Is agricultural business not a rosy future for the young Nigerians now? Grospam gave a different answer.
Q1: What's your background, what were you working on before this startup Grospam, What's your work experience before this startup, Can you introduce your business to us?
I am Osemudiamhen V. Aimiosior from Edo state (Ewato south east of Nigeria, Africa).i grew up in a middle class community in Lagos, a family of five with three children including myself (two boys and a girl).
I attended St. Bernadette nursery and primary school in gowon estate lagos, where after my graduation got admitted to Christ the king catholic college (C.K.C.C) odoleu ijebu ode, Ogun state. I completed my secondary school education in the year 2008/2009 academic calendar before furthering my education by going to Ghana to attend university of Ghana, Legon where I completed my studies with a bachelor degree in psychology in 2012 but had to wait two more years to formally graduate due to some complications which was resolved by 2014, after which I went for my National youth corps service (NYSC).
I am a very passionate patriot of my country Nigeria, it fuels my every decision and is one of the driving force that supports my endeavour in life and business.
I love football and was a very good player in my younger days in school (I was a striker), I love reading business & personal development books, and I am also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Nigeria (NIM).
Q2: What experience or idea inspire you to get started with Grospam and what does this mean to you in today’s Nigeria agriculture industry? (If you can, please attach related photos about that experience )
I started Grospam during my NYSC in sokoto state (A state in the upper northern part of Nigeria). The birth of Grospam (Officially) was aligned by the stars, I say this because I remember applying for a loan to fund my business during my NYSC, I got selected and was asked to register my business if they were ever going to fund it for us, that was what lead to Grospam getting officially registered October, 2016.
Before the creation of grospam I previously have a cake business (was building it into a cup cake and ice cream franchise, but my soul was calling me for something bigger so I cut it loose to focus on Grospam). It has always been my dream to create products and services that developed Nigeria on a large scale. I started Grospam right after my university education and focused more intensively on it after my NYSC program.
I have worked in a few prominent establishments mostly during the holidays during my university days but I never stayed for more than one month, I just couldn’t sit down doing some work while there are many things (opportunities) wrong outside waiting for someone to fix, so most of the time I always ended my contract even sometimes without pay which I really didn’t care much about at that time.
Gropam is an agricultural company from Nigeria, the company grospam was birth due to my commitment to a better Nigeria. We are set out to advances the Nigerian (African) agricultural system, provide food and resource needed to develop people and nations. We believe with the right knowledge, quality and skilled people more can be done in the Nigerian agricultural industry, and not only farming but mass industrialization of commodities.
Grospam is divided into three departments; we have the commercial farming department, the agribusiness service department (Providing agribusiness finances, and other related services to technically improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the agricultural sector and finally the manufacturing and processing (level I & II). Grospam is a very small company but we are convinced we are building on the right part. We also just put out a new (Minimum viable product) into the market to watch its development and scale it up as soon as possible.
Q3: What's your technical architecture of your website fudafrick? How long did your team accomplish the website until it launched?
The technical architecture of our website fudafrick- the main reason we put out the platform was for people living outside Nigeria to purchase locally made food stuffs and get it delivered to their doorstep, while having a happy experience when purchasing Nigeria food stuffs off the platform and living good life without any burden all from the website with their address credit/debit card.
Q4: What are your thoughts on the current state of agriculture business in Nigeria?
The Nigerian agricultural landscape is very promising, and I say so, firstly because of global population growth- not only in the areas of food production but processing of raw material to other value added products for other industries. Nigeria’s agricultural sector is still at its juvenile stage (with all the investment and campaigns towards the industry). Nigeria’s agricultural sector accounts for 40% of our GDP and provides employment for about 60% of Nigeria’s 170 million plus people.
Looking at the Nigerian agricultural sector within the last five years a lot has been done to promote and develop the industry with regards to funding, technical assistance, man power development, and policies to facilitate these development. A major contributing factor to the slow down in the industries development and Nigeria as a country not quick to harness the potentials of the sector is largely due to inadequate business structuring knowledge, self-destructive attitudes and decision (both by the people and government) and the non-shift in paradigm as seeing agriculture as a large contributor to our industrialization (many find it hard to transition from farming crops to setting up a bankable structural business that adds value through processes and technical knowhow).
