Media and EdTech entrepreneur Adewale Yusuf has offered an expansive reflection on the early days of some of Africa’s most successful technology founders, underscoring the often-overlooked role of community, consistency, and long-term relationships in building globally recognized companies.
In a widely shared post, Yusuf recalled capturing moments with founders long before their companies became household names or attracted significant venture capital.
He recounted taking a photograph of Tosin Eniolorunda before fintech firm Moniepoint had raised a single dollar in funding. Today, Moniepoint has reportedly secured over $200 million in investment and achieved a valuation exceeding $1 billion, cementing its status as one of Africa’s fintech unicorns.
Yusuf also reflected on early interactions with Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi before Paystack announced its first funding round. What began as a promising startup journey later culminated in a landmark acquisition by global payments giant Stripe in a deal valued at over $200 million—one of the most significant tech exits on the continent at the time.
Similarly, Yusuf shared that he photographed Funke Opeke prior to the major exit of MainOne. The company was subsequently acquired by Equinix for $320 million, marking a pivotal moment for West Africa’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
He further pointed to the early leadership days of Olugbenga Agboola, popularly known as GB, on his first day as CEO of Flutterwave. Since then, Flutterwave has raised more than $470 million and reached a valuation of approximately $3 billion, positioning itself as a major player in Africa’s payments landscape.
Beyond the Headlines
Yusuf’s reflections were prompted by a social media post suggesting that “most successful founders have an unfair advantage” because they know one another. While acknowledging that privilege exists, he argued that the public often misses the deeper story behind these relationships.
According to him, many of today’s high-profile founders first met during a period when there was no funding, no media attention, and no billion-dollar valuations attached to their names. They connected at hackathons, technology meetups, and industry events—often navigating Lagos traffic to attend gatherings fueled more by ambition than by resources.
These interactions were not transactional, he noted. There were no calculations of return on investment or strategic positioning. Instead, there was a shared desire to build, experiment, and support one another within a fledgling ecosystem.
The Long Game of Relationship Capital
Over time, those early connections matured into business partnerships, angel investments, board appointments, and high-value exits. What began as casual meetups and collaborative brainstorming sessions evolved into a powerful network of founders and operators shaping Africa’s technology landscape.
Yusuf emphasized that proximity and consistency—showing up repeatedly, contributing to conversations, and building trust—often create opportunities that only become visible years later. The shared struggle of building in a challenging environment, he suggested, forged bonds that proved more durable than short-term networking strategies.
A Message to Emerging Founders
For entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journeys, Yusuf’s message was clear: do not underestimate the people around you today. The founder you brainstorm with, the engineer building side projects, or the quiet operator working behind the scenes could become a future industry leader.
More importantly, he stressed, collective growth can redefine individual trajectories. “You don’t know who they’ll become,” he implied—“and you don’t know who you’ll become together.”
As Africa’s technology ecosystem continues to mature, Yusuf’s reflections highlight an enduring truth: beyond capital raises and valuations, sustainable success is often rooted in authentic relationships built long before the spotlight arrives.