The Business Immigration visa is tailored to investors interested in conducting business activities in Canada with a pathway to permanent residency. The Study in Canada visa service caters to students aspiring to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies in foreign institutions renowned for their academic excellence and global recognition.

Okezie Akaniro, Senior Vice President of Konga Online Limited expressed excitement about the expansion of the company’s service portfolio saying “We are thrilled to introduce Canadian visa assistance services to our esteemed clients because we understand the aspirations of Nigerians seeking to pursue educational, professional, or business opportunities in Canada.

“This partnership underscores Konga Travels’ commitment to providing holistic travel solutions that meet the diverse needs of our customers, with our expertise and strategic collaboration, we aim to simplify the Canadian immigration process and help individuals achieve their aspirations of studying, working, or investing in Canada,” he stated.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new service, Abiola Bakare, Business Head of Konga Travels and Tours posited, “At Konga Travels, we continuously seek ways to enhance the travel experiences of our customers.

“The introduction of Canadian visa assistance services aligns with our goal of providing end-to-end solutions and simplifying the travel process for our clients.”

Konga Travels and Tours goes beyond processing visa applications. As part of its suite of services, Konga Travels offers flight booking, hotel reservations, and tour packages. Recently, Konga Travels and Tours further enhanced its offerings by partnering with Coronation Insurance to provide comprehensive travel insurance solutions.

For further inquiries, customers are encouraged to contact Konga Travels through any of the official customer touchpoints provided here:

Phone Call: +234 809 460 5555; 0708 063 5700

WhatsApp: +234 (0) 811 211 4488

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Konga Travel

Instagram: @kongatravel


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5 Strategies to Prevent Payment Delays from Hurting Your Business

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Payment delays pose significant challenges for businesses across Africa. Maintaining a steady cash flow is essential for business growth and sustainability, making it crucial to address late or non-payments from customers.

So, how can SMEs effectively prevent payment delays? Let’s explore five actionable strategies to keep revenue flowing smoothly.

Streamline Payment Processes
Smoother payment experiences lead to prompt payments. Simplifying the payment process for customers by offering multiple payment options enhances convenience and reduces the likelihood of delays. It is important to note that collaborating with a reliable payment gateway is fundamental in achieving seamless transactions.

Embrace Subscription Models

Adopting a subscription-based payment model ensures consistent cash flow and predictability in revenue streams. SeerBit has innovative features, such as partial debits and automatic retries which fortify this model, ensuring uninterrupted revenue even amidst payment hiccups.

Digitize Invoicing

Transitioning from paper-based to digital invoicing eliminates delays caused by delivery hiccups, while also minimizing the risk of lost documents. Digital invoicing not only streamlines payment tracking, but also enhances operational efficiency.

Implement Incentives and Penalties

Introducing incentives for early payments and penalties for late payments encourages timely settlements. Customers are motivated to pay promptly to capitalize on discounts and other special deals, while the prospect of additional charges or sanctions deters delays. Reminder notifications serve as gentle nudges, prompting customers to fulfil their payment obligations promptly.

Proactive Payment Management

Partnering with SeerBit empowers businesses to proactively manage payment collections. With a robust payment gateway offering seamless transactions, recurring payment capabilities and digital invoicing services, businesses can effectively mitigate the risks associated with payment delays.

Conclusion

Preventing payment delays is critical for sustaining business operations and fostering growth. The World Bank predicts that late payments cost the global economy over $40billion every year. By implementing these strategies and leveraging the capabilities of SeerBit, businesses can optimize their payment processes, ensuring uninterrupted cash flow and significant long-term success.


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