Nigerian Startup Truee Makes Businesses AI-Discoverable

When someone asks an AI assistant to recommend a good local plumber or restaurant, that AI needs to find accurate business information fast. For millions of African small businesses, that's becoming a problem.

Nigerian entrepreneur Adekola Adedokun launched Truee this year to bridge what he calls the "AI discoverability gap." His startup helps businesses create structured profiles containing their services, products, locations, contact details, and portfolios in a format AI platforms can understand and trust.

The challenge is real across Africa. Most small businesses operate primarily through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, with their information scattered across multiple platforms. When AI assistants search for local services, they often come up empty or find outdated details.

Truee is different from traditional business directories like Google Business Profile because it focuses specifically on making business information verifiable and AI-ready. Adedokun believes this will matter more as people increasingly rely on AI assistants to find services.

The startup is already gaining traction in its early pilot phase. Seventy Nigerian businesses, freelancers, and service providers have created profiles, with verification underway for many. Truee has also introduced portfolio profiles that let professionals showcase their work as proof of experience.

The Ripple Effect

The timing couldn't be better. As AI becomes the new front door to discovering businesses, being findable by these systems could level the playing field for small African entrepreneurs who've traditionally struggled with online visibility.

Truee plans to expand across West Africa, targeting markets where small businesses depend heavily on social media rather than traditional websites. The startup envisions a future where verified, structured business data helps companies control how they're represented to both customers and AI platforms.

The biggest hurdle isn't technical. Most business owners already understand social media marketing, but the concept of structuring information for AI discovery is brand new. Many small businesses also operate primarily offline with limited formal records, making verification challenging.

Currently bootstrapped and pre-revenue, Truee plans to offer premium business profiles, verification services, and paid tools. Down the line, the startup may provide structured business data and integrations to AI companies themselves.

For Africa's millions of small businesses, being discovered by the next generation of customers might depend on being discovered by AI first.