Designed to help business leaders expand into African countries, it facilitates the obtention of various licenses, tax management, and recruitment.

Sidebrief is a digital solution developed by a Nigerian startup that enables users to establish businesses online in 16 countries across Africa. The Lagos-based startup was founded in 2021 by Eunice Olopade (photo, center), Usman Sotunde, and Abdulwaheed Yusuf (photo, left).

“There was no single platform where you could get information about access into the African market. If you wanted to get into the African market today and you had the intention to enter five countries, you’ll have to interface with multiple lawyers, multiple advisors, multiple regulatory bodies to be able to set up across these different markets,” explained Eunice Olopade.

Sidebrief does not have a mobile app; instead, users access the platform through its website. After creating an account and entering their personal information, they can begin using the startup's services. With just a few clicks, users select the country where their business will be based, fill out the necessary forms, upload the required documents, and pay the associated fees.

The fees vary by country. For example, it costs $800 with a 7-day processing time to establish a business in Rwanda, while in Ghana, the fees are $5,000 for a 14-day processing period. In addition to business registration, Sidebrief assists with obtaining licenses, recruiting employees, managing taxes, and protecting assets.

Since its launch, the startup claims to register over a thousand businesses each month. In January 2023, it was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator.

Adoni Conrad Quenum