I remember I read from an online newspaper source (www.m.guardian.ng/business) it was very insightful because looking at the history and development of the first world countries you will be amazed to find out that they have had less and less people working in the agricultural sector without any significant or next to zero drop in production output. In England roughly 75% of the population were into farming by 1700, by 1841 only 22%; in USA 90% in 1830 by 1870 it was 50% and by 2008 just 2%, in chain the trend can be seen (Number don’t lie) 80% by 1990 it was down to 60% and at 2015 it was 28%. It is no news that Nigeria was in a time in history (In the 60’s) one of the biggest agricultural producing countries, and more than 40 years after we are still looking to employ more people into the agricultural sector, this is really bad and very backwards. A good policies that I feel can fast track our development could be having as a requirement for companies; them show a validated road map/plan on how they will industrialize their business that provides job for a minimum number of people, I think that could work.
Yes agriculture can and in the past has been used to elevate a country and its people but if and when a fewer people are not in the farms but in industries and developing other sectors of the economy .
Q5: How did you find your co-founders and employees? What’s the story of how you setup your team? (please attach some team photos and co-founders photos)
I did not have a co-founder at the beginning of Grospam
Q6: When you guys built the initial products and service, What were the difficulties your team faced and how did you fix them?
The very first product we launched was package chicken meat, I remember vividly one of our major challenge was our product handling we were always not getting the standards we wanted, and it was always difficult, one, because we were small. We have been able to learn from it so I went for further studies about our product production, it was clear we had to remodel, fix and adjust our operations (which involved starting all over again).
Q7: How did you get initial money to start the business?
I was able to get funding at the beginning from my family members most especially my mum and a little money I had in my account.
Q8: How did you attract new users to your website and use your products? What are the useful operation methods you can share?
Talking about “fudafrick” I would like to say we are actually preparing to remodel the website (due to our newly found knowledge on our company operations).we have been using the leverage social media as offered us and networking with people we know. We use a lot of pictorial graphics on social media and some curated post that are relevant to our brand.
Q9: Have you experienced startup failures before? If YES, what did you learn from it?
I have experienced failures several times some outside the works of Grospam, but I have learnt a thing or two from theme, to mention a few:
Q10: How did you grow your revenue? What’s the story behind how you got your first revenue from clients?
During our first year in business we had a huge negative on our balance sheets, our finance was in a dreadful condition. A huge chunk of our revenue was coming from one single client of ours (we got this client through a family referral).
Q11: What operational data you can share? The user amounts, revenues, employee numbers, GMV, etc.
Grospam was built with about N2.5 million plus in cash, employed about 6 (six) people directly and indirectly (everything vanished into thin air, with us having losses and debts to pay our suppliers), hard times.we learnt from it and we are growing the company all over again with the proper structures to make it work and the journey feels good; and the future looks visible and known.
Q12: How do you ensure your agriculture product quality and security in your site? Such as chicken and fertilizer?
We put in place processes and structures to ensure we get the very best product to the end user and also try to educate our workers .
Q13: What’s your goals for your business? Why do that goals are important for you?
Our present go as a company is to scale and develop our dried bitter leave MVP in the market and increase production output to our targeted planed figure within 3years.
Q14: What’s your view on your competitors?
Our clients and consumers are the only thing we see, we know who they are (The competitors), that’s all I can say.
Q15: How do you keep learning? Where do you go to learn more?
I love to read “educative” books, researching and observing people’s behaviour towards events in life and life itself, whatever I observe in other people that piss me off or I find displeasing I try to work on it in my life, I also learn on a different level through private silent meditations.
Q16: What do you do on a daily or a weekly basis that you think is important in terms of forming your opinions on the agriculture industry?
I subscribe to relevant sources of information and news, I do a lot of research and go for seminars when I can.
