Abdulwaheed Yusuf, Co-founder and COO of Nigerian regtech startup Sidebrief, has cautioned African founders against setting unrealistic fundraising targets for pre-seed rounds. Speaking at GITEX Nigeria 2026, Yusuf noted that announcing large targets, such as $1 million, while having secured only minor initial commitments can deter potential investors who may doubt the startup’s ability to reach its goal. He advised founders to prioritize securing their first commitment, as this validates the business and builds the momentum necessary to attract further capital in the current challenging funding environment.