The Untold Story of Nimbus Media: From ₦0 to a Multi-Million Naira Advertising Business

In this inspiring episode of Founders Connect, we sit down with Wale Adegoke, the CEO of Nimbus Media, one of Nigeria’s leading and most innovative Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising companies. In this clip, Wale shares the raw, unfiltered story of how the company started — and it’s one every entrepreneur in Africa needs to hear. From earning next to nothing in a construction job to running a business that powers digital advertising in some of Nigeria’s busiest malls and locations, Wale’s journey is filled with determination, vision, and smart execution. He opens up about how a pivotal meeting with his co-founder led to the birth of Nimbus Media, how they landed Ikeja City Mall as their first major client, and how they managed to fund LED screens without having any startup capital. Imagine working for two full years without a single paycheck — that’s exactly what Wale and his team did before the business finally brought in revenue. He raised funds through family, friends, and an angel investor — and since then, Nimbus has been able to sustain and grow without external venture capital. This is a real African startup story that shows what it takes to build something from nothing. Wale also dives deep into the challenges of running a tech-enabled advertising business in Nigeria, from infrastructure issues to building the right team and navigating competition. He discusses the emotional and operational weight of entrepreneurship, the mistakes he’s made, and why “people” have been both his biggest asset and greatest challenge in business. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a tech founder trying to navigate growth, or just someone who’s curious about the reality of building a business in Africa, Wale’s story offers valuable insights, motivation, and a real sense of what’s possible with grit and the right mindset. If this video inspired you, make sure to like, comment, and share to support stories that matter. 📌 Timestamps from the full interview: 01:00 - Intro 02:08 - Wale’s introduction and background 11:25 - Work background 13:45 - How Nimbus came to be 21:10 - What competition is like in the advertising space 24:08 - How they financed the first set of screens 26:30 - Biggest challenges running the business 30:40 - The motivation that has kept him in business 34:14 - Mistakes made as a business person #FoundersConnect #WaleAdegoke #NimbusMedia #advertsing #mediaagency #StartupStory #NigerianStartups #FromZeroToCEO #OOHAdvertising #BusinessInAfrica