I am Osemudiamhen V. Aimiosior from Edo state (Ewato south east of Nigeria, Africa).i grew up in a middle class community in Lagos, a family of five with three children including myself (two boys and a girl).
I attended St. Bernadette nursery and primary school in gowon estate lagos, where after my graduation got admitted to Christ the king catholic college (C.K.C.C) odoleu ijebu ode, Ogun state. I completed my secondary school education in the year 2008/2009 academic calendar before furthering my education by going to Ghana to attend university of Ghana, Legon where I completed my studies with a bachelor degree in psychology in 2012 but had to wait two more years to formally graduate due to some complications which was resolved by 2014, after which I went for my National youth corps service (NYSC).
I am a very passionate patriot of my country Nigeria, it fuels my every decision and is one of the driving force that supports my endeavour in life and business.
I love football and was a very good player in my younger days in school (I was a striker), I love reading business & personal development books, and I am also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Nigeria (NIM).
Q2: What experience or idea inspire you to get started with Grospam and what does this mean to you in today’s Nigeria agriculture industry? (If you can, please attach related photos about that experience )
I started Grospam during my NYSC in sokoto state (A state in the upper northern part of Nigeria). The birth of Grospam (Officially) was aligned by the stars, I say this because I remember applying for a loan to fund my business during my NYSC, I got selected and was asked to register my business if they were ever going to fund it for us, that was what lead to Grospam getting officially registered October, 2016.
Before the creation of grospam I previously have a cake business (was building it into a cup cake and ice cream franchise, but my soul was calling me for something bigger so I cut it loose to focus on Grospam). It has always been my dream to create products and services that developed Nigeria on a large scale. I started Grospam right after my university education and focused more intensively on it after my NYSC program.
I have worked in a few prominent establishments mostly during the holidays during my university days but I never stayed for more than one month, I just couldn’t sit down doing some work while there are many things (opportunities) wrong outside waiting for someone to fix, so most of the time I always ended my contract even sometimes without pay which I really didn’t care much about at that time.
Gropam is an agricultural company from Nigeria, the company grospam was birth due to my commitment to a better Nigeria. We are set out to advances the Nigerian (African) agricultural system, provide food and resource needed to develop people and nations. We believe with the right knowledge, quality and skilled people more can be done in the Nigerian agricultural industry, and not only farming but mass industrialization of commodities.
Grospam is divided into three departments; we have the commercial farming department, the agribusiness service department (Providing agribusiness finances, and other related services to technically improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the agricultural sector and finally the manufacturing and processing (level I & II). Grospam is a very small company but we are convinced we are building on the right part. We also just put out a new (Minimum viable product) into the market to watch its development and scale it up as soon as possible.
Q3: What's your technical architecture of your website fudafrick? How long did your team accomplish the website until it launched?
The technical architecture of our website fudafrick- the main reason we put out the platform was for people living outside Nigeria to purchase locally made food stuffs and get it delivered to their doorstep, while having a happy experience when purchasing Nigeria food stuffs off the platform and living good life without any burden all from the website with their address credit/debit card.
Q4: What are your thoughts on the current state of agriculture business in Nigeria?
The Nigerian agricultural landscape is very promising, and I say so, firstly because of global population growth- not only in the areas of food production but processing of raw material to other value added products for other industries. Nigeria’s agricultural sector is still at its juvenile stage (with all the investment and campaigns towards the industry). Nigeria’s agricultural sector accounts for 40% of our GDP and provides employment for about 60% of Nigeria’s 170 million plus people.
Looking at the Nigerian agricultural sector within the last five years a lot has been done to promote and develop the industry with regards to funding, technical assistance, man power development, and policies to facilitate these development. A major contributing factor to the slow down in the industries development and Nigeria as a country not quick to harness the potentials of the sector is largely due to inadequate business structuring knowledge, self-destructive attitudes and decision (both by the people and government) and the non-shift in paradigm as seeing agriculture as a large contributor to our industrialization (many find it hard to transition from farming crops to setting up a bankable structural business that adds value through processes and technical knowhow).
