This document discusses challenges facing Generation Y entrepreneurs in Africa. It notes that while Generation Y is often perceived as bold, innovative, and entrepreneurial, entrepreneurship is actually relatively uncommon among young people. Few young people own stock in private companies or are business owners themselves. The document outlines three pillars of entrepreneurship - being bold, planning carefully, and taking calculated risks. However, Generation Y entrepreneurs may struggle with overconfidence, impatience, miscalculated risks, and risk aversion. The document emphasizes that success is about thinking, learning from failures, exploration, and perseverance rather than never failing, brilliant strategies, or large social media followings. It promotes staying dedicated to outcomes through challenges.

1. The Generation Y Syndrome
You can learn some entrepreneurial skills, but the entrepreneurial attitude cannot be taught.
~Ludwick Marishane
Khadijat Abdulkadir

2. LOL ! THOSE LOOSERS!
• Ever wonder why most fail stories are
told by older generations?
• X=TRY IT or don’t DARE!
• Y= #FAIL-Which really means looser.
• We don’t like fails! But they are funny
on others.
• But what does X+Y=?
• Social media effect
• My fail proof journey to funding

3. Raising my first $15
million
• Build an innovation lab- Become the most
interactive interdisciplinary lab for entrepreneurs
across Africa. Allow startups all over Africa to
work on developing, testing and building
successful ventures.
• House up to 300 Startups at any given time from
54 countries.
• 6 week venture incubation program- Launch lab
and funding.
• The goal? Build the most innovative technology
supported lab in Africa (Abuja, Nigeria)- Recruit
only the best startups –Make sure they are
investment worthy- get them started and
funded- take equity-
• Simple Right?

4. The Challenge
of Credibility-
We are too busy
programming!
The biggest thing for a young entrepreneur to overcome is credibility.
Why should someone invest in you? Why should someone trust your
advice? What will make people think you will get the job done with
no track record? Building credibility is best done with a stepping-
stone approach.
Do one thing today that will make you more credible tomorrow. If
people won't pay you or invest in you, give away your product or
service for free, get testimonials from customers and build your track
record that way. Show customers what value you can provide them,
and if you can quantify that value, even better. The more things you
can come to the table to brag about, the better.

5. Myth VS Reality
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT GENERATION Y
1. They are fearless!
2. They are bold and innovative!
3. They are highly entrepreneurial! Debatable 
4. The driving force behind the economy –
But this is all misleading!
“Entrepreneurship among young people is actually
relatively uncommon. Relatively few young people today own
stock in a private company — and a good number of those who
do likely aren’t entrepreneurs anyway, but rather work for
companies who issue equity to their employees.”
(Wall street journal)
2.6 self employed millennial
7.6 generation X
8.3 baby boomers
65% drop in businesses < 30 since 1980
40% of millennials in the US cited fear of
failing as a reason for not starting their
own venture

6. 3 pillars of ENREPRENEURSHIP
“A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial and
personal risks in the hope of profit”
BOLD
Dare to start
PLANNER
Prepare to fail
RISK TAKER
Take calculated risks
ENTREPRENEUR
IMPATIENCE
MISCALCULATED RISKS
RASH & IRRATIONAL
RISK AVERSION
UNDERDVELEOPED PLANOVERCONFIDENCE
CAN YOU HANDLE FALIURE?
UNFOCUSED

7. • PREPARE FOR FAILURE WHILE AIMING FOR SUCCESS!!

8. SUCESS
• Success is NOT about never failing!
• It IS about thinking and learning!
Confidence! IMPOSSIBILITY!
• Success is NOT about brilliant strategies
or bullet proof businesses!
• It IS about exploration and direction
setting!
• Success is NOT about marketing and
taglines! (Followers on social media)
• It IS about patience, perseverance and
continuous innovation!
• STAY DEDICATED TO YOUR OUTCOME!

9. Keep in touch!
@K_hadi8
DigitalAfricanWoman.org