Remember the parking lot scene in the movie Madea Goes to Jail, where Madea uses a forklift to move a lady’s Ferrari for stealing a parking spot?
Getting a secured parking space in cities is almost impossible. Undoubtedly, Secured Parking is set to change the narrative. The company’s technology system creates a unique vehicle owner identification system that guarantees protection from unauthorized access. Also, they can generate data on the accurate number of vehicles in a car park. This data includes the number plate and the time of entry and exit. This is to track productivity, to know customers’ footfalls, and for security investigation, they also have a tracking device system.
Adesina Tosin Nathaniel, a TEF entrepreneur, will also be starting Nigeria’s first online platform for booking security personnel from Secured Parking.
Application for the 2021 TEF grant is currently ongoing. To give an insight into the TEF grant process, Business meets Media reached out to Adesina Tosin Nathaniel, Founder & CEO at Secured Parking, for an interview to enquire about securing the TEF grant.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
BMM: What is your business about?
Adesina: Secured Parking is a tech-infused car park security company in Nigeria. Our security niche is on providing security car parks in Nigeria in a bid to reduce theft and vandalism to at least 99%.
BMM: What year did you get into TEF?
Adesina: I was part of the 2019 cohort of TEF
BMM: What was the application process like?
Adesina: We had to answer a series of essay questions. This made it more tedious than the existing application process.
BMM: Can you describe your TEF experience?
Adesina: It was amazing for me because some of my Facebook friends were previous winners, so their advice helped. Also, my mentor helped me a lot.
BMM: Describe the impact the program had on you and your business.
Adesina: Since I got accepted, my idea became more credible, and the name TEF has helped me to access and build relationships with entrepreneurs on the continent. Also, the fund gave us the needed boost to kick-start the business; more funds will be needed, though, to accelerate the business growth. However, we were able to do some basic things with it, so it really helped.
BMM: What advice can you give to entrepreneurs looking to apply for the TEF grant?
Adesina: Aspiring TEF entrepreneurs must fulfill these requirements: Your business must have an existing market; Your business idea must be unique; your business idea must have the capacity to employ people and create wealth.
To read a similar interview with Nathaniel Disu, a TEF Entrepreneur, click here.
