Every startup wants to grow fast. The temptation is strong: open more branches, spread into new cities, chase visibility. But expansion without validation is suicide.
At the startup stage, you’re still experimenting. Your systems are not yet tested. Your assumptions are not yet proven. Adding branches at this stage only multiplies your weaknesses.
The truth is, scaling doesn’t fix a broken model, it magnifies it. That’s why premature expansion kills more businesses than competition ever will.
If you’re in startup mode, your focus is simple: validate the model. Don’t chase branches, chase proof.
Dr. Smith Ezenagu is the Chairman of Esso Group, a diversified conglomerate shaping real estate, finance, education, and media. Dr. Smith Ezenagu is recognized as a real estate & investment mogul, life coach, and private equity expert. He leads Esso Group and its subsidiaries: Esso Properties (awarded Nigeria’s Most Innovative Real Estate Company in 2024 and recognized as the best real estate company in Nigeria), Esso School of Enterprise (the leading institution equipping entrepreneurs), and Esso Capital (delivering smart, trusted financial solutions across Nigeria).
