This is the greatest comeback story in history: At 12, This Man witnessed his father’s murder. Later Lost his life savings on 3 failed startups. Bet everything on one last idea. Today, his company is worth $3 billion. This is the story of Tope Awotona, the Nigerian-born tech. entrepreneur, founder of Calendly and the 3 lessons his journey teaches us about failure, resilience, and success: At just 12 years old, young Tope witnessed his father’s murder during a carjacking in Lagos. That moment shattered his world. But little did he know, this tragedy would ignite a fire within him, a drive to build something extraordinary. After his father’s death, Tope moved to America as a teenager. He studied computer science at the University of Georgia but found himself drawn to sales roles. Yet, something was missing. He wanted to create something that mattered. So, he took the leap into entrepreneurship. His first venture? An e-commerce site selling projectors. It failed His second startup? A garden tools business. It failed too His third attempt? A dating website. That also crashed and burned Each failure cost him time, money, and confidence. But each one also taught him something invaluable: His first failure exposed the importance of supply chain management. His second failure showed him the value of operational efficiency. His third failure taught him about market timing and the need for proper funding. By 2013, Tope was out of money, out of ideas, and out of options. But he wasn’t out of the fight. He had one last idea, and he went all in. Invested his entire life savings, $200,000, into a scheduling tool called Calendly . Friends thought he was crazy. Investors called the idea "boring" and "unscalable." But Tope had discovered a universal pain point: the endless back-and-forth emails just to schedule a single meeting. He knew this wasn’t just an annoyance, it was a productivity killer. With no external funding, Tope hired Ukrainian contractors to build the first version of Calendly. He kept it simple: A clean interface. Easy functionality. One core problem solved perfectly. And it worked. Calendly spread like wildfire. Freelancers loved its simplicity. Sales teams appreciated its efficiency. Recruiters shared it with their networks. By 2020, Calendly was generating over $70 million in annual recurring revenue. Then, COVID hit. The world shifted to remote work, and virtual meetings became the norm. Calendly became essential. In 2021, investors who once dismissed Tope’s idea poured in $350 million. Calendly’s valuation skyrocketed to $3 billion. Today, Tope Awotona is worth over $1 Billion dollars become the few Nigerian-born Entrepreneurs who has crossed the billionaire line The boy who witnessed tragedy in Lagos had built a tech empire. But His journey revealed three profound truths about success to Us: - Rejection is redirection Every failed startup taught Tope something critical. The lessons from those failures became the foundation for Calendly’s success. - Solve real problems Calendly didn’t chase trends, it solved a pain point Tope experienced firsthand. The best ideas come from personal frustration. - Constraints breed creativity With no funding, Tope focused on simplicity. That constraint became Calendly’s greatest strength. Tope Awotona’s story is proof that success isn’t about avoiding failure it’s about learning from it. So, the next time you face rejection, remember Tope Awotona’’s journey. Your greatest comeback could be just one idea away. #TechStories #calendly #tope

In early January 2025, a tragic incident occurred in Schio, Vicenza, Italy, where a 36-year-old Nigerian woman, Queen Enabuele, was arrested for the alleged murder of her 32-year-old Nigerian boyfriend, Kelly Egbon. (RAI NEWS) The event unfolded on January 6th in their shared apartment located in the historic center of Schio. Neighbors alerted authorities after hearing a heated argument between the couple. Upon arrival, the police discovered Egbon's lifeless body, with a fatal wound to his left femoral artery, leading to his death from excessive blood loss. (ADNKRONOS) Initially, Enabuele claimed that Egbon's death was accidental, suggesting he had fallen onto a glass table, causing the fatal injury. However, inconsistencies in her account and forensic evidence led to further questioning, during which she confessed to stabbing Egbon. She alleged that the act was in self-defense during a violent altercation, stating that Egbon, inebriated at the time, had assaulted her and threatened her with a knife. In the ensuing struggle, she managed to seize the weapon and inflicted the fatal wound. (RAI NEWS) Following her confession, Enabuele was taken into custody and is currently held at the Montorio prison in Verona, awaiting further legal proceedings. The case has garnered significant attention, shedding light on issues of domestic violence within immigrant communities in Italy. This tragic event underscores the critical importance of addressing domestic violence and ensuring that support systems are accessible to all individuals, regardless of gender or nationality. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, it's imperative to seek help immediately. In Italy, the national domestic violence helpline is available at 1522, offering support in multiple languages. Dear Nigerian Men in Diaspora, we advocate for women so often but it is important to note that Domestic Violence can happen against both genders. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Shame should never replace a life lost. By reaching out to these organizations or local authorities, victims can access the support they need to protect themselves and begin the journey toward healing.