As part of the International Women’s Day event series by Stanford Seed Network Nigeria, entrepreneurs gathered for a thought-provoking session led by Funto Boroffice, Founder/CEO of Chanja Datti and Moderated by Roseline Ilori, Founder/CEO, Bridge57 Solutions.

Her session, “Give to Gain: Shifting from Competitive to Collaborative Business Models,” challenged a deeply rooted mindset among many entrepreneurs, the need to compete at all costs.

Rethinking Competition in Saturated Markets

Funto began by addressing a reality many women entrepreneurs face. Acros s industries like fashion, food, beauty, and retail, businesses often operate in highly saturated markets where the instinct is to protect ideas, guard customers, and outperform competitors.

However, she introduced a different perspective, one that moves away from isolation and toward collaboration.

Instead of asking, “How do I win alone?” founders were encouraged to ask, “Who can I grow with?”

The Power of “Give to Gain”

At the heart of the session was a powerful concept: strategic generosity.

“Give to Gain,” as Funto explained, is not about giving blindly or losing value. It is about intentionally sharing value through partnerships, visibility, knowledge, and opportunities in ways that ultimately multiply results.

When done right, collaboration can expand reach, unlock new markets, and create stronger, more resilient businesses.

From Isolation to Collaboration

One of the key risks Funto highlighted was the danger of operating in isolation.

Entrepreneurs who try to do everything alone often limit their growth. In contrast, those who build partnerships and collaborate with others are able to leverage shared strengths, reduce limitations, and scale faster.

She encouraged participants to explore opportunities to:

• Partner with complementary businesses

• Co-create products or services

• Share audiences and platforms

• Build mutually beneficial relationships

Real Growth Requires a New Mindset

Beyond strategies, the session emphasized a mindset shift.

Moving from competition to collaboration requires trust, openness, and a long-term view of growth. It means recognizing that another business’s success does not diminish yours — it can, in fact, create more opportunities for everyone involved.

A New Way to Build

For many participants, the session was a refreshing reminder that building a successful business does not have to be a solitary journey.

By embracing collaboration and practicing strategic generosity, entrepreneurs can build businesses that are not only profitable but also connected, visible, and impactful.

As the IWD series continues, sessions like this reinforce a powerful message: growth is not just about how much you can do alone, but how well you can grow with others.