Innovation Village recently discussed with Potential VC‘s Dotun Olowoporoku who is currently working a new platform called Starta, a resource platform for African entrepreneurs.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Innovation Village: In your write-up from your last visit to Lagos, you mentioned the word “Starta”. What is this? What gap is “Starta” going to fill in the existing eco-system? (Dotun was at last year’s Demo Africa event)
Dotun Olowoporoku: Starta is a response to some of the gaps that I identified in the African startup ecosystem. I believe there are significant knowledge and funding gaps that prevents entrepreneurs in Africa to build high growth business as quickly as they can. This is why we are building Starta. We aim to provide a platform where African entrepreneurs can have access to relevant business advice, software tools, funding and networking opportunities that will help them start and grow profitable businesses.
Innovation Village: What inspired you to set up Starta?
Dotun Olowoporoku: I consider myself an accidental entrepreneur. I founded my first business whilst working as a post-doctoral research fellow in Bristol. I had to learn a lot on my feet. I later on led the business to operate across 3 cities in the UK, raised more than $1m investment and pivoted to become an enterprise logistic network. I came to realise that entrepreneurship is a science. It can be learned. A lot can be gleaned from the stories and experiences of others.
I also believe that commerce is a key driver in Africa’s socio-economic growth. And small business and startup founders rather than government or aid agencies will make this happen. These beliefs were reinforced when I came to Lagos for the Demo Africa event in September 2015. I met lots of smart entrepreneurs attempting very interesting things that can change the continents future. Starta is a way of helping these entrepreneurs and contributing to the ecosystem in a way leverages on my strength, experience, expertise and network.
Innovation Village: Who is backing Starta? Which organisations are willing to help you to achieve the vision behind Starta?
Dotun Olowoporoku: At the moment I am bootstrapping Starta with some support from Potential UK.
Innovation Village: When is the launch date for Starta?
Dotun Olowoporoku: We are launching in the first quarter of 2016. We’ll start with the content platform which will provide relevant business advice and how-to guides to entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs can sign up at thestarta.com
