Let's talk about finding the first true-believer who will put money into your startup. There's a killer Catch-22 about raising money in that you can't get that first investor until you land that first investor. Having gone through the fundraising process over and over again, I can assure you it's absolutely as convoluted as it sounds. Having been an angel investor myself at one point (but no longer), I can also confirm that investing in startups – whether it's private, angel, or venture capital – is rooted in herd mentality. No one wants to be first, then everyone wants to…

The management of Total Grace Group, has described as unfounded and misleading reports in some sections of online media that the Police have launched a manhunt for its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Henry Akinduro, over an alleged fraud. The group in a statement signed by its Director of Finance, Abiodun Adu, urged members of the public to ignore such mischievous reports, affirming that it was baseless and lacked any iota of truth. It also enjoined practitioners in both conventional and the new media to always uphold the ethics of their profession by carrying out adequate fact-checking before rushing to the…

You've found the car you want to buy. Although the negotiation actually began the moment you walked onto the lot (more on that in a moment), now it's time to put it into words. In this case, you have two choices: Summon up your courage and make an offer; Take the less confrontational approach by playing the "what's the best you can do?" game. Which approach is more effective? Anchors matter As my Inc. colleague Justin Bariso says, emotional intelligence ultimately means making your emotions work for you, not against you. The first relevant number that starts a negotiation –…

Security and Exchange Commission has approved the rules for listing on Nigeria Exchange’s new Technology Board, the NGX announced Monday. The technology board is a specialised platform for technology-based companies to list and raise capital on The Exchange. Through the board, NGX aims to encourage investments in indigenous technologically inclined companies and others across Africa, provide greater visibility to these companies and ultimately deepen the Nigerian capital market. Securities listed on NGX Technology Board will be accessible to qualified institutional investors, retail investors, and high-net-worth investors. The approval has come as the Nigerian Exchange positions itself to get its bite…