"I Had Everything Going For Me... And Still Lost $17,000"
Picture this:
Boston university degree ✓
Silicon Valley experience ✓
$17,000 capital ✓
Nigerian roots ✓
I was convinced I was ready.
My family was proud. Friends were impressed. I had spreadsheets, business plans, and unshakeable confidence.
Then Nigeria taught me a brutal lesson.
Within 8 months:
- The Naira crashed 40%
- My "trusted" partner vanished with half our inventory
- Permits I never knew existed shut us down
- Local competitors with government connections crushed us
I wasn't ready. I just thought I was.
That $17,000 loss at age 29 nearly broke me. But it also taught me something invaluable...
The difference between the 27% who succeed and the 73% who fail isn't luck, connections, or even capital.
It's knowing EXACTLY where you stand before you start.
After my failure, I spent 2 years studying what went wrong. I analyzed successful diaspora businesses. I documented every pattern, every mistake, every success factor.
That research became Counseal. And this assessment is the first step in that proven system.
- Dele Omotosho, Founder of Counseal