Meet Mark Onoja.

Hi, I’m Mark Onoja — a Startup and Small Business Consultant with a passion for helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses.

For the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of working with over 1,000 businesses across Nigeria and Africa — guiding founders, coaching teams, and building systems that drive real growth. My journey into entrepreneurship and business consulting started from one simple desire: to help people make their ideas work.

Today, I serve as the Co-Founder and Lead Consultant at The Startup Place Ltd, a management consulting firm dedicated to startup incubation and small business acceleration. Through The Startup Place, my team and I have supported startups, MSMEs, and established organisations to develop winning business models, create go-to-market strategies, and build the right systems to grow with confidence.

Over the years, I’ve also had the opportunity to work with top organisations such as the Enterprise Development Centre, Fate Foundation, Daystar Business Community, GIZ, GOPA Nigeria, Pan Atlantic University, Act Foundation, Facebook Nigeria, Google Nigeria, AFDEC Nigeria, Shecluded, America Corner, Sprutx etc, providing professional training, business development, and project management solutions.

But beyond the big names, what excites me most is seeing small business owners find clarity, take action, and achieve results — faster, easier, and better than they imagined.

I’ve always believed that business success isn’t about luck; it’s about structure, strategy, and execution. That’s why I developed practical frameworks and coaching programs that help entrepreneurs move from ideas to implementation in just 90 days.

I hold several professional certifications that strengthen my approach to business growth and project management, including:

  • Graduate Programme, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI USA
  • Digital Skills for Africa, Google Africa
  • Business Development Service Provider, SMEDAN Nigeria
  • Face-to-Face Facilitation, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  • MBA (specialty in Entrepreneurship and Innovation), Miva Open University

When I’m not working with startups or facilitating growth programs, I’m usually teaching, mentoring, or hosting The Growth Room — a community of entrepreneurs focused on building profitable and purpose-driven businesses.

I host a bi-monthly radio program The Growth Room on Mainland FM 92.3.

For me, business is more than numbers — it’s about people, purpose, and impact. My goal is to help you build a business that not only grows but also thrives.