Most times, competition is not your main enemy as you build that start-up or the product. Your main enemies are the internal elements in your company which could affect flawless execution. Do not fret morning and night about competition because ideally for an African start-up, you do not have many competitors!

Yes, most of our industries are still at infancy with the incumbents largely operating at sub-optimal levels. So, when you focus on competition, you lose sight to think how to innovate and make great products. (You should be aware of competition, but do not think they are there, to snuff life out of your business. That is not the case.)

Failing as an African start-up or a product is not necessarily because any competitor took you down. The likely major reason is that you could not execute to fix that friction you have established that company or product to solve. For the solar companies that went under, they did not die because of electricity DISCOs (distribution companies), since the DISCOs are still not distributing enough electricity. Those logistics start-ups that went under did not collapse because of competition as our logistics systems in Africa are still at infancy. The farms did not collapse because we suddenly have excess produce capacities from big farms. Largely, failing as a start-up, in Africa, has nothing to do with excessive competition: it is a product of inability to execute. (I am hoping you do not plan to start another Facebook to make a case that competition does kill!)

So, as a founder or product champion, give yourself a break and focus on the real business: building great products and a fantastic company. Do not allow another new fund-raise by a perceived competitor to stress you. Do not allow another new city expansion by the same competitor to stress you. Do not allow another hiring of a Vice President to stress you.

But worry if you are not serving your customers and improving your products. Get back to work and stop being fixated on competition. Sure, you do need to be aware of competition but it does not need to stay in your face as you pursue your mission. You may see big buildings and expensive cars driven by (incumbent) executives, but if you check well, the market has not been scratched.

Pulse: Consider the insurance sector in Nigeria where we still have only single-digit market penetration (Vanguard has 0.4%.) There could be “competition” but if you are really innovative, you can create a new basis of competition and disrupt the market. Not doing well in the insurance sector cannot be due to competition, rather your inability to at least move the penetration to say 30% from the current single-digit. So, any failure in the Nigerian insurance sector is really an execution failure, not competition related.

[culled from Tekedia Mini-MBA Week 2 Lecture materials]

As the trade dispute between the US and China rages on, Huawei has continued to take the center stage of the US offensive attacks from many angles. Reuters reported that the US Government is considering reviewing its regulatory rules to enable it shut supply of chips to Huawei from other companies such as Taiwan’s TSMC.

Huawei has been trying to stay in business on little options since it was ousted from the US in May 2019, owing to the risks that its tech activities pose to the US national security. The Chinese company has been accused of being a spy agent for the Chinese Government using its telecommunication technology to obtain secret information about other countries.

The US has been wary of Huawei’s activities even outside its shores. Last month, the Trump administration warned the UK Government that it would stop intelligence sharing partnership if London allows the Chinese tech giants to get involved in its 5G roll out.

The British government in a defiant move announced that Huawei will be allowed to account for 35% of the kit in a network’s periphery that includes radio masts. But the deal excludes any chance of Huawei supplying sensitive network materials (core). And the company will not be allowed to operate near military bases and nuclear sites.

UK’s partnership with Huawei has opened the door for other European countries to accept the Chinese company’s partnership in their 5G roll out.

The US appears to have a plan B in keeping the tech giants out of global influence. The new attempt to stop the Chip supply partnership between Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, and Huawei, the world’s no. 2 smartphone maker, is the latest attempt by the Trump’s administration to keep Huawei out of business.

Sources familiar with the matter said the new regulation will stop chips shipment to Huawei, which would be a big blow to both the Chinese company and TSMC, a big player in the chip making industry. TSMC has been a major supplier of chips to Huawei’s HiSilicon unit and mobile phone rivals Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc.

The new commerce sanction involving Huawei is said to be among several options on the consideration table at the high-level meetings to be held this week and the next in Washington. Sources said the chip proposal has been drafted though its approval is far from certain.

“What they’re trying to do is make sure that no chips go to Huawei that they can possible control,” a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

However, the process of blocking sales of chips to Huawei comes with a price: The already existing Foreign Direct Product Rule that places some foreign-made goods using US tech ideas under US regulation must be altered. The new draft proposal means the US Government would force companies using US chip making equipment, ideas or license to obtain license before they could supply to Huawei.

China has deeply relied on US chip making companies for years, like KLA, (KLAC.O) Lam Research (LRCX.O) and Applied Materials (AMAT.O) according to a report from China’s Everbright Securities.

“There is no production line in China that uses only equipment made in China, so it is very difficult to make any chipsets without US equipment,” said the report.

The latest trade deal signed by the US and China does not allow China to steal ideas from the US. So to keep the trade agreement, Chinese companies will be forced to play along the rules of the new draft if approved. But US allies around the world are likely going to be spiked by it.

Huawei has been struggling by expanding its reach. China is also trying to assert technological independence by investing billions of dollars into research for its software and chip development.

The future appears uncertain for both the US and China, in case China finds a solution to its software problem, the US tech industry will lose a huge economic interest from around the world. If China fails, the US will continue to enjoy its dominance in the global tech industry and to detect for others according to its own interests.

The US fall out with Huawei has forced some US and foreign companies to seek special licenses from the Commerce Department to do business. China has become the biggest loser, giving in to the US in many fronts due to many of its tech short falls.

That is the world’s finest fighter – Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua – getting his National Identity Number (NIN) from the Federal Government of Nigeria, via NIMC (National Identity Management Commission). I got mine four years ago and did it the old fashioned way, queued and waited for 90 minutes. Though I am yet to get the permanent ID card, the number itself does not expire. I practically have not used it for anything but I did as a sign to help government work. 

Joshua might have received some red carpet treatments for his enrolment, yet, that he did it is the very reason why everyone has to do it. His simplicity, Nigerian-ness and optimism about Nigeria should inspire us to help the government on basic things, as citizens. Joshua is a real king in his game, and there is nothing anyone could imagine why he needs NIN for. But living in the UK, he understands the purpose of having order for societies to function.

NIN is FREE and if you budget 2 hours, in most cities, you will get it. I am not saying that 2 hours is a small time but people need to comply. You do not do things just because they benefit you, but because your actions could improve the society. Our strongest rope is determined by the weakest knot; Nigerians have to help the government especially when things are FREE.

NIN if implemented will advance Nigeria, from education to healthcare. Get yours today!