The Day My Best Friend Ran Off With Our Startup Money

Two years ago, my best friend from UNILAG and I decided to build a fintech app for local artisans. We were young, hungry, and stupid enough to think we could change the game.

We pooled our savings, about ₦4.5 million, and worked day and night for six months. My guy, we were coding like mad men, sleeping three hours a day. The app was solid, we had real artisans testing it, and we were about to pitch to a major investor.

Then, one morning, he didn't pick up my calls. His phone was switched off. His apartment was empty. He had vanished with the code and the seed money.

I stood there, staring at the empty room, and I swear my heart just stopped. I had two options: report him to the police, or let it go and try to salvage our friendship.

I chose to let it go. I told myself it was better to lose the money than to lose the friendship. But deep down, I knew the friendship was already gone.

Now, I'm working remotely for a US startup, making USD, but I still think about that moment. It taught me that in business, trust is the most expensive currency. And some people are willing to steal it.

If you ever partner with a friend, get everything in writing. And never put all your savings into a dream that depends on someone else's integrity.