Gbenga Zaccheus

I mentor because someone did it for me. At different points in my life, a few people took time to listen, ask hard questions, and open a door I couldn’t open on my own. That changed my path. I want to do the same for founders who are trying to build real solutions in tough markets.

My focus is simple: help people move from idea to working product to a business that can survive outside a demo day. I spend most of my time with research-based teams and asset-heavy or “hard to build” ventures: hardware, agri tools, energy, health devices, fabrication, and data-infrastructure. I also work with fashion and creative founders who need structure around production and market entry.

How I help:
– Turn a research output into a clear problem, user, and use-case.
– Design scrappy pilots with the right partners so we learn fast.
– Build basic unit economics, pricing, and a realistic rollout plan.
– Clean up decks, one-pagers, and data rooms so investors and grant makers can say “yes.”
– Fix the unglamorous bits: governance, simple reporting, CAC filings, and compliance in the Nigerian context.
– Coach founders on team habits; weekly goals, honest reviews, and protecting time for real work.

My style is straightforward and supportive. I give direct feedback, I show my work, and I don’t disappear. We agree on a short list of next steps and I stay with you until we close the loop. I make introductions when there’s a real fit, not just to “tick a box.”

Mentoring keeps me learning, keeps me close to the problems that matter, and, most of all, it’s my way of paying forward the help I was given.

I’ve been helped by people who took time to listen, challenge my thinking, and point me in the right direction. That changed my path. Mentoring is how I return that kindness to the next set of founders.

Spending time with teams early lets me see real problems up close, test the strength of the founders, and watch how they learn. When there’s a genuine fit; good problem, honest traction, clear plan, I’m comfortable backing them. When there isn’t, I still help them sharpen the work so they can raise from someone else.

I want to build new connections for myself and for the organizations I represent. Mentoring opens doors across universities, labs, corporates, donors, and peers. Those relationships help founders find partners, pilots, and customers; they also help Innov8/Incub8 plug into opportunities faster and bring real resources to the table.