How Banky Alao Built Peppa with the UK Innovator Visa | Careers Beyond Degree

Описание: Careers Beyond Degree: A podcast exploring the inspiring journeys of international students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and immigrants who have moved to the UK and built successful careers across various industries. Each episode offers valuable insights into navigating life as an international graduate or professional—covering cultural shifts, corporate life, job interviews, skill-building, and adapting to UK weather and lifestyle. Gain practical advice and learn from their experiences to make informed decisions for your career and life in the UK. Perfect for students, graduates, and ambitious professionals!

🎙️ Meet Today's Guest Speaker:
In this episode we sit down with Banky Alao, founder of Peppa, to unpack his journey from Nigeria to the UK on the Innovator Visa. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a visa applicant, or just curious about launching a startup abroad—this one’s packed with insights.

Topics Covered: • The UK Innovator Visa process—from application to endorsement • How Banky built Peppa and found his first paying customer • The ease (and reality) of starting a business in the UK as a migrant founder • Securing funding and navigating early-stage challenges • What every African entrepreneur should know before applying
🎙️ Tune in for a raw, real, and ridiculously inspiring conversation.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
2:45 What were you doing professionally before you applied for the Innovator Visa?
5:30 How did you find out about the Innovator Founder Visa?
7:45 What was your first impression of the Innovator visa application?
12:14 How did you know the UK was the right market for you to start a business?
15:00 What was the endorsement process like?
18:30 How did you align the business plan
to the UK market?
21:05 What is innovation according to you and how to assess if their idea is innovative?
26:45 How to start writing a business plan and how much time does it take to prepare one?
33:08 What are some must-haves in the business plan?
38:15 What are the prerequisites before you apply for endorsement?
40:50 Does prior work experience help or anyone can start a business?
44:00 What is the ease of starting a business in the UK?
44:25 How to get your first paying customer?
46:30 Funding requirements and how to know what the initial capital needed?
53:00 What obstacles have you faced in running a startup business in the UK?
58:50 What’s something about starting a business you would like to tell your community in Nigeria?
1:03:52 People skills, what soft skills do you need to start a business?
1:06:50 What did the endorsing body checkpoint meetings entail?
1:14:15 What steps should you take to ensure that you qualify the ILR criteria?
1:18:55 Guest question- How to turn an idea into a viable tech product or service?

📩 Get in Touch with Our Guest Speaker
If you'd like to connect with Banky, you can reach out to him at:
LinkedIn:   / bankyalao  
MyPeppa: https://mypeppa.co.uk

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shivikapratap
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Disclaimers & Disclosures
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Shivika does not provide immigration or visa advice. Any content on this channel is purely based on my research, knowledge and experience.

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guest(s) and host(s) and may not reflect any organisation. This content is for informational purposes only and not professional advice. It may include sponsored content or affiliate links. We strive for accuracy, but details may vary or become outdated.

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