Have you ever taken a sip of a fruity Chapman and felt so lovey-dovey that you used the moment to propose to your girlfriend? NATIDO’s Cuisine has such an effect! LOL.
NATIDO’s Cuisine is an online food restaurant that delivers breakfast primarily to corporate individuals and entrepreneurs. Famous for prioritizing the health and well-being of its customers, each nutritious bite is packed with uniquely crafted, healthy, and natural ingredients. Beyond the taste is nutrition!
What is even more interesting is that Nathaniel Disu, the Founder & CEO, was a recipient of the Tony Elumelu Foundation business grant. This speaks volumes about the level of confidence TEF has in the potential and growth of the business.
Applications for the 2021 TEF grant are currently ongoing. To give an insight into the TEF grant process, Business Meets Media reached out to Nathaniel Disu, Founder & CEO of NATIDO’s Cuisine, for an interview about securing the TEF grant.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
BMM: What is your business about?
Nathaniel: I run an online food restaurant called NATIDO’s Cuisine that delivers breakfast primarily to corporate individuals and entrepreneurs.
BMM: What year were you awarded the TEF grant?
Nathaniel: I was part of the 2019 cohort of TEF.
BMM: For how long had your business been in existence before the grant?
Nathaniel: My business had already existed for 2 years before I applied for TEF. It was still a “side hustle.” I started it during my NYSC in 2017 before applying for TEF.
BMM: What was the application process like?
Nathaniel: The application process wasn’t difficult, although there have been a few changes compared to how it was during my cohort.
BMM: Can you describe your TEF experience?
Nathaniel: My TEF experience has been wonderful so far. I learned a lot from the training, and I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful set of young African entrepreneurs. It was great.
BMM: Aside from the grant, what other benefits did you get from the program?
Nathaniel: The grant is not the only benefit of being part of the program. You’ll also learn about business properly. Some of the teachings are what people learn in MBA programs. Also, I have benefitted a lot from branding. Each time I introduce myself as a “Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur,” it differentiates me from other entrepreneurs (because people know who Tony Elumelu is).
BMM: Describe the impact the program had on you and your business.
Nathaniel: The program gave me the necessary leverage I needed to transform my “side hustle” into a structured business. I was able to use the funding to get equipment. In addition, I had to scale up, and as I said previously, being a “Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur” is huge. I never regretted applying for the program.
BMM: How difficult was it to get selected for the program?
Nathaniel: TEF accepts only about 1,000 entrepreneurs, but hundreds of thousands of people usually apply. I won’t say it’s really difficult, but I also won’t say it’s easy.
BMM: What are the most important things to do before and while applying?
Nathaniel: As I said earlier, the application process has now changed, so it seems more challenging than it was before. Before applying, make sure you understand your business well and know what the foundation wants. Don’t craft your application like someone who is just desperate or “begging for money.” Know your numbers very well (because every investor wants to be sure you know what you’re doing).
BMM: What advice can you give to entrepreneurs looking to apply for the TEF grant?
Nathaniel: Well, concerning advice, I don’t really know what to say. It was the first time I applied that I was selected. But what I can say is: trust your gut feeling. I didn’t have the “perfect” business idea, but I just knew I would be selected. So, I guess faith played a huge role.
