Olufunso Akinsanya: The entrepreneur providing one-stop shop for tech products

Olufunso Akinsanya, the founder, Gadgetlot, a start-up one-stop shop for technology products in the country which operates in Lagos and its environs.

Olufunso’s love and passion for technology inspired him to establish his one-stop consumer tech shop in 2017, immediately after his tertiary education.

“I have always been interested in tech right from the onset. After my graduation, I did some market research on the country’s technology sector and I realise I could help others source for their tech products and that was how I established Gadgetlot,” the young entrepreneur said.

Having noticed the impact of naira volatility on tech products, Gadgetlot recently partnered two major finance houses to provide credit facility to its clients. The company is currently rolling out this programme to enable eligible Nigerians buy items they desire and pay in bits.

On how Gadgetlot sources for its tech gadgets, Olufunso told Start Up Digest that the standard policy of the company is to work with brands that have active presence and after-sales ecosystem in Nigeria, sharing its customers’ need with them and ensuring products are available per time.

He added that on special requests, they source on behalf of their customers from the major hubs around the world.

Answering questions on the challenges the business is experiencing, he said that inefficient government processes in getting required documents for the smooth operation of the business is very stressful, while adding that it takes a lesser time to get similar documents in Rwanda and other African countries.

Also, Olufunso said that infrastructure has remained another major challenge confronting his business, saying that the country can only become an industrialised nation when power supply becomes stable.

The young entrepreneur disclosed Gadgetlot works with tech brands such as Microsoft, Lenovo, HP, Dell, Schneider Electric, Zinox and Philips, adding that all of these brands have a robust logistics and after-sales ecosystem, as evidence of their commitment to the Nigerian Market.

The company’s other stakeholders include organizations like Orange One and Lotus Capital with whom it crafted solutions to enable its eligible customers buy technology products and in instalments.

Speaking on plans to tap into potentials of technology in the near future, the technology merchant said “the growth of the tech industry is strongly connected to people (both young and the young at heart) having the best tools to work with. We see ourselves being the go-to distribution partner in and around Nigeria as more companies (local and foreign) create their technology products and consumables.

“We are commencing our paid internship program pretty soon to give bright young people opportunities in a nimble team.”

Ifeoma Okeke