You built something real. You have users. You believe in this. Your team is working hard, and maybe you have even made some money from it. So why does every pitch end with a polite “we’ll circle back” that never comes? The uncomfortable truth is that investors are not always rejecting your idea. Sometimes, they […]
7 Reasons Investors Reject Good Startups (And How to Avoid Them) Read More »
Something big is happening, and it’s been in the making for months. At Founders Smith, we’ve always believed that the most transformative companies in West Africa won’t come from Silicon Valley; they’ll come from Accra, Dakar, Enugu, Lomé, and every corner of this region where founders are solving real problems with real urgency. After a
Which Path Should You Take as a Founder? There’s a conversation that happens in almost every founder’s head at some point, usually at 11 PM, with a half-cold cup of coffee and a spreadsheet that doesn’t quite add up. Should I just raise money? Or should I keep building on my own? It feels like
Fundraising vs. Bootstrapping Read More »
Why being busy is not the same as building something that works There is a moment almost every founder experiences. You are working every day. Long hours. Calls. Meetings. Product updates. Marketing pushes. Hiring conversations. Maybe even pitching investors. You are tired but also proud because you are doing a lot. Then one day, you
The Difference Between Activity and Progress Read More »
Why user growth does not always equal revenue and how African founders can navigate this challenge Launching a startup is often exhilarating. You release your product or service and watch as users flock to it. The sign-ups, downloads, or registrations surge. Your social media is buzzing. Investors are impressed. You feel unstoppable. But then comes
When Users Come but Money Doesn’t Read More »
Understanding the grey zone every founder goes through in plain English. When you start something new, the first few wins feel electrifying. You find a problem worth solving. You build the first version of what you imagine. People start using it and telling you they like it. But after that, something strange happens. You are
That Strange Phase Between Growth and Stuck Read More »
