Women Entrepreneur shares how they raised their capital from almost nothing

Raising capital for business in Nigeria is not the easiest thing in the world especially for a startup business. While some started with nothing, some got support from friends and family and personal savings. We asked these entrepreneurs and they shared how they got funding for their businesses.
Aderonke Abiona of Bambiano
Initial capital was raised by me and my business partner who is also my husband. A lot of bootstrapping and sacrifice was done to kick off the business. As co-preneurs, we share expenses, office space, technology and admin costs between Bambiano and his sock brand N&G Socks. We also outsource services we cannot adequately handle and eliminate unnecessary costs.
Adehola Ojo Founder Of Adehola Creations
I started with about N3,000. Bought a Hot Glue Gun and some materials which I use in making accessories for sale. Then I’ll go to a Shoemaker around my area and I’ll help him make accessories for his customers while in exchange he allows me to use his equipments.Then I’ll take pictures with my phone and upload on the internet. I started buying my own tools with the money made from the sales
Olamide Smith of Sweet Indulgence
I started small while working full-time and saved gradually over the years. While working I bought a few cake accessories and equipment and by the time I was ready to resign I had saved enough to pay for my training in French patisserie. What also helped was that I always lived within my means bearing in mind that I had future goals so I always spent with extra care focusing more on investments than frivolities.
Oluwatoyin Onigbanjo of August Secrets
I raised the capital with my personal savings, popularly known as ‘ajo’. I am good with managing my personal finance, so that helps me a lot to pull through.
Bunmi Arinbola of Elewa Foods
I started my business with just about N1000 as that was all I needed and could afford as at then. The mistake a lot of people make is that they think they need a huge capital to begin. Funding is not always easily accessible but you must not let money stop you from pursuing your dreams. How about you start small, grow and the opportunities for funding ‘would slide into your Dm.’ (Lol)
Mmachukwu Omonode of Mahauty Health
Hmmm. It wasn’t an easy one but God has always remained God for me. I started with personal savings but being that this business is capital intensive, my husband added some money as well. I did some other independent consultancy jobs. I had multiple streams of income as a backup.
Kris Oziofu Ero of WellBabyNG
I didn’t really need that much capital to start with, so what came from self and family sufficed. In some instances I went into partnership arrangements, where I did not need to pay cash, nor have, or own certain infrastructure to get the job done. I do believe in the power of collaborations.
Tolulope Sowande of Healthy Bar
Raising capital was not very easy. My husband and I used up all our savings and we had to borrow from friends and family as well. One major cost we had to contend with when we opened was the cost of energy. The outlet had to be powered as long as we were opened, and it did not matter if we had customers or not.
Victoria Mamza of Wangaraufoods
I started Wangaraufoods from my pocket money. Running a business is no child’s play, talk more of running a business in Nigeria where there is no enabling environment for businesses to thrive. We produce our own electricity, water and all other amenities. Although I have applied for a thousand and one grants from organizations that support entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, I have not gotten any yet. That does not mean that I’m giving up. On the contrary, it’s even making me all the more determined to make Wangaraufoods work.
Aisha Shuaibu of Waffle Stop
I saved up what I could on my own but what really got things moving was a contribution I received at a time when I knew exactly what to do with it and I paid it back not too long after.
Oyinlola Adekogbe of Jedi & Co LTD