Why Your Side Project Isn't a Real Startup

Stop playing startup! I’ve been consulting for a while now, and I’m seeing a worrisome trend in the Nigerian tech ecosystem. I see teams of three, four, or five people who say they have a startup, but every single one of them is in full-time employment elsewhere. When I try to schedule a meeting, everyone is busy "answering yes sir" to their bosses or going on work trips for their 9-to-5s.If you are all part-time, who is actually running the business? A startup has two primary goals: validating the business idea (product-market fit) and securing funding. You cannot achieve these on a "nights and weekends" schedule. Customer acquisition isn’t something that happens by itself; it’s a full-time battle. If you’re only responding to procurement emails at 9:30 PM after two hours in Lagos traffic, you’re not doing well with the lead.Furthermore, investors notice when there is no "skin in the game." Why would someone drop millions of Naira into your idea when you aren't even fully committed to it?I have a client who has been "playing startup" for years without even validating their core concept because they lack a full-time driver.My advice? If you can't leave your cushy job—and I get it, the streets are harsh—then you need to hire a full-time CEO. You need at least one person who is responsible for the business 24/7, someone you can hold accountable when things stall.If you stay part-time, you are sacrificing speed. While you are doing "part time", a full-time team in Kenya or down the street will outrun you and execute your idea better.Plan well, and stop moving at zero velocity!