Ten years ago, Intense was just another small team in Lagos with laptops, late nights, and the kind of ambition that rarely survives Nigeria’s chaotic business climate. Today, the company has grown into a cross-border marketing and technology company with clients spanning multinationals and a presence in the UK.
How did a small Lagos agency not only survive but thrive in an environment where failure is often the norm? The answer lies in a single word that became both the company’s name and operating philosophy: intensity. Here are the four key principles that defined its decade-long journey and why they matter for the future of business on the continent.
1. Resilience is the Real Funding
The early years weren’t glamorous. Cash was tight, pitches failed, and the temptation to give up was real. But Intense turned obstacles into training grounds. Every rejection sharpened strategy. Every lost client taught a lesson in positioning. Where many startups relied solely on external funding to stay alive, Intense built resilience as its most valuable currency.
2. Data and Tech Must be the Operating System
Long before “AI” became the industry buzzword, Intense was already experimenting with metrics, running creative performance tests, and building systems that proved marketing could be measured. That discipline won them the trust of bigger clients who cared about results, not just ideas. Today, this culture of data-driven decision-making continues to power their campaigns and set them apart in a crowded market.
3. Disruption Works When it’s Deliberate
Some agencies tried to be loud; Intense chose to be precise. Instead of following old marketing playbooks, they tied creativity directly to business outcomes. The launch of Purple Stardust, Intense’s creative arm, became proof of this philosophy: bold ideas that didn’t just grab attention, but also scaled, delivered impact, and won awards.
4. Growth Must Think Global, Act Local
Perhaps the boldest move in the company’s journey was the launch of Intense UK. For the founder, this wasn’t just expansion — it was a statement that African-born firms could compete globally while keeping their creative muscle at home. It’s a playbook more African startups are likely to follow: root operations locally, deliver value globally.
The Next Decade: Productizing Intensity
If the first 10 years were about proving survival and scale, the next 10 are about creating platforms that can accelerate Africa’s growth story at scale.
Because building Africa’s future won’t come from hype cycles or short-lived wins. It will come from the kind of intensity Intense has embodied for a decade, resilience, data obsession, bold disruption, and a global outlook rooted in Africa.
This year, Intense is marking its 10th anniversary, a decade of building, learning, and creating growth engines for Africa’s biggest brands.
Follow Intense Digital on
Instagram @intense.digital_ ||Twitter @Intenseng ||Facebook @Intense
And Purple Stardust
Instagram @WeArePurpleStardust || Twitter WeAre_PSD ||Facebook @thepurplebeings
Contact us
www.intense.ng || michael@intense.ng ||+234 812 036 4960
www.purplestardust.space || deborah@purplestardust.space || +234 906 038 2274
www.intensegroup.co.uk || oyindamola@intensegroup.co ||+234 707 418 1900
www.intensegroup.ng
