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

Meta has reportedly invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI for a 49% stake, valuing the data-labeling firm at $29 billion. As part of the deal, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang is stepping down to join Meta, where he will lead a new superintelligence team, while retaining a seat on Scale’s board.

Jason Droege, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, will serve as interim CEO. Meta confirmed the strategic partnership, which will focus on enhancing AI training data efforts. Although the stake is significant, Scale will remain an independent company.

The move underscores Meta’s urgency to catch up in the AI race.

Source: Reuters
Image: CNBC

Regina should steer clear of this drama.

Angela and Mercy go way back—about two decades, in fact. Regina was barely out of diapers when all this started, so it’s unlikely she can grasp the depth of whatever’s simmering between these two seasoned actresses.

Mercy’s career took flight in 2004 when eight of Nollywood’s top stars—names like Omotola, Genevieve, RMD, and Jim Iyke—were temporarily blacklisted for demanding higher pay. That one-year suspension gave rising talents like Mercy Johnson, Ini Edo, and Stephanie Okereke a golden opportunity to shine. Before that, they were mostly stuck playing side characters or friends of the lead.

Adding to Mercy’s luck, Genevieve didn’t return to acting until 2006 when she starred in *Girls Cot*. By that time, Mercy had already stolen the spotlight. She wasn’t just skilled—she had the figure and on-screen charm that fit the era’s favorite roles: queens, village belles, university girls, and the dangerous beauty with secrets.

However, with more fame came more friction. Her first public altercation was in 2010 with Patience Ozokwor. Witnesses claimed Patience criticized a costume and threw subtle shade, saying she wasn’t about to wear something “Mercy-style.” Mercy heard and went off.

The following year, she reportedly butted heads with Mike Ezuruonye. She’d arrived late to a shoot, and Mike called her out on it, reminding her of the humility she once had. That didn’t sit well with Mercy, who allegedly refused to rehearse lines with him afterward.

2011 was also the year she married Prince Odianosen Okojie, even though he was still legally married to someone else at the time. That marriage added more fuel to the bad-girl image that followed her.

Soon after, Mercy made headlines again for allegedly smashing a crew member’s phone. The story goes that the young woman had been recording a romantic scene, and Mercy suspected the footage was meant for gossip blogs as “proof” of infidelity.

(Back then, I was on Mercy’s side. Nigerian gossip bloggers were wild. They made life hell for stars like Tonto, Ini, and Genevieve.)

As Mercy began having kids, she slowly withdrew from the spotlight—but her old controversies kept resurfacing. In 2019, Sonia Ogiri spoke up about how Mercy had allegedly blocked her from landing acting roles. Sonia said she even had to beg Mercy for forgiveness. But by then, Mercy had rebranded and was loved by the public, so Sonia got dragged online for daring to speak out.

In 2020, Davido dropped a cryptic but cutting comment under Eniola Badmus’ congratulatory post for Mercy and her husband’s new baby. “Wicked people… congrats though,” he wrote. When asked about it, he added, “Nothing. Just evil set of people.” Neither Mercy nor her husband addressed the remarks, though he did later deny the baby news.

Then in 2021, Mercy’s daughter, Purity, was allegedly targeted by a teacher who confessed that her grudge was with Mercy, not the child. No one ever disclosed what sparked that resentment.

Now in 2025, Mercy is visibly slimmer, and fans are beginning to question if her weight loss is really by choice. On June 3rd, Angela Okorie went live on Instagram and claimed that Mercy is seriously ill. She urged her to seek forgiveness from those she’d wronged.

Today, Regina Daniels has jumped into the fray to defend Mercy, whom she calls her godmother. She’s dragging Angela left and right online. But Angela is unmoved—she maintains her advice stands and says Mercy needs to make peace with her past.

Honestly, Regina should sit this one out.

Angela may be controversial, but she’s been around long enough to know things Regina doesn’t. It would be wiser for Regina to focus on her own journey—especially with a baby on the way (yes, Ned said so in his anniversary post)—and let the veterans handle their unresolved issues.

This isn't her fight.

The whole situation is complicated and layered, which is why those who witnessed the beginning of it all are keeping quiet and watching from the sidelines.

Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind the iPhone, is officially teaming up with OpenAI. The company plans to acquire Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom, in a deal valued at around $6.5 billion. Ive will take on a broad role at OpenAI, helping shape the look and feel of future AI devices and tools.⁠
⁠
He’s working closely with CEO Sam Altman to develop a new kind of consumer hardware centered on artificial intelligence. While specifics are still under wraps, the goal is to create products that feel as natural and intuitive as the iPod or iPhone once did, now powered by advanced AI.⁠
⁠
The partnership has been in the works for months and marks one of OpenAI’s biggest steps toward building physical products. With Ive’s design vision and Altman’s AI focus, this collaboration could help define the next era of tech.⁠
⁠
(via The Wall Street Journal)

He didn’t toast you. You toasted yourself. Now you’re crying, “Men are scum”?

