Startup Story
Princess Adeyinka Tekenah is a Mom and Coffee Entrepreneur, and the founder of an indigenous Nigerian coffee brand and company, Happy Coffee. She is a pacesetter in the Nigerian Coffee Industry. She remains an integral member of the nation building process and enjoys travelling. She also believes that Human Relationships are crucial to the overall optimization of our human experience and existence.
LoA learned more about Princess Adeyinka Tekenah’s entrepreneurial story and her aspirations for her coffee brand and Nigeria’s coffee industry as a whole.
What does your company do?
Happy Coffee is an indigenous Nigerian coffee brand and coffee solution company. Its vision is to become the number 1 purveyor of coffee centered solutions in Africa. For over 6 years, the Happy Coffee Brand has been creating awareness about the Nigeria Coffee value chain, whilst creating solutions that are improving the production and consumption of locally sourced Nigerian coffee. Happy Coffee currently has 10 coffee retail products and 3 coffee experience centers in Lagos, Nigeria. Happy Coffee pioneered the 1st ever Lagos Coffee Festival in 2019.
“After reading a book in college about the Starbucks Story, I got inspired to dream about starting an indigenous Nigerian coffee brand in the future.”
“We started our brand by promoting Nigerian Grown Coffee. That has given us an edge in the Nigerian coffee sector. We are the biggest promoter of the Nigerian coffee value chain to growth, visibility, and sustainability.”
What inspired you to start your company?
After reading a book in college about the Starbucks Story, I got inspired to dream about starting an indigenous Nigerian coffee brand in the future.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We started our brand by promoting Nigerian Grown Coffee. That has given us an edge in the Nigerian coffee sector. We are the biggest promoter of the Nigerian coffee value chain to growth, visibility, and sustainability.
Tell us a little about your team
Team Happy Coffee consists of dynamic individuals with the combined experience of over 60 years. We have worked with both local and international coffee brands. Our expertise ranges from Business Management, Operations, Coffee Barista Training, Customer Service, Logistics, Finance and Consumer Experience.
“Our vision is to become the first listed Nigerian Coffee Brand, a brand that is socially and environmentally responsible and most importantly improving the livelihood of all that come into contact with our Brand.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, 1st, and 2nd generation. I grew up with parents who ran their own businesses. I developed my flare along the way and have learnt mostly on the job.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our vision is to become the first listed Nigerian Coffee Brand, a brand that is socially and environmentally responsible and most importantly improving the livelihood of all that come into contact with our Brand.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Looking at Team Happy Coffee and our Tribe Followers gives me the greatest satisfaction. These are the people who believe in the vision and give me the fight and chance to win, despite all the challenges...
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Be willing to adapt to change and be innovative. Invest in your team, it's takes the right team to build a vision. Keep pushing against all the odds and don't be scared to fail. Above all take care of your mental health, you need to be whole to keep building your brand, mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially.
Contact or follow Happy Coffee
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | EMAIL happycoffeenigeria@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
At Lionesses of Africa, we love to see brands emerging and growing that celebrate their country industry value chains, and the coffee sector is an important one for the African continent. So it is wonderful to see a brand like Happy Coffee growing and putting Nigeria’s coffee sector on the map. Princess Adeyinka Tekenah is an entrepreneur with a vision and a passion for building a proud Nigerian coffee brand that is celebrated at home and abroad. Definitely a brand to watch over the coming years. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa