#26 - AYO AKINOLA : on PiggyVest, Sales Psychology, and Why Most Businesses Don’t Convert

In this episode with Tolu Afilaka, Ayo Akinola, co-founder of PiggyVest and CEO of PocketApp, shares the real lessons behind building one of Nigeria’s most trusted fintech companies.

This is not just a startup success story. It is a conversation about failure, trust, team dynamics, mentorship, relationships, sales, consumer psychology, and what it really takes to build a business that Nigerians believe in.

Ayo reflects on the early years before PiggyVest, the failed ventures that shaped his thinking, the co-founder relationships that kept the team going, and the role mentorship played in helping them navigate regulation, uncertainty, and growth.

He also explains why PiggyVest’s biggest edge was not just technology, but trust, transparency, and relatability, and how understanding how Nigerians think about money became central to the product’s success.

The conversation expands into PocketApp, pricing, packaging, sales, marriage, family support, and how founders can think more clearly about business growth.

In this episode:

Why growth mindset and environment matter in businessThe role of mentors in navigating business and relationshipsHow Ayo thought about marriage, friendship, and choosing a partnerThe support and tension that came from family while buildingHow PiggyVest measured success in the early yearsWhy trust became the real unique selling pointThe thinking behind PocketApp and how it complements PiggyVestWhy many businesses have a selling problem, not a product problemWhat Nigerians really respond to when they spend moneyWhy packaging, pricing, visibility, and relatability matter in salesAyo’s advice for creators, founders, and anyone trying to grow a product

If you are building a startup, growing a brand, or trying to understand how successful Nigerian businesses are built, this episode is packed with practical insight.

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