Meet 10 Nigerian Founders Running Tech Companies Abroad in 2026

Nigerians are increasingly shaping the global technology landscape, not just by building solutions locally but by scaling companies that operate across continents and command multi-billion-dollar valuations.

Whether based in Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, or operating hybrid models, these entrepreneurs have established themselves as key players in the global innovation economy.

Their success reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s economic story.

While domestic structural challenges persist, the country’s diaspora continues to expand its influence globally, demonstrating that Nigerian entrepreneurship thrives beyond borders.

Many Nigerian-founded startups maintain headquarters abroad to access funding, navigate regulatory environments, and scale faster, while still maintaining strong operational ties to Africa.

Despite a global venture capital slowdown between 2023 and 2024, Nigerian tech founders have shown resilience, continuing to attract significant investment into 2025 and 2026.

Below is a look at 10 Nigerians leading tech-driven companies abroad in 2026. 

10. Tope Awotona (Calendly)

Tope Awotona is the founder of Calendly, a widely used scheduling platform that simplifies meeting coordination for businesses and teams globally.

The company, based in Atlanta, grew out of Awotona’s frustration with booking meetings during his time in sales.

He launched Calendly using personal savings and a small business loan, eventually scaling it into a global SaaS platform. In 2021, the company raised $350 million, pushing its valuation above $3 billion and cementing its position as a leading productivity tool.

Awotona’s journey highlights the power of persistence and product-market fit, with his majority stake estimated at over $1 billion.

9. Abbey Wemimo(Esusu Financial Inc.)

Abbey Wemimo is the co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu Financial, a New York-based fintech that helps renters build credit by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus.

The platform serves over 20,000 properties and has reached about 1.8 million users. In 2022, Esusu raised $130 million, achieving unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

Wemimo’s inspiration came from personal experience, after his family faced predatory lending due to lack of credit access, shaping his mission to democratize financial inclusion.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota (BSc, Business Management) and New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (Master of Public Administration), Wemimo’s professional background spans roles at PwC, Goldman Sachs, Accenture, and the European Commission.

8. Chinedu Echeruo (Beloved Ecosystem)

Chinedu Echeruo is the founder of the New York-based Beloved Ecosystem, focused on building AI-powered startups. He previously founded HopStop, a transit app later acquired by Apple Inc. and integrated into Apple Maps.

He also launched Tripology, which was acquired by Rand McNally, reinforcing his track record in building scalable digital platforms.

With experience in finance and private equity, Echeruo continues to drive innovation at the intersection of AI and venture building.

He holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and B.Sc in Finance and Accounting (Honors) from Syracuse University. Prior to completing his M.B.A., he spent several years in the Mergers and Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, financing and private equity transactions.

7. Ade Olonoh (Formstack)

Ade Olonoh is the Founder and Board Member of Formstack, a U.S.-based workplace productivity platform that enables organizations to build digital workflows using no-code forms, documents, and signatures. He established the company in 2006, positioning it as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution headquartered in Indiana.

Olonoh’s early life was split between the United States and Nigeria. Born in the U.S., he moved to Nigeria at the age of two before returning to America in the sixth grade. His diverse upbringing shaped his entrepreneurial outlook and later inspired his journey into technology and business.

Formstack began as a bootstrapped venture and steadily grew into a global platform. By 2021, it was serving more than 25,000 organizations worldwide. The company reported an Annual Recurring Revenue of about $14 million in 2017, and in 2022 it secured $425 million in funding to accelerate growth.

Although Olonoh stepped down from daily operations in 2018, he continues to serve as founder and board member. In 2025, Formstack rebranded as Intellistack, reflecting its evolution into a broader productivity ecosystem. O

Olonoh is an alumnus of Anderson University, where he earned a B.A. in Computer Science and Mathematics.

6. Oluseun Taiwo (Solideon)

Oluseun Taiwo co-founded Solideon, a California-based company focused on decentralized rocket manufacturing using robotics and 3D printing.

The startup is pioneering autonomous micro-factories capable of producing aerospace components faster and more efficiently.

With over $5 million in funding and recognition on Forbes 30 Under 30, Taiwo represents the growing Nigerian presence in deep tech and aerospace.

He is a graduate of North Illinois University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician.

5. Toyin Ajayi (CityblockHealth)

Toyin Ajayi is the Co-founder of Cityblock Health, a U.S.-based primary healthcare provider focused on underserved populations who rely on Medicare and Medicaid. The company was established to deliver accessible, community-centered care to individuals with complex health needs.

Cityblock Health was co-founded in 2017 by Ajayi and Iyah Romm as the first tech-driven provider designed specifically for communities often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems. Its model integrates technology with personalized care to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

The company has attracted significant investor backing, with its largest single funding round being a $400 million Series D led by SoftBank. Following this round, Cityblock Health reached a valuation of approximately $5.7 billion, underscoring its rapid growth and impact in the healthcare sector.

Ajayi’s academic journey reflects her deep commitment to medicine and public health. She earned her bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University, completed a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge, and later received her medical degree from King’s College London School of Medicine.

4. Makinde Adeagbo (/dev/color, ColorStack)

Makinde Adeagbo is the founder of /dev/color and serves as a board member at ColorStack.

/ dev/color, established in 2015, is a U.S.-based nonprofit career accelerator dedicated to supporting Black software engineers and technologists.

The organization helps members advance into leadership roles and achieve career milestones through mentorship, peer networks, and community-driven initiatives.

Adeagbo graduated from MIT in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

3. Oluwapelumi Dada (Sorce)

Oluwapelumi Dada is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Sorce, formerly known as One Click Apply, an AI-powered job-matching app often described as a “Tinder for jobs.”

Based in Silicon Valley, Sorce gained traction by automating job applications for more than 500,000 users and was accepted into Y Combinator.

The app, co-founded with Daniel Ajayi and David Alade, enables users to swipe on job listings while AI completes applications and tailors cover letters.

Dada earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Huston-Tillotson University in 2025. He began coding at age 11, later interning at Tesla and Dell before completing his studies.

2. Tobenna Arodiogbu (CloudTrucks) 

Tobenna Arodiogbu is the Co-founder and CEO of CloudTrucks, a U.S.-based company serving the trucking and transportation industry. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company was established in 2019 to help independent truck drivers streamline compliance, payments, and administrative tasks.

CloudTrucks provides a wide range of services for drivers with CDL-A licenses across the United States. These include payment solutions, fuel discounts, direct-from-shipper contract freight, dedicated lanes, and leasing trucking authority to independent operators.

Born in Enugu, Nigeria, Arodiogbu moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue higher education. His vision for CloudTrucks was to create a platform that empowers drivers to operate more efficiently while reducing the burden of paperwork and operational costs.

The company has attracted significant investor interest, raising $115 million in a Series B funding round in December 2021, which brought its valuation to $850 million. Combined with a $20.5 million Series A round in 2020, CloudTrucks has raised a total of $141.6 million.

Arodiogbu holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Penn State University.

1. Ola Fadiran (ChipMango)

Ola Fadiran is the founder and CEO of ChipMango, a semiconductor design and e-learning company headquartered in Irvine, California.

ChipMango operates across Africa and North America, combining AI-driven learning platforms, advanced design software, and international partnerships to strengthen technical talent pipelines in underserved regions.

Fadiran launched the company in 2024 after six years at Intel and another six years at Boeing, where he held multiple engineering and leadership roles.

He holds an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.