Peter Agent

Guys say No to AI slop: your brand deserves better: Every single design here was generated with @kreatkit AI agent

One of the reasons I am uncomfortable with the model where Nigerians buy trucks, cars, or tricycles for unemployed people to operate, while the riders make daily, weekly, or monthly payments to the owner, is that the arrangement often doesn’t end well. The intention is usually good: create an economic opportunity for someone who otherwise might not have one. But over time, the rider can begin to feel like they are doing all the work while someone else receives the financial benefit. Eventually, some riders stop meeting their obligations, and what initially looked like a mutually beneficial arrangement becomes a source of conflict. I think a better model is ride-to-own. The rider may still experience the same frustration along the way, but there is an important psychological difference: there is a clear end goal. After years of making payments, the asset eventually becomes theirs. That sense of ownership changes how people perceive sacrifice. I think this applies to many other areas. Take creators, for example. A manager asking for 50% or more of a creator’s earnings might seem reasonable at the beginning when the creator has little income or leverage. But as the creator grows, the same arrangement can quickly start to feel unfair. This is why I think creators should be very careful with these contracts and, where possible, ensure there is a clear renewal or renegotiation clause. The same principle applies to startups. If you are going into business with a co-founder, have a clearly written agreement. Define roles, responsibilities, ownership, decision-making, and what happens if someone leaves. Equity should also generally be subject to a vesting schedule, typically over four years with a one-year cliff. The bigger lesson for me is this: An opportunity can be attractive at the beginning and still become exploitative in the long run. People’s perception of fairness changes as circumstances change. What you may interpret as “ungratefulness” may simply be someone realizing that the arrangement no longer feels fair. Keep building 🚀

Building a startup is exciting in the beginning. People cheer you on. Friends encourage you. Every small win feels like progress. But eventually market realities kicks in. Money gets tighter. Motivation drops nobody is cheering anymore and the reality of building a startup surface. This is where many founders quit. Here are 5 mental models I believe every founder building in a market like Africa should keep in mind 🧵