For many founders, getting the attention of a major brand can feel impossible. Emails go unanswered, decision-making takes time, and it can be difficult to understand what a large organisation is actually looking for.In this episode of Periscope, Lola sits down with Gbolahan Sanni, Marketing Director for Danone across West Africa, to unpack what it really takes for startups to build partnerships with large brands.With experience across Unilever, Guinness, Coca-Cola, Airtel and Danone, Gbolahan shares practical lessons on strategic fit, execution, timing, innovation, marketing and what founders can do to turn a pitch into a real business opportunity. Some of the key lessons:• Solve a real problem for the brand — don't just ask what the brand can do for you.• Find your champion — the person inside the organisation who believes in your idea can make a huge difference.• Understand the corporate cycle — budgets, planning cycles and internal processes matter.• Don't confuse access with readiness — getting the meeting is only useful if you are ready to make the most of it.• Prototype and pilot — demonstrate that your idea works in the real world.• Show the value clearly — whether you can reduce costs, increase revenue, improve distribution or solve another meaningful business problem.• Be resilient, but don't confuse resilience with desperation.• Think beyond marketing — partnerships can unlock opportunities across distribution, logistics, technology, energy and innovation.• Understand your market — what works in Nigeria may not work in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire or elsewhere in West Africa.• And ultimately: execute, execute, execute. About PeriscopePeriscope is a podcast helping startup founders build their ideas from zero to 100%. We explore fundraising, finance, marketing, people, legal and everything in between.If you're building a startup in Africa, subscribe to Periscope for practical conversations with founders, investors and business leaders.Follow PeriscopeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/periscope-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/periscope.podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@periscope.podcastWebsite: https://www.periscope.media/Join our Whatsapp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBfEMQ7IUYRWHBrU82NFollow Gbolahan Sanni LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbolahansanni/
