From Startup Friction to Cloud-Telephony Solution

For many Nigerian entrepreneurs, a simple phone call represents both opportunity and frustration. While customers expect seamless communication, the reality often involves dropped calls or unreliable connections—a disconnect that PressOne aimed to solve.

Founded by Mayowa Okegbenle and Opeyemi Shokunbi, PressOne provides small businesses with professional cloud-telephony systems at affordable prices. The service offers features like automated greetings, call routing, and interaction records—capabilities typically reserved for larger enterprises.

“When you call a bank, you hear a welcome message and options to press,” Okegbenle explained in an interview. “Why can’t everyone have that? Why is it limited to banks and big companies?”

The company entered a market challenged by unreliable infrastructure, complex telecom ecosystems, and economic constraints faced by SMEs.

The Retention Challenge

PressOne quickly gained traction after launching in 2021. However, the founders soon realized that acquiring customers was only half the battle—retaining them long enough to convert rapid adoption into sustainable profit proved more challenging.

In a subscription model where many businesses are unfamiliar with recurring charges, PressOne experienced fluctuating cash flow and service quality dependencies on external telecom networks. The company’s journey illustrates that customer acquisition is just the starting point for building a durable business.

From Personal Need to Market Solution

The concept behind PressOne originated from Okegbenle’s personal experience using his mobile number as a primary business channel—lacking oversight, control, and data on interactions. This frustration led him to build a custom call-handling setup that he later realized could serve a broader market.

PressOne packages complex telephony infrastructure into an accessible service using familiar local mobile numbers, allowing businesses to create professional phone systems without technical expertise or significant investment.