Let’s talk, sister to sister.

You just got into school—a fresher, shining like hot jollof rice.

You don’t even know the full name of your HOD. You’re still asking people, “Please, where is LT 3?”

But just because one cute guy with a nice wristwatch mistakenly said “hi,” your heart started beating like a Beyoncé track.

You immediately started calculating the colours of your bridesmaids’ dresses.

Let’s replay the scene:

You saw him during orientation. He didn’t even notice you. But you made sure to walk past him twice.

The second time, you smiled.

Did he ask for your name?
Did he say “hello”?

No.

But guess who went to meet him after fellowship like she was sent on a divine mission?

“Hi, I’m Favour. Department of Medicine.”

Madam… nobody asked you.

You dropped your full CV like you were applying for a wife position.

Now you’re already following him on Instagram, liking 14 of his posts back-to-back like an unpaid data analyst.

Then he gives you small attention and boom—you can’t sleep. You can’t eat. Your journal now reads:
“Dear Holy Spirit, I think he’s the one…”

My sister, let’s be honest.

You know you’re emotional. You know your heart is soft.
You know once you start liking someone, your brain enters flight mode.

Your assignment will be in front of you, but all you can see is his smile.

Now let’s say tomorrow he starts acting funny.
He starts ghosting you.
Next thing, you run to WhatsApp and post:
“All men are the same.”

But hold on a minute...

Did he ever approach you?
Did he tell you he was looking for a wife?
Or did you rush yourself into unnecessary heartbreak because you couldn’t sit with your emotions and focus on your goals?

Let me be real with you:

Not every fine boy is your future.
Some are just distractions in fine packaging.

You came to school to study, grow, and evolve—not to turn into Romeo’s personal assistant.

This is your training ground. You’re supposed to be building discipline, character, and vision.

If you don’t learn emotional stability now, you’ll end up crying your way through every season of your life.

Because guess what?

There’ll always be a fine guy.
But not every fine guy is aligned with your purpose.

So, please—stop using your own hand to press heartbreak into your life.

Nobody broke your heart—you broke your focus.
Nobody ghosted you—you ghosted your sense.

Pursue purpose.
Build genuine friendships—not obsessions.
Control your emotions before your emotions control your destiny.

And next time your heart starts dancing just because someone greeted you?

Drink cold water.
Open your books.
And whisper to yourself:

Not today, Satan. I have exams.

"There is no guarantee of reward from your children, so focus on your wellbeing" - Wizkid's bodyguard, Roy advises men.

If Mohbad didn't rush into marriage at a very young age he wouldn't have lost his life this early,

If he had taken his time to make more money, focus more on his craft and sanitized his circle of friends he will still be breathing life today and pushing stronger,

If he had prioritized his life, health and be more cautious of who he associates with by today I'm very sure he would have been a big inspiration to millions and in the music industry.

What am I saying here? It still leads back to Peller, it's too early for marriage, your ultimate goal with Elizabeth now is to focus on piping her; don't try to commit and if she tries to lure you into it be bold enough to tell her you're not yet ready for marriage.

Early marriage comes with alot of disadvantages for men but comes with too many advantages and benefits for vvomen, for Jarvis (Elizabeth) this is the golden window for her to settle down and have children now that she is in her prime and Peller is not the suitable man for her. Peller should focus on gaining power, wealth and affluence not marriage for now.

Check all the men that rushed into marriage at young age like peller they all regretted it while some are not alive today to share their pain and what they went through. Again, Mohbad would have been alive today if not early marriage and his association with toxic friends.

Dear young man, I know you have made millions and you're balling but calm down, take your time to ripe up before you talk about marriage. It's too early; focus on accumulating more and more wealth because that's the only thing that even governments fears.

Somebody like Elon Musk can change government and can influence any government because he has the obscene wealth to do so, get powerful and wealthier and vvomen will bow before you, worship you, lick your fooot and beg you to be their husband.

Don't say I didn't warn you, majority of the vvomen insvlting indiscov now won't blink an eye just to have a child for Elon Musk, that's the power of wealth. I hope this article changes your life.

Sermons over!

Marriage is business for many vvomen, Sabinus fvcked up sending her abroad but how about you reading this? Will you learn from his mistake or wait to do the same mistake Sabinus did?

Men, use your brains. Stop sending or bringing vvomen abroad, let her stay in Nigeria and manage business for you or something else of her own; stop this fooollishness of sending vvomen abroad.

If she so much wants to relocate abroad divorrce her, let her sell off her father's properties and relocate abroad herself. Stop giving up yourselves for these gold diggers that are looking for a way to escape poovaty at all cost.