I remember I read from an online newspaper source (www.m.guardian.ng/business) it was very insightful because looking at the history and development of the first world countries you will be amazed to find out that they have had less and less people working in the agricultural sector without any significant or next to zero drop in production output. In England roughly 75% of the population were into farming by 1700, by 1841 only 22%; in USA 90% in 1830 by 1870 it was 50% and by 2008 just 2%, in chain the trend can be seen (Number don’t lie) 80% by 1990 it was down to 60% and at 2015 it was 28%. It is no news that Nigeria was in a time in history (In the 60’s) one of the biggest agricultural producing countries, and more than 40 years after we are still looking to employ more people into the agricultural sector, this is really bad and very backwards. A good policies that I feel can fast track our development could be having as a requirement for companies; them show a validated road map/plan on how they will industrialize their business that provides job for a minimum number of people, I think that could work.
Yes agriculture can and in the past has been used to elevate a country and its people but if and when a fewer people are not in the farms but in industries and developing other sectors of the economy .
Q5: How did you find your co-founders and employees? What’s the story of how you setup your team? (please attach some team photos and co-founders photos)
I did not have a co-founder at the beginning of Grospam
Q6: When you guys built the initial products and service, What were the difficulties your team faced and how did you fix them?
The very first product we launched was package chicken meat, I remember vividly one of our major challenge was our product handling we were always not getting the standards we wanted, and it was always difficult, one, because we were small. We have been able to learn from it so I went for further studies about our product production, it was clear we had to remodel, fix and adjust our operations (which involved starting all over again).
Q7: How did you get initial money to start the business?
I was able to get funding at the beginning from my family members most especially my mum and a little money I had in my account.
Q8: How did you attract new users to your website and use your products? What are the useful operation methods you can share?
Talking about “fudafrick” I would like to say we are actually preparing to remodel the website (due to our newly found knowledge on our company operations).we have been using the leverage social media as offered us and networking with people we know. We use a lot of pictorial graphics on social media and some curated post that are relevant to our brand.
Q9: Have you experienced startup failures before? If YES, what did you learn from it?
I have experienced failures several times some outside the works of Grospam, but I have learnt a thing or two from theme, to mention a few:
- Knowledge and a unique insight about whatever business or endeavour you want to embark on is key to your sustainability, note I didn’t say success, because success is a mix of many ingredients and knowledge is just one of them.
- Have a plan before taking any form of risk
- Never settle for anything less than the very best in whatever you do or say
- Your company will be built on giving the customer solution and anything that makes them better humans.
Q10: How did you grow your revenue? What’s the story behind how you got your first revenue from clients?
During our first year in business we had a huge negative on our balance sheets, our finance was in a dreadful condition. A huge chunk of our revenue was coming from one single client of ours (we got this client through a family referral).
Q11: What operational data you can share? The user amounts, revenues, employee numbers, GMV, etc.
Grospam was built with about N2.5 million plus in cash, employed about 6 (six) people directly and indirectly (everything vanished into thin air, with us having losses and debts to pay our suppliers), hard times.we learnt from it and we are growing the company all over again with the proper structures to make it work and the journey feels good; and the future looks visible and known.
Q12: How do you ensure your agriculture product quality and security in your site? Such as chicken and fertilizer?
We put in place processes and structures to ensure we get the very best product to the end user and also try to educate our workers .
Q13: What’s your goals for your business? Why do that goals are important for you?
Our present go as a company is to scale and develop our dried bitter leave MVP in the market and increase production output to our targeted planed figure within 3years.
Q14: What’s your view on your competitors?
Our clients and consumers are the only thing we see, we know who they are (The competitors), that’s all I can say.
Q15: How do you keep learning? Where do you go to learn more?
I love to read “educative” books, researching and observing people’s behaviour towards events in life and life itself, whatever I observe in other people that piss me off or I find displeasing I try to work on it in my life, I also learn on a different level through private silent meditations.
Q16: What do you do on a daily or a weekly basis that you think is important in terms of forming your opinions on the agriculture industry?
I subscribe to relevant sources of information and news, I do a lot of research and go for seminars when I can.
