Author: Solomon King
Solomon King
Solomon King is the Executive Director of Lagos Angel Network (LAN). With over 15 years of experience in Behavioral Finance, Alternative Investments, and Fundraising, I specialize in designing innovative funding strategies that drive business growth and economic transformation across Africa. From angel investing to structured finance, my work sits at the intersection of capital, policy, and innovation, ensuring businesses, investors, and non-profits thrive. My mission is to fuel Africa’s innovation economy by fostering sustainable investments and advocating for policies that drive long-term growth.
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that question—but it’s one that never gets old. Because while pitch decks might evolve, markets may shift, and founders will always tell compelling stories, the truth is often buried in the numbers. And sometimes, those numbers whisper warnings. Now, let me be clear: angels don’t expect perfection. Most early-stage startups are messy. That’s fine. But there are certain financial signals—some loud, some subtle Here’s how I typically read the financial tea leaves: 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘃𝘀. 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝘀. 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 If you’re burning through ₦15 million a month but haven’t clearly mapped that spend to…
Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of “You just got here—how are you already in the room?” Some say it with admiration. Others with suspicion. I understand both. To be fair, it does look fast. A few years ago, I wasn’t visible in the startup world. Now I’m sitting in rooms, running LAN, co-hosting investor sessions, and getting calls from people I used to follow quietly on LinkedIn But here’s the truth: this isn’t magic It’s not luck either It’s just what happens when you understand how the system works and move with sense Because like it or not, the…