My advice to Sabinus is, focus on your life and make more money, so far your preeq is still working. Make more babies and forget about her.

I have been in your shoe and I know exactly how it's like, mine was worse at some point she used knife to attack me. Just forget about the beeech and focus on your life, take your health serious and never derail from your purpose.

Most importantly, ask her to bring back your child if she refuses forget her existence and never send a dime because if she denies you access to your child she has no grounds to demand for any support; send her no dime and stop calling her.

Man up, erase her number and focus on your life.

Take my advice or you will kpái on the process of dragging custody of a child with a vvoman because vvomen feed on pity and if you descend that low she will win you; she will enjoy seeing you in agony, It's not worth it my brother.

Follow for more and be saved;

Sermons over!

BREAKING:

Nigerian billionaire and politician Ned Nwoko has denied rumors circulating on social media that he allegedly got another Nollywood actress, Chika Ike, pregnant.

Below is the press release from his Director of Communications.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Our attention has been drawn to the recent false rumors alleging that Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko is planning to marry Nollywood actress Chika Ike as his seventh wife and that she is pregnant for him.

We categorically state that these claims are entirely baseless and a product of malicious speculation.

Similarly, reports claiming he made statements about Tuface and polygamy are completely untrue.

As a public figure and with his wife also being an actress, it is not unusual for bloggers seeking attention to fabricate such stories.

However, Senator Nwoko is currently on a national assignment, focused on delivering on his political mandate, and has no time for distractions.

This office remains available to journalists for verification of information, and we remind media practitioners of the consequences of spreading fake news.

The public is advised to disregard these rumors and rely only on official statements from his office.

Signed
Director of Communications
Office of Senator Prince Ned Munir Nwoko

If you haven’t listened to Akinwumi Adesina’s interview with Rufai Oseni on Arise TV, please do so. I just streamed the full interview, & I’m speechless. Akin is such a force, he is a man of statistics as well. He regurgitated everything that Peter Obi has been saying; everything.

“1. Nigeria must invest in its people.
2. Africa cannot develop with aide.
3. We have the resources in the soil.

4. Trump says it’s AMERICA FIRST.
I don’t have a problem with that.

5. I don’t believe we should beg our way to development. We must develop with pride.

6. Africa has 65% of arable land to feed the world. It’s not in Asia, not in America, not in China. It’s not in any other part of the world.

7. When we have 477 million young people below the age of 35, why should I be worried?

8. The largest renewable sources of energy are in Africa, why should I be worried (when it has to do with energy transition globally)?

8. On electric vehicles: Take lithium batteries for example. Everything you need; from platinum, to cobalt, to graphite, copper & everything you need are in Africa.

9. DRC accounts for 90% of global platinum for mobile phones, lithium batteries. Electric car market will be worth $59 Trillion by 2050. Develop your own manufacturing capacity, so that you’re not selling the raw materials.

10. If I’m selling semi-conductors to you, if I’m something you need; it’s very difficult for you to just wake up, & wave me around like that. The lesson is for African nations to industrialize, & make its purchasing power very high.”

Akin is basically saying FROM CONSUMPTION TO PRODUCTION. That was a Pan Africanist speaking. He is pro-Africa through & through.

Akin is an advocate of purchasing power, AKA (HDI). He said so much, I can’t possibly remember everything now. You guys need to stop the relationship, soups, bigotry & gender wars, & begin to have these conversations.

Africa is on borrowed time, we are in the dying minutes of a unequal match. The world truly left Nigeria behind, we are now a laughing stock globally. Nigerians should be led by the likes of Akin, NOI, Obi; but hey, “let’s continue with the stupid tribalism & the reckless foolishness.”

Nigeria is a goldmine. We have all that we need inside the soil to be great. But we need the focused leadership, who are less corrupt, & people-centric. We need people of integrity (global icons) that will put Nigerians first.

Enough with the Politicking & the Government of Politicians only. Haven’t y’all had enough?

NIGERIANS WAKE UP!

Welcome BNers to Day 2 of #NBAAllStar Weekend! We enjoyed African Excellence at @thebal and @nbaafrica #NBAAfrica Luncheon!

This year’s event focused on specially celebrating the impact of Congolese pro-Basketballer #DikembeMutombo with various compelling tributes and speeches from #theBAL and #NBAAfrica

Some key announcements made during event include:

- The Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award. It will honor people and groups yearly who do good for others in Africa.

- The NBA in Africa will give 55 basketball courts to communities in Africa to honor Dikembe Mutombo and his jersey number.

- The new courts are part of a bigger plan. The NBA in Africa wants to build 1,000 courts in Africa over the next ten years.

#BellaNaijaTakesNBA