What are some products and services in the US that are not in Nigeria?
39 comments
Walmart. Retail chains are still limited to upper class. Unlimited sms doesn't exist. Credit cards doesn't exist for obvious reasons. Paypal is spend only. Can't receive. Trains IMO don't exist. Coffee shops, shaved ice, radio shark, lego, unlimited internet, fiber to home, bicycle delivery, yellow pages (but there's a craiglist equivalent). Most homes still cook. A national Health insurance basically doesn't exist but Ghana has. Regular medical check up isn't a thing. Self medication is widely practiced. Tax filing is still requires going to the tax office. Most markets are still messy, dirty, haggling based. Jobs are monthly paid except for labourers who are paid daily. No ikea.
Electronic repairs are done by random technicians rather than by the manufacturers or their certified partners.
Arguably clothes are mainly used clothes. Weed is still illegal - no medical weed. Airbnb has negligible foothold. Renting of properties is mostly a frustrating offline experience.
Electronic repairs are done by random technicians rather than by the manufacturers or their certified partners.
Arguably clothes are mainly used clothes. Weed is still illegal - no medical weed. Airbnb has negligible foothold. Renting of properties is mostly a frustrating offline experience.
> Most homes still cook
That's a good thing, it's not a problem to be solved.
That's a good thing, it's not a problem to be solved.
Thanks, pls keep updating. I need to build a really long list :)
> lego
More broadly here, the general idea of a very durable building toy that has appeal to both kids and adults. Unlike a lot of toys, Lego bricks are both (a) durable enough to last for decades or longer under heavy use and (b) timeless enough that a kid who gets passed down a box of loose Legos from their parent won't be uninterested just because it's themed after something that was popular when the parent was a kid.
More broadly here, the general idea of a very durable building toy that has appeal to both kids and adults. Unlike a lot of toys, Lego bricks are both (a) durable enough to last for decades or longer under heavy use and (b) timeless enough that a kid who gets passed down a box of loose Legos from their parent won't be uninterested just because it's themed after something that was popular when the parent was a kid.
Coffee shops? There are no cafes in Lagos? That seems incredibly unlikely to me although I've never been there and couldn't prove it.
Until a few years ago, in India, there were road side coffee shops, but they were sold as quick drop-in, drink and go back type of thingy. Not like you go there with friends, spend an hour, have a good time. Now, coffee day has filled the void. I am guessing there is no coffee day/starbucks in Nigeria.
That's not entirely true. Indian Coffee House chain has been around since the 60's. There were also Irani/Parsi cafes in some cities for even longer.
There are numerous coffee shops in Lagos, and Nigeria.
I don’t know specifically about Nigeria… so I’m going to talk about Ghana. We’re next door, and may have the same issues.
In Ghana, there is no large scale distribution system for… anything.
All the supermarkets source their own products directly, and handle warehousing and transportation on their own. This basically has lead to South African firms owning the entire market because they have preexisting supply chains.
Nigeria may have this same issue but it’s naturally paved over by the country being about 20x richer, thus more merchants can simply go it on their own.
In Ghana, there is no large scale distribution system for… anything.
All the supermarkets source their own products directly, and handle warehousing and transportation on their own. This basically has lead to South African firms owning the entire market because they have preexisting supply chains.
Nigeria may have this same issue but it’s naturally paved over by the country being about 20x richer, thus more merchants can simply go it on their own.
I‘m not sure if building a Nigerian solution for an American problem is really the way to go.
If I were you I would try to think of a Nigerian problem that can only be solved by a Nigerian solution.
If I were you I would try to think of a Nigerian problem that can only be solved by a Nigerian solution.
true, there are a lot of problems but its easier to build from an existing solution present in developed countries. Some Nigeria problems have solutions in developed countries.
Very often, similar problems have been solved in other countries in ways that can very much be transplanted.
For example, Uber inspired several clones in other countries prior to Uber entering those markets. Using a de-risked business model is a legitimate business strategy for a startup.
For example, Uber inspired several clones in other countries prior to Uber entering those markets. Using a de-risked business model is a legitimate business strategy for a startup.
You should try to solve local problems first. A popular solution in foreign countries may not have good crossover appeal in Nigeria.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Nigeria has several problems looking for solutions. Examples include helping people travel around more securely, finding affordable healthcare, enabling MSMEs to find more customers.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Nigeria has several problems looking for solutions. Examples include helping people travel around more securely, finding affordable healthcare, enabling MSMEs to find more customers.
Network. Then network some more.
Talk to people, find out what their problems are, what their opportunities are and what they need to follow those opportunities.
The upside of this is you will quickly validate an idea AND when you go to market, you will have a large network of potential partners and customers.
Talk to people, find out what their problems are, what their opportunities are and what they need to follow those opportunities.
The upside of this is you will quickly validate an idea AND when you go to market, you will have a large network of potential partners and customers.
Good advice. Find out what they would pay money to not have to do. Find out what they would pay money to be able to do.
Asking people associated with Silicon Valley about Nigerian problems is probably about as effective as asking automotive racers about daily bike commuter problems.
My suggestion would be to talk to some Nigerians. Understand the people and the culture first.
My suggestion would be to talk to some Nigerians. Understand the people and the culture first.
Nigerians may not be as aware of what's available in the US. OP wants the intersection - people who know both.
Also, not everyone here is "associated with Silicon Valley". Many are, but some are not.
Also, not everyone here is "associated with Silicon Valley". Many are, but some are not.
Stable electricity & infrastructure!
No, I would explore agriculture if you can. I had a roommate from Benue State while my ag cousin stayed with us once. They had a fascinating discussion that I didn’t understand in the least, but I did take away the impression that most farming was done there by households, and almost totally “virgin soil” for lots of modern agricultural techniques ($$$).
