Jeremiah Ajayi, BenjaminDada
Celebrating the power of African voices, this week’s spotlight is on Jeremiah Ajayi, Anchor of ‘The Investors Corner’ at Benjamin Dada. Jeremiah shares his captivating journey and how his passion for storytelling has intricately shaped his role as a prominent voice in African journalism.
What led you into journalism, and what would you be doing if you weren’t a journalist?
I found my passion for content marketing through my early penchant for writing, which evolved into a more formal pursuit when I began working with a friend who subcontracted his freelance writing gigs to me back in 2018. This initial experience evolved into a consistent stream of work, allowing me to hone my skills and pave my path in becoming the content marketer I am today.
If I hadn’t pursued journalism, I likely would have pursued a career in law. While I ultimately chose content marketing over law, I still hold a fondness for the legal profession and wouldn’t hesitate to return to it if the opportunity arose.
When you’re researching stories, what compels you to work on sharing a particular story with your audience? Any hot trends we should look out for in the coming months?
When selecting stories to share with my audience, my primary consideration is how relevant, timely, and useful the content will be to them. Relevance is key—I ensure that the story aligns with the interests and needs of my specific audience. For instance, if I’m writing for a platform like Benjamindada.com, which caters to founders, investors, and startup operators in the tech space, I focus on stories directly related to technology or those that have a clear connection to it.
Moreover, timeliness is crucial. I prioritise stories that are connected to recent events or developments, as this increases the likelihood of capturing my audience’s interest. By staying up-to-date with current trends and happenings, I ensure that the content remains fresh and engaging.
Looking ahead, there are several emerging trends worth noting in the coming months. Keep an eye out for slower deal-making processes, the rise of embedded finance, a shift towards more realistic valuations, and an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity. These trends are likely to shape the landscape and provide valuable insights for both professionals and enthusiasts in the tech and finance sectors.
Why is African business so unique and what makes it so exciting to report on?
African business stands out for its unparalleled diversity, dynamism, and complexity, presenting both exhilarating opportunities and formidable challenges for reporting.
This uniqueness makes it a fascinating yet demanding subject to cover. Personally, I find reporting on African businesses, especially from an investor’s perspective, immensely rewarding. It allows me to spotlight the region’s vibrant entrepreneurship, groundbreaking innovation, and burgeoning economic progress.
Which sectors or industries do you like to cover most and why?
I am most passionate about covering the tech industry, particularly Venture Capital (VC). This passion stems from my personal journey as a former founder. In 2021, I co-founded an HR tech startup, but unfortunately, we had to close it down due to challenges with securing adequate funding and a lack of clarity about financing options, especially VC. This experience fueled my desire to delve deeper into the world of VC and develop an extensive understanding of it.
As a result, I have made it my mission to educate and empower other founders by sharing insights and knowledge about the VC sector. I do this through my series titled ‘The Investors Corner,’ where I provide in-depth coverage and analysis of VC trends, strategies, and opportunities via interviews with leading venture capitalists.
Why is it important that people around the world get to hear about young, growing companies on the continent?
Spotlighting growing African businesses helps dismantle outdated stereotypes about the continent, showcasing its vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and economic potential.
Beyond dispelling misconceptions, sharing stories about African startups and entrepreneurs facilitates valuable knowledge exchange and learning across borders.
The lessons gleaned from successful ventures serve as sources of inspiration and insight for aspiring entrepreneurs globally, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship on a global scale.
How can we encourage more people to join the writing community and dedicate their energy to telling stories about African tech and business?
Encouraging more people to join the writing community and dedicate their energy to telling stories about African tech and business requires a multifaceted approach.
Initiatives like the ‘African Media Spotlight’ series play a crucial role in this endeavour by showcasing the journeys of media professionals, offering inspiration and motivation to aspiring writers.
Additionally, there’s a need to provide mentorship and support to emerging writers interested in covering these topics. Experienced journalists and writers can offer valuable guidance, feedback, and networking opportunities to help newcomers navigate the industry.
