Millennial founder of software company set to hit seven figures this year encourages rising tech stars in Africa
Name: Oladosu Teyibo
Age: 29
Site: Washington DC
Business: An outsourcing technology company focused on hiring from underrepresented communities.
Pass: Africa’s tech landscape is booming, but with investments on the continent, it is just as imperative to invest in the African talents who live there.
Founded by Oladosu Teyibo in 2018, Analog Team connects talent from under-represented backgrounds with tech companies looking to create digital products. In addition to working in the United States, Analog Team focuses on connecting African engineers with startups based in the United States. His company is betting on the idea that others will start recruiting talent from Africa, in the same way that outsourcing is currently done to India, Teyibo said.
“There is no pipeline problem or lack of knowledge,” he told Insider. “It’s just about providing opportunities and looking for the gems that are in the rough.”
Growth: Analog Team now operates in six African countries, including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria. It has worked with the top providers of mobile, social media and gaming apps and is expected to hit over seven figures this year.
Then it’s about finding talent to build a new social media app, database for user experience (UX) design, and new data transformation tools. Last month, with plans to grow further nationwide, the company partnered with the city of Montgomery, Alabama, to create an innovation lab that will help nurture local tech talent.
“We are also in conversation with the HBCU [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] and local universities to create robotics programs focused on drone technology, ”Teyibo said.
Before the analog team: Teyibo studied information technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and worked at the Cyber Innovation Center where he oversaw mergers and acquisitions. He left the company in 2016 to found Analog Team.
Challenges: Many tech companies have bad experiences working with outsourcing companies. So Analog Team built a business model to make sure it would be different from the rest. “We fit in and are part of the business,” Teyibo said. “We come so close that you feel like we are part of your team.”
Advice: “The most important thing in building a business is to be the last one standing,” Teyibo said. “The right way to do this is to constantly innovate.”
Mentor: Teyibo considers his mother a mentor who told him “when you go somewhere, leave the place better than you have met him”.
Why is this the best time to start a business: The world is on the “precipice of innovation and change,” and positioning yourself early as a business leader can pay off in the long run, Teyibo said. “Over the next 10 or 20 years, you can really have your say in the direction of the global community,” he added.
At hiring : At present, Analog Team consists of 30 people and aims to hire 1000 people in software development, recruiting and customer service by 2025. Interest in the company has increased over time. as the news continues to spread. “Now it’s about finding enough opportunities to hire everyone we see across the world,” Teyibo said.
Manage burnout: Teyibo prays to help him refocus his focus and encourages his employees to take breaks when needed so that when it’s time to deliver, everyone is at their best.
“It is absolutely necessary to take breaks when you need them,” he continued. “But it’s important to remember that a break is not a vacation – any moment that you’re not focused on your goals, the competition is overtaking you.”