Having an experienced mentor can be a game-changer for a startup, offering practical business insights along with emotional and strategic support that can make or break a young company. That’s why Orange Corners Nigeria has included Entrepreneurs-in-Residence from the start – seasoned professionals who provide valuable business advice and help our entrepreneurs build essential networks. Over their six-month residency, they offer one-on-one coaching, lead workshops and serve as jurors in key events like the Business Pitch Competition and Demo Days. This hands-on approach bridges the gap between theory and practice, helping startups overcome the challenges of scaling.
Great Ukazim, Programme Manager Orange Corners Nigeria: “It’s a rewarding role, both for the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, who give back to the entrepreneurial community, and for the startups, who gain invaluable experience and connections. Their insights and guidance have been instrumental in accelerating the growth of our entrepreneurs!”
For Cohort 10, the Entrepreneur-in-Residence was Banji Ajilore – entrepreneur, business consultant, mentor and angel investor. As founder and managing partner of Pinnacle Business Solutions Limited (PBS), he facilitates better access to finance and promotes trade across Africa.
Mr. Ajilore looks back on his experience: “In February 2024, I was invited by FATE Foundation to serve voluntarily as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) at the Orange Corners Nigeria Incubation programme (Cohort 10) and in retrospect, I am delighted to have accepted the invite. The incubation programme, which is an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and FATE School of Entrepreneurship, admitted 20 early-stage, innovative and aspiring entrepreneurs for a 6-month incubationme programme and upon completion, the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) will provide funding (a minimum of 3,000, up to EUR 30,000). The goal of the incubation programme aligns with my passion to serve as an enabler in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and its commitment to support more female-owned businesses.
As the EiR, I had the opportunity to work with a fantastic faculty team at the FATE School (Great Ukazim, Aghogho Akporido, Michael Ayinla and Oke-baatimo Olajumoke). It was a very fulfilling experience because of the opportunity to share from my extensive experiences in venture-building in order to help these aspiring entrepreneurs to gain practical and real-life insights with the aim to start, grow and scale a successful business in a volatile market like ours. Having several one-on-one advisory sessions with them was quite demanding but highly rewarding because of the continuous improvement of their business ideas as well as their determination to succeed was contagious.
I also served as a juror at the Business Pitch Competition and had the privilege to see how the robust curriculum had significantly helped to improve their ideas and personal growth (skills-sets and character). I was very impressed with some of their presentations. It was also an opportunity to build my professional networks with consultants and industry-experts who either facilitated or participated in some of the sessions during the programme.
Recently, I gave the keynote address at the OCIF Award Ceremony where I reiterated that the future of entrepreneurship will be centred around technology & automation, globalisation (expanding beyond local markets with sustainable products and services with global demands) and social impact (entrepreneurs are agents of change in the society). Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the leadership of these organisations for the opportunity to serve. Wishing all the entrepreneurs a great success in their ventures.”
On behalf of all of us at Orange Corners: Mr. Ajilore, thank you for your time and dedication!
