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In an exclusive interview with Nana Theresa Timothy of ITEdgeNews.Africa, Mr. Moses Amama, A senior product designer and founder of Futurefeat, one of Jos’ most influential tech innovators, shared valuable insights on how collaboration, mindset shifts, and shared learning can accelerate the growth of startups and small businesses across Plateau State.
Speaking during the recently concluded HackJos 2025 Innovation Summit, themed “Igniting MSME Growth through Innovation,” Amama emphasized the need for entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders in Jos to move beyond competition and embrace a culture of cooperation, a step he believes is crucial for sustainable economic development in the region.
Mr. Amama currently serves as a Senior Product Designer at Todbot, a global software development and design consultancy. He is also the Founder and CEO of FutureFeat, a makerspace that provides innovators with the tools, mentorship, and community they need to grow. In addition, he leads Startup Lab, an incubator and co-working space that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in building scalable, tech-driven solutions.
A Timely Theme for a Growing Ecosystem
When asked about the theme of this year’s HackJos conference, Amama described it as both timely and relevant.
“Jos is on the verge of something big,” he said. “The city is constantly expanding, more businesses are emerging, and new opportunities are being created. The focus of this conference fits perfectly into that narrative. It allows us to come together as an ecosystem to see how we can accelerate growth, make it more inclusive, and strengthen the local economy.”
According to Amama, Jos is evolving into a dynamic hub for technology and entrepreneurship, but the full potential of this transformation can only be realized through collaboration. He believes the lack of cooperation among startups and organizations has slowed down progress, and changing this mindset is essential.
The Mindset Shift That Drives Growth
“One of the biggest challenges we face is that many people are hesitant to share what they know,” he explained.
“There’s this fear that collaboration means revealing trade secrets or losing one’s competitive edge. But in reality, we achieve more when we understand that we’re stronger together.”
Amama stressed that even though businesses may differ in products or services, they often face similar challenges, such as hiring the right talent, accessing Balading, managing operations, and reaching customers. Sharing these experiences, he said, can help businesses avoid mistakes and grow faster.
“When one organization shares what it’s doing well, and another talks about what it’s struggling with, everyone learns. That’s how innovation spreads, through knowledge exchange,” he noted.
To illustrate this, he shared a personal example. “I once came across a Facebook post by another founder about hiring,” he recalled. “I applied that simple advice at FutureFit, and it completely transformed how we build teams. Today, we have a solid structure that runs efficiently, even when I step back. That’s the power of shared learning, small lessons that make a big difference.”
Building the Culture of Collaboration
Amama was quick to clarify that collaboration does not mean giving away trade secrets or losing one’s uniqueness. “Nobody is asking anyone to share their formulas or strategies,” he said with a smile. “What we’re saying is that there’s so much we can learn from one another, about structure, leadership, sustainability, and innovation. That’s how an ecosystem grows.”
This belief is at the heart of Startup Lab, Amama’s latest project, which officially launches next week. Through the platform, he hopes to nurture a culture of openness and mutual growth among entrepreneurs and professionals in Jos.
“At Startup Lab, we’re creating opportunities for people to meet, share, and learn,” he explained. “We’re planning several events, founder mixers, CEO meetups, and community sessions, where entrepreneurs can connect. These won’t all be paid events; many will be free to ensure that every business owner has a chance to participate.”
He believes that such gatherings will play a vital role in strengthening the city’s innovation ecosystem. “It’s in these spaces that people share their journeys, the wins, the losses, and the lessons. And when that happens, we all move forward together.”
A Movement, Not Just a Conference
The HackJos 2025 Innovation Summit, which concluded on November 12, brought together developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across Nigeria. With its focus on igniting MSME growth through innovation, the event encouraged practical solutions to the challenges faced by small businesses in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
Amama sees HackJos not just as an event but as a movement, one that embodies the collaborative spirit required to transform ideas into impactful ventures. “When we work together, we build faster. When we learn from one another, we build smarter. And when we build with purpose, we create change that lasts,” he said.
The Power of Unity
As Jos continues to emerge as one of Northern Nigeria’s fastest-growing innovation hubs, Amama’s message is both clear and inspiring: collaboration is not competition; it is progress.
“The future of Jos’ startup ecosystem depends on our ability to unite,” he emphasized.
“We must come together not just as individuals chasing success but as a community building something sustainable. When we collaborate, we multiply our impact, and that’s how we’ll build a stronger economy, one idea at a time.”
A new spirit of collaboration, championed by visionaries like Moses Amama, is paving the way for Jos’s future—an era where innovation is built on shared knowledge and measured by collective achievement.
