Periscope Podcast

For many founders, getting the attention of a major brand can feel impossible. Emails go unanswered, decision-making takes time, and it can be difficult to understand what a large organisation is actually looking for.In this episode of Periscope, Lola sits down with Gbolahan Sanni, Marketing Director for Danone across West Africa, to unpack what it really takes for startups to build partnerships with large brands.With experience across Unilever, Guinness, Coca-Cola, Airtel and Danone, Gbolahan shares practical lessons on strategic fit, execution, timing, innovation, marketing and what founders can do to turn a pitch into a real business opportunity. Some of the key lessons:• Solve a real problem for the brand — don't just ask what the brand can do for you.• Find your champion — the person inside the organisation who believes in your idea can make a huge difference.• Understand the corporate cycle — budgets, planning cycles and internal processes matter.• Don't confuse access with readiness — getting the meeting is only useful if you are ready to make the most of it.• Prototype and pilot — demonstrate that your idea works in the real world.• Show the value clearly — whether you can reduce costs, increase revenue, improve distribution or solve another meaningful business problem.• Be resilient, but don't confuse resilience with desperation.• Think beyond marketing — partnerships can unlock opportunities across distribution, logistics, technology, energy and innovation.• Understand your market — what works in Nigeria may not work in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire or elsewhere in West Africa.• And ultimately: execute, execute, execute. About PeriscopePeriscope is a podcast helping startup founders build their ideas from zero to 100%. We explore fundraising, finance, marketing, people, legal and everything in between.If you're building a startup in Africa, subscribe to Periscope for practical conversations with founders, investors and business leaders.Follow PeriscopeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@periscope.podcastWebsite: https://www.periscope.media/Join our Whatsapp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBfEMQ7IUYRWHBrU82NFollow Gbolahan Sanni LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbolahansanni/

What does it take for founders to get noticed and get a “yes” from big brands? In this episode of Periscope, our host, Lola Masha, sits with Gbolahan Sanni, Marketing Director at Dannon and unpacks the founder mindset behind growth, partnerships and persistence. We discuss why founders need to constantly test, look beyond their immediate idea, and stay open to unexpected opportunities. We also explore what brands look for beyond the product, from the quality of the pitch to passion, organisation, responsiveness and the ability to execute. And when the emails go unanswered? Resilience matters. Try different approaches and keep showing up! 🎙️ A candid conversation on growth, getting noticed, and what it really takes to build partnerships with big brands. Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@periscope.podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcast Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/ Full Episode coming soon on Spotify

What can go wrong when you hire your first employee without getting the legal foundations right? In this episode of Periscope, we sit down with Tosin Iyayi, Partner at Aluko & Oyebode, to unpack the legal considerations founders need to understand when building their teams — from employment contracts and contractor agreements to termination, intellectual property, NDAs, and data protection. Whether you’re making your first hire or building an early-stage team, this conversation offers practical insights to help you get the legal foundations right before problems arise. Follow Tosin Iyayi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluwatosin-iyayi-610a597/ Learn more about Aluko & Oyebode: https://www.aluko-oyebode.com/ Follow Periscope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@periscope.podcast Website: https://www.periscope.media/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBfEMQ7IUYRWHBrU82N #periscopepodcast #startuplaw #foundertips #employmentlaw #businesscontracts #startuplegal

How do you know when your business is truly ready to scale?Growing a business and scaling a business are not the same thing.In this episode of Periscope, Lola Masha sits down with Adia Sowho, to unpack what founders need to know to scale their businesses. We explore what it really takes to build and scale businesses in complexa markets. Our guest, Adia Sowho, shares practical insights on identifying the key equations that drive your business, understanding your most important operational metrics, aligning incentives, and building the systems and infrastructure needed for sustainable scale.The conversation explores a critical question for every founder: are you simply getting bigger, or are you becoming more efficient as you grow?We discuss:• How to identify whether your business is truly ready to scale• The key equations and operational metrics every business needs to understand• Why a North Star metric is not enough on its own• The difference between growth and scaling• How incentives shape business performance• Why founders need to understand the real needs of their customers• The importance of infrastructure, processes and systems for scaling• How to recognize when a business needs to course-correct• Why solutions should be built around real customer problems—not trendsWhether you're an entrepreneur, operator, investor or business leader, this episode offers a practical framework for thinking about growth and scale in African and other complex markets.🎙️ Welcome to Periscope - the podcast helping founders see what they may not already know.Subscribe for more conversations on entrepreneurship, technology, fundraising, finance, AI, governance, regulation and the messy realities of building businesses.⏱️ Chapters00:00 — The early signs a business is ready to scale01:21 — Welcome to Periscope02:03 — Meet today's guest10:26 — Designing for scale in complex markets11:15 — When is a business truly ready to scale?11:48 — Understanding the key equations in your business12:18 — Finding the right North Star metric12:35 — Why a North Star metric is not enough13:02 — Understanding the drivers behind your metrics#PeriscopePodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Scaling #AfricanBusiness #Startups #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #AfricaTechFollow Adia SowhoLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adiasowhoFollow PeriscopeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@periscope.podcastWebsite: https://www.periscope.media/

When is a business truly ready to scale? WATCH Full Episode Saturday, July 25thWe explore the difference between simply growing a business and scaling it sustainably. The key question is whether you truly understand the core equations that drive your business, from revenue and customer behavior to incentives and profitability. Growth may mean getting bigger, but true scaling means that each incremental unit of value becomes more efficient and less costly to produce.A powerful conversation about understanding your business model, knowing your customers' motivations, and recognizing when your business is genuinely ready to scale. Follow Adia SowhoLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adiasowhoFollow PeriscopeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@periscope.podcastWebsite: https://www.periscope.media/