Adanna Vaughn
Serial Entrepreneur · Abuja
Failed her first startup, lost money, and felt like a fraud. That failure taught her more than success ever could. Her second venture is thriving, and she shares her story to help others through their valleys.
The Journey
My first startup was supposed to be my big break. I had a great idea, some capital from savings, and confidence that I couldn't fail. Eighteen months later, I was broke, emotionally drained, and questioning everything. The failure felt public and permanent.
That's when Wissen-Haus became my lifeline. Instead of hiding my failure, I shared it in the community. What I expected was judgment. What I got was support and wisdom. Mentors who had failed before helped me process the experience and extract lessons instead of just pain.
I learned that startup failure is not character failure. I learned what I did wrong (insufficient market research, poor team dynamics, wrong timing). More importantly, I learned that most successful entrepreneurs have failed. Failure is part of the journey, not the end of it.
My second startup launched with a completely different approach. We did thorough market validation, built a stronger team, and pivoted quickly when we got feedback. Within three years, we've grown to 50+ employees and are expanding internationally. But the real victory was proving to myself that I could get back up.
Entrepreneurial Lessons
- ✓ Startup 1: Failed due to poor planning
- ✓ Learned from mentors in the valley
- ✓ Rebuilt confidence through community support
- ✓ Startup 2: Launched with validation-first approach
- ✓ 50+ employees and expanding globally
- ✓ Now mentoring other founders through setbacks
Advice to Struggling Entrepreneurs
"Failure doesn't define you. Your response to failure does. Share your struggles with your community instead of hiding them. Ask for help. Learn from mistakes. And remember—some of the best entrepreneurs in history have failed multiple times before succeeding."
Lifting others through failure.
Creating Employment
50+ jobs created through her venture, providing opportunities for others while building her own success.
Mentoring Founders
Specifically mentors entrepreneurs who've experienced failure, helping them process and learn from setbacks.
Normalizing Failure
Speaks openly about her first startup failure, changing the narrative around entrepreneurship for young Nigerians.
Get back up with your community.
Failure isn't the end. With the right mentorship and community support, it's often the beginning. Wissen-Haus is here for your valleys and your peaks.