Huge decentralized prosumer market, could be fun?
Also, ag people in the us love nothing more than talking about ag. Cold call anyone and you’re in.
No, I would explore agriculture if you can. I had a roommate from Benue State while my ag cousin stayed with us once. They had a fascinating discussion that I didn’t understand in the least, but I did take away the impression that most farming was done there by households, and almost totally “virgin soil” for lots of modern agricultural techniques ($$$).
Huge decentralized prosumer market, could be fun?
Also, ag people in the us love nothing more than talking about ag. Cold call anyone and you’re in.
I remember reading about some guys whose business model was copying US startups (or at least their business model/product) in other countries:
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inside-the-clone-factory
(paywalled) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-02-29/how-three...
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inside-the-clone-factory
(paywalled) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-02-29/how-three...
Perhaps the Samwer brothers and Rocket Internet.
For those unfamiliar with the story (and which might be very useful thinking for enterprising folks in Nigeria):
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inside-the-clone-factory
Rocket Internet ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Internet)
For those unfamiliar with the story (and which might be very useful thinking for enterprising folks in Nigeria):
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inside-the-clone-factory
Rocket Internet ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Internet)
Ah you posted it before I updated. Yep that's the one.
Photo gear rental stores with insurance baked in.
Money transfer and check deposits.
I always get some mail from Nigeria asking for help with that.
In US this is solved and you can even deposit at the groceries shop.
I always get some mail from Nigeria asking for help with that.
In US this is solved and you can even deposit at the groceries shop.
I recommend volunteering at a local organization. An NGO, a food bank, a fire brigade, a police auxiliary reserve, etc.
Trying to fix the problems of people you don't know with technological solutions rarely works. Innovation doesn't come from brainstorming for ideas. It comes from spending hours being frustrated with some problem that affects your daily life and wondering how you could make that problem easier.
Trying to fix the problems of people you don't know with technological solutions rarely works. Innovation doesn't come from brainstorming for ideas. It comes from spending hours being frustrated with some problem that affects your daily life and wondering how you could make that problem easier.
In addition to looking at US, I'll suggest looking at other countries which have the same economic/labor dynamics as Nigeria.
In other words, labor in US is very expensive but many good are relatively cheap, so its economy acts in a certain way. For example, many times replacing an appliance is a better option that repairing an appliance. However, in countries where labor is cheap but goods are expensive it is definitely much better to repair things than replace them. That is just one example.
So, I'll suggest that look at developing countries with larger population and then find what services exist there that are not yet there in Nigeria. I have a feeling that you will have a much better success.
Having said that, there may be value in looking at US by creating products/services that target the rich in Nigeria, if that is your intent.
In other words, labor in US is very expensive but many good are relatively cheap, so its economy acts in a certain way. For example, many times replacing an appliance is a better option that repairing an appliance. However, in countries where labor is cheap but goods are expensive it is definitely much better to repair things than replace them. That is just one example.
So, I'll suggest that look at developing countries with larger population and then find what services exist there that are not yet there in Nigeria. I have a feeling that you will have a much better success.
Having said that, there may be value in looking at US by creating products/services that target the rich in Nigeria, if that is your intent.
The problem space in Africa is quite interesting. For more US/EU style products maybe countries like South Africa are a better bet since they have good infrastructure down there.
Nigeria's infrastructure is not that bad but bad with respect to eurocentric standards. Part of the issue is a lot of capital is spent keeping old infra together. If you have ideas in big, economically innovative infra projects - that's the place to go.
Another bit is Africa keeps skipping stages of development - kinda like products and services don't always come from within, driven by pressing needs, rather just sort of fall from the sky or an American landing in the airport. So while a 22 year old Nigerian kid can say he's never seen a bank cheque because he banks digitally, he may also have no proper sewage and barely any electricity. The juxtaposition may not compute to a silicon valley would-be guru.
So while transplanting tech from industrial nations may work sometimes, it's really the nuanced ideas that solve a real problem that get a lot off support and those are not always super technical projects. For instance, the problem of data costs cuts off a lot of would-be products so you will find tech companies here always have those limitations top of mind when building consumer facing stuff. Mapping just dies in most areas so there goes the geolocation services. Addressing and city planning for route optimization? Good luck.
Just a side note, there are startups in a lot of these problem spaces already - it's just that private funding and venture capital are for practical purposes very tiny to non-existent for consumer facing startups...for very very very obvious reasons. I don't think it's an entirely bad thing but just an FYI.
Nigeria's infrastructure is not that bad but bad with respect to eurocentric standards. Part of the issue is a lot of capital is spent keeping old infra together. If you have ideas in big, economically innovative infra projects - that's the place to go.
Another bit is Africa keeps skipping stages of development - kinda like products and services don't always come from within, driven by pressing needs, rather just sort of fall from the sky or an American landing in the airport. So while a 22 year old Nigerian kid can say he's never seen a bank cheque because he banks digitally, he may also have no proper sewage and barely any electricity. The juxtaposition may not compute to a silicon valley would-be guru.
So while transplanting tech from industrial nations may work sometimes, it's really the nuanced ideas that solve a real problem that get a lot off support and those are not always super technical projects. For instance, the problem of data costs cuts off a lot of would-be products so you will find tech companies here always have those limitations top of mind when building consumer facing stuff. Mapping just dies in most areas so there goes the geolocation services. Addressing and city planning for route optimization? Good luck.
Just a side note, there are startups in a lot of these problem spaces already - it's just that private funding and venture capital are for practical purposes very tiny to non-existent for consumer facing startups...for very very very obvious reasons. I don't think it's an entirely bad thing but just an FYI.
So, what are some products and services used in every day living in the US/developed countries that are not yet available in other countries(Nigeria)?