Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in technology but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dayo Akinwande, Founder of NAIJAKANA LLC, located in Ellicott City, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I describe NAIJAKANA as a cloud tech company that offers its services through two categories: Cloud Consulting and Cloud Communications. Cloud Consulting refers to assisting organizations who are either using services from at least one major cloud provider (think AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform) or are seriously considering digitally transforming their business. It could be anything from setting up a simple website to migrating several applications to the cloud. NAIJAKANA works with clients who want to be more efficient, whether it’s with cloud services or not.
Cloud Communications refers to assisting organizations with their documentation. There’s a lot to document when setting up and maintaining a cloud-based environment. And in some cases, the personnel involved don’t have enough bandwidth to create, store, and update the required information on their IT environment. So, NAIJAKANA steps in to take some of the load off their shoulders so that organizations can dedicate more time to operating their businesses. So far, NAIJAKANA’s clientele has included government agencies, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies.
Tell us about yourself
Well, I initially set out to be a journalist. (My Master’s degree is in Journalism.) I landed my first job in journalism six months before I was due to graduate in 2009. But then I got laid off, and it eventually occurred to me that my chosen field wasn’t exactly an incredibly lucrative one. So, I segued into technical writing, thanks to my Master’s degree and the experience I had acquired so far. The thought of starting my own business first came to me in 2017, when I thought I was hitting the ceiling as a technical writer. But I didn’t feel I was ready to be an entrepreneur, and I wanted to explore other areas of IT. AWS and cloud computing were getting more popular, so I got AWS-certified, went into cloud engineering, and started freelancing. With freelancing, I enjoyed the freedom of being untethered to an employer, so I went into full-time consulting in 2020, just when the COVID-19 pandemic was picking up. And that’s when my idea for a business really took shape. Why not combine writing (technical and non-technical) and cloud computing into my “dream job”? So, I officially launched NAIJAKANA in June of 2022.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say just being able to get started. It took me roughly half a decade to finally take the plunge. And it turns out that the water wasn’t that cold!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It does feel lonely. I mean, my areas of expertise, particularly cloud technical writing, are rather niche.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
One, identify what product or service you’re selling, as well as the audience you’re selling to. Two, don’t procrastinate. Just get started. And three, network like crazy. Virtually my clients have been referrals from conversations I’ve had with friends, former co-workers, and recruiters. (I’ve barely paid a penny in advertising, although I expect that to change soon as I prepare to scale the business.)
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.naijakana.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayo-akinwande/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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