When Aniedi Udo-obong, who leads Developer Ecosystem and Programme Partnerships at Google, stepped up to speak at #StartupSouth10 in Port Harcourt, the atmosphere was electric. The conference’s theme, Auctus: Shaping the Next Decade of Business, Innovation, Culture and Capital, perfectly captured the spirit of the gathering.
Port Harcourt, now recognized as a burgeoning tech hotspot in Nigeria, provided the ideal backdrop for Aniedi’s keynote titled “From Problems to Possibilities: Unlocking Growth with AI”, which offered both motivation and a call to action.
A proud alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt and a passionate supporter of homegrown innovation, Aniedi began by highlighting how significant opportunities often lie hidden within everyday challenges. “I’m always on the lookout for problems,” he joked. “Not just any problems, but unmet needs, pain points, and market gaps.”
His core message was straightforward yet impactful: every challenge holds the potential for opportunity.
Discovering opportunities in common challenges
With his trademark wit, Aniedi illustrated his point using relatable local scenarios that struck a chord with the audience.
He reminisced about how something as simple as access to clean water once presented a challenge-from ice water sold in reused plastic bags to the innovation of sealed sachets branded as “pure water.” This modest solution revolutionized an informal practice into a thriving billion-naira industry.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s payment landscape, recalling the days when customers had to wait for a transfer notification before leaving a store. “Someone asked, ‘What if the alert popped up directly on the POS terminal?'” he explained.
This simple insight sparked innovations like MoneyPoint, which now underpin Nigeria’s vibrant digital economy.
According to Aniedi, these examples demonstrate the power of perceiving opportunities where others see only hurdles. “Every inconvenience-be it traffic jams, slow internet, or delayed notifications-is a doorway to a business idea,” he said. “The real question is: will you avoid it or solve it?”
Innovation vs. invention: Understanding the difference
Addressing a concept that often intimidates emerging entrepreneurs, Aniedi clarified the distinction between invention and innovation. He described invention as creating something entirely novel, while innovation involves enhancing existing solutions.
“You don’t have to be a genius like Einstein or Elon Musk to make an impact,” he reassured the crowd. “You can innovate by making things better, faster, or simpler.”
He dubbed this the power of the “-er.” “When mentoring startups, I always ask: what’s the ‘-er’ in your product? What makes it superior-faster, easier, safer, or more efficient?”
The audience chuckled, but the message was clear: incremental improvements often lead to the most significant business successes.
He cited global tech giants as examples, noting that many were not pioneers but rather improved on existing ideas. “Mark Zuckerberg didn’t invent social media; he refined it,” he pointed out. The takeaway: innovation’s value lies in relevance, not novelty.
AI: Transforming challenges into new horizons
Aniedi recounted a personal anecdote about the intimidating blank screen that greets many creators at the start of a project. “I used to freeze, unsure where to begin,” he admitted. But with generative AI tools, that hurdle has largely vanished.
“Now, I simply open Gemini or ChatGPT and start interacting,” he said. “It’s like having a genius collaborator right next door-even if you live in a crowded apartment.” The crowd responded with laughter.
Yet, the underlying message was serious: AI has evolved beyond hype to become an essential ally in ideation, creation, and execution. Whether drafting presentations, brainstorming, or coding, platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are revolutionizing how entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.
He emphasized that the AI tools currently available are just the beginning. “The AI you’re using today is like the first-generation smartphone,” he explained. “Future versions will make today’s tools seem outdated.” He highlighted OpenAI’s recent launch of Sora 2, calling it “the world’s leading video model,” to illustrate the rapid pace of advancement.
Accelerating innovation with AI
Speed, Aniedi argued, is one of AI’s greatest benefits. “I once led a company that took three months to build MVPs,” he shared. “Now, with platforms like Lovable, Replit, and Firebase Studio, I can create one in under a minute.”
This newfound speed doesn’t mean sacrificing quality; rather, it empowers entrepreneurs to experiment rapidly and bring ideas to market sooner. “AI doesn’t replace human ingenuity,” he stressed. “It enhances it-helping you begin, maintain momentum, and deliver results faster.”
He encouraged founders to stop waiting for ideal circumstances and start leveraging the tools at their fingertips. “We are the most fortunate generation ever,” he said. “All the knowledge you need is just a few keystrokes away.”
As applause filled the room, Aniedi’s words resonated deeply. His message wasn’t about Silicon Valley’s allure or AI’s complexity; it was about the power of persistence and creativity.
He reminded attendees that global opportunities no longer require relocation. “You can work for a US company right from your home in Port Harcourt,” he noted. “What seemed impossible decades ago is now commonplace.”
His closing remark captured the event’s essence: “The next unicorn won’t be someone who avoids problems. It will be someone who embraces them with curiosity, creativity, and a bit of AI.”
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