This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Luqman Bolajoko
In Nigeria’s fast-growing event industry, one startup once stood out as the go-to for booking venues: OgaVenue. They had funding, visibility, and strong early traction. But despite a great idea and some early wins, the platform faded into obscurity.
As the founder of IsabiVenues, I’ve studied OgaVenue’s journey deeply. Why did it lose steam? What were the traps? And how do we build something more resilient for the Nigerian market?
Here’s what I learned—and how we’re applying it to do better.
What Went Wrong With OgaVenue
Users and Venue Owners Bypassed the Platform After discovering venues on OgaVenue, people often contacted the venue directly to avoid commissions. This killed their revenue engine.
No Real-Time Booking The process wasn’t seamless. Users had to wait for manual confirmation. That’s friction—and friction loses customers.
Venue Owners Were Not Fully Onboard Many venues just used the platform for passive leads but didn’t update availability, respond fast, or stay committed.
No Strong Differentiator It became more of a directory than a platform—making it easy to be bypassed, ignored, or replaced.
Nigeria-Specific Challenges From distrust of online payments to preference for face-to-face negotiation, the product didn’t adapt deeply enough to the local realities.
What We’re Doing Differently With IsabiVenues
Exclusivity & Incentives We’re partnering with venues to offer discounts, perks, and limited-time deals only available via IsabiVenue.
True Real-Time Booking No waiting. We’re building a frictionless experience where users can view availability, book instantly, and pay securely.
Tools for Venue Owners From dashboards and automated confirmations to lead tracking and analytics—we’re making venue owners love using IsabiVenue, not just tolerate it.
Booking Protection & Trust We’re introducing verified listings, secure payments, and cancellation protection. It’s not just about booking—it’s about peace of mind.
Built for the Nigerian Market Our UX and messaging speak the local language—literally and culturally. We’re blending online booking with offline support, WhatsApp follow-ups, and more.
Final Thoughts
OgaVenue walked so others could run. Their story is a goldmine of lessons—not a failure to laugh at, but a roadmap of what to do better.
At IsabiVenues, we’re taking these insights seriously. Our goal is not just to build a website. It’s to build the future of venue booking in Nigeria, powered by trust, technology, and local understanding.
If you’re an investor, venue owner, or event planner who wants to be part of that journey—let’s talk.
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This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Luqman Bolajoko