Here are Three Companies Owned by Tope Awotona, Richest Nigerian in the US
- Nigerian-born tech billionaire and entrepreneur Tope Awotona emerges as one of the wealthiest Nigerians in the diaspora
- His net worth is reportedly the same as Femi Otedola, one of Africa's 20 wealthiest persons
- Awotona owns three companies, which has propelled him into billionaire status in the diaspora
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Pascal Oparada has over a decade of experience covering Tech, Energy, Stocks, Investments, and Economy.
Nigerian-born tech billionaire Tope Awotona has become popular in the tech industry with his creative solutions and deep knowledge of the ever-changing digital landscape.
He succeeded via the launch of Calendly, a $3 billion software firm focused on simplifying business communications for team scheduling, preparation, and following up on external meetings.
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How Awotona grew Calendly into a $3 billion company
His tech journey began during his business administration at the University of Georgia, which led him to receive the 2021 Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Award and the 2019 Comparably Best CEOs award.
Also, Awotona launched into e-commerce with a dating website, a projector sales firm, and a garden tools firm, which did not survive.
Over 10 years, he invested his life savings of $200,000 into Calendly, with the inefficient and time-consuming process of organizing meetings.
Calendly eventually transformed into success and became profitable in 2016. The company received $350 million in a recent funding round, raising the company's valuation to $3 billion.
Awotona's majority state in Calendly is worth $1.4 billion.
He not only stands out for his tech prowess but also for his commitment to diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Awotona's three companies
According to Billionaires Africa, Awotona owns stakes in three companies with substantial investment directly and indirectly.
Calendly
Awotona's Calendly was founded in 2013 and emerged with a mission to change the scheduling landscape by eliminating the stress of back-and-forth emails.
The company has evolved into a leading software company, offering a business communications platform that facilitates scheduling, preparation, and follow-up for external meetings and caters to the needs of teams worldwide.
As of January 2021, Calendly has achieved a valuation of $3 billion, solidifying its status as a tech unicorn.
Vonza
The Nigerian billionaire's investment in Voza shows his commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and creators globally.
Vonza is an all-in-one business platform and has rapidly gained prominence since its launch, attracting over 5000 customers from more than 40 countries in less than two years.
The company launched into beta in February 2024, streamlining the entrepreneurial journey by providing a comprehensive suite of tools and eliminating the need for multiple platforms.
Givebutter
The tech billionaire's involvement in the company shows his commitment to driving positive societal change.
Awotona provided the initial seed investment for Givebuttter, which fueled its growth.
Givebutter has attracted about $300 million in donations over the last six years, showing its importance and impact on digital fundraising.
After Selling His Firm, 70-yr-old Nigerian one of Africa's billionaires
Legit.ng reported that Nigerian banker and founder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Adebayo Ogunlesi, pole-vaulted into the ranks of Africa's billionaires with an estimated net worth of $2.3 billion with the sale of his company to BlackRock Inc. at an estimated cost of $12.5 billion.
A recent update by Bloomberg reveals that the surge in Ogunlesi's net worth, led by US Larry Fink, ended a historic agreement to acquire the infrastructure firm after the sale to BlackRock.
According to reports, the deal consists of $3 billion in cash and approximately 12 million shares of GIP's common stock estimated at $9.5 billion, setting the 70-year-old Nigerian among the continent's wealthiest persons.
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Source: Legit.ng
