The transition from startup to company is one of the most important moments in business.

A startup is fragile. It is searching for a model. It is testing assumptions. It is trying to validate whether this idea can work repeatedly and scale.

A company, on the other hand, has found its rhythm. It knows what works. It can forecast with confidence. It can deploy ₦10 today, ₦20 tomorrow, and ₦200 next year and still expect the same growth pattern. That’s what makes it sustainable.

If you don’t understand this difference, you will get stuck. You’ll think you are a company when you are still a startup. And that confusion kills businesses before they even mature.

So the question is simple: have you found a repeatable, scalable model—or are you still searching?

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).