Nigeria is bursting with innovation, ambition, and opportunity. From Lagos to Abuja, thousands of founders dream of launching apps that solve pressing problems, disrupt traditional markets, and generate significant revenue. Yet, the reality is harsh: studies show that the majority of apps fail within their first year of launch. Many founders dive straight into development, marketing, or fundraising without answering the most critical questions—the ones that separate success from wasted time, money, and energy.
If you’re a Nigerian founder contemplating building an app, this guide is for you. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive 17-question checklist that ensures your app is validated, your market is understood, and your growth strategy is solid. Following these questions will not only save you thousands of Naira but also increase your chances of building a product that actually succeeds in the Nigerian market.
Why Most Nigerian Startups Fail
Before we dive into the 17 questions, it’s important to understand why Nigerian startups often fail. According to Techpoint Africa, over 70% of startups in Nigeria fail early due to misaligned market fit, inadequate validation, and poor monetization strategies. Common pitfalls include:
- Lack of Market Research: Founders often build what they think people want instead of what the market needs.
- Undefined Monetization: Many apps fail because they do not have a clear business model or revenue streams.
- Technical Mistakes: Choosing the wrong platform, tech stack, or hiring inexperienced developers can be fatal.
- Ignoring User Experience: Nigerian users expect apps that are fast, intuitive, and mobile-friendly. A slow, buggy app will be abandoned quickly.
Avoiding these pitfalls begins with asking the right questions before you even write a line of code.
How to Use This Checklist
This checklist is divided into four main sections for clarity and ease of application:
- Market & Problem Validation
- Product & Technology Considerations
- Monetization & Business Model
- Growth & Scaling
By following this structure, you’ll cover all critical areas from understanding your audience to scaling efficiently.
Section 1: Market & Problem Validation
Question 1: Who is your target user?
Defining your target audience is the foundation of any successful app. This includes demographics like age, location, profession, income, and behaviors. Create detailed user personas to visualize your users.
Practical Tip: Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups with real Nigerians in your target market. This ensures your assumptions are grounded in reality.
Download our free user persona template to start profiling your users today.Question 2: What problem are you solving?
Your app must address a real pain point. Ask yourself: is this problem urgent, widespread, and meaningful? Validate through interviews, polls, and test campaigns.
Learn more from Harvard Business Review on Problem Validation.
Question 3: Is the problem big enough to warrant an app?
Not every problem requires a dedicated app. Assess how many people experience this problem, how frequently, and whether they are willing to pay or actively engage with a solution.
Read our blog on assessing market size for Nigerian startups.
Question 4: Are alternatives already solving this problem?
Research existing competitors. Identify gaps in pricing, features, or user experience that your app can improve upon.
Use our Competitor Analysis Checklist to systematically analyze your competitors.
Question 5: How urgent is the problem for users?
Urgency drives adoption. If the problem occurs daily, like mobile payments or logistics coordination, users are more likely to adopt and pay. If it’s rare, consider whether your app will gain traction.
Section 2: Product & Technology Considerations
Question 6: What is your Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
Your MVP should focus only on the core features that solve the user problem. Avoid adding unnecessary “nice-to-have” features at launch. A lean MVP allows for rapid testing and iteration.
Learn how to define your MVP.
Question 7: Which platform will you launch on first?
Decide between iOS, Android, or Web. In Nigeria, Android dominates, but consider where your target users spend their time and which device they prefer.
Question 8: What technology stack will you use?
Your tech choices affect cost, speed, and scalability. Evaluate frameworks and languages for ease of maintenance, cost efficiency, and community support.
Explore tech stacks on StackShare for guidance.
Question 9: How will you maintain security and privacy?
If your app handles sensitive data, prioritize encryption, secure authentication, and compliance with Nigeria’s NDPR. This also helps build trust with users.
Question 10: Who will develop your app?
Choose between freelancers, agencies, or building an in-house team. Hiring the wrong team can lead to delays, poor-quality code, and increased costs. Consider your budget, timeline, and required expertise.
Section 3: Monetization & Business Model
Question 11: How will your app make money?
Consider potential revenue models:
- Subscriptions
- One-time purchases
- Advertising
- Affiliate marketing
- Freemium with paid upgrades
Question 12: Will users actually pay for your solution?
Test willingness to pay through pre-launch campaigns, landing pages, or beta testing. Knowing early whether your target users value your solution enough to pay is crucial.
Question 13: What is your customer acquisition cost (CAC)?
Estimate the cost of acquiring each user through marketing campaigns. Compare CAC with expected revenue to ensure sustainability.
Question 14: What is the lifetime value (LTV) per user?
Calculate the revenue generated from a user over their lifetime. Ensure LTV exceeds CAC for a profitable business model.
Read our LTV/CAC guide for Nigerian startups.
Question 15: How will you retain users?
Retention is vital for growth. Plan onboarding, engagement, and loyalty strategies. Use push notifications, gamification, or exclusive content to keep users active.
Section 4: Growth & Scaling
Question 16: How will you scale your app?
Consider server infrastructure, partnerships, marketing channels, and customer support. Scaling prematurely without a plan can cause crashes, bad reviews, and wasted resources.
Question 17: How will you measure success?
Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- User acquisition
- Retention rates
- Engagement metrics
- Revenue growth
Tracking KPIs ensures you know what’s working and what needs improvement.
Bringing It All Together
Building an app without answering these 17 questions is like building a house on sand. Validation, research, and strategy form the foundation of a successful startup.
Next Steps:
- Download our free 17-question checklist PDF to tick off each item as you plan your app.
- Start with an MVP, validate aggressively, then scale.
- Use internal guides for deeper insights: Nigerian startup market size, MVP definition, and LTV/CAC calculations.
Download the Full 17-Question Checklist PDF