Tope Awotona

Tope Awotona, the billionaire Founder & CEO of Calendly LLC since February 2013, holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian American to achieve billionaire status in the United States.

In 2013, Mr. Awotona established Calendly with the mission of streamlining scheduling for individuals, eliminating the need for tedious email exchanges. Initially investing his entire life savings of $200,000 into the venture while simultaneously working as a sales representative for EMC, Mr. Awotona's strategic guidance has propelled the platform's growth to over 10 million monthly users and revenue exceeding $100 million in 2021.

Securing $350 million in funding from OpenView Venture Partners and Iconiq Capital, valuing the company at $3 billion, Mr. Awotona, the principal shareholder, has amassed a net worth of at least $1.4 billion, according to Forbes. Notably, Calendly has remained profitable since its third year of operation.

Reflecting on his roots, Mr. Awotona acknowledges his Nigerian heritage, stating, “I just know the country that produced me,” he explained to TechCrunch. “There are a million Topes in Nigeria. The difference for me was my parents. But I’m not a diamond in the rough, and I want to get involved in some way to help with that full potential.” Expressing a desire to empower others, he aims to support budding entrepreneurs in Nigeria, a sentiment underscored by his contributions exceeding $100,000 to organizations like Black Girls Code and My Brother's Keeper through Calendly.

Mr. Awotona began his career as a door-to-door salesman before embarking on his journey to become a tech entrepreneur. Along the way, he ventured into several e-commerce ventures, only to discover that his lack of passion for them resulted in their rapid demise.

Most Important Lessons Learned

Tope Awotona encountered difficulty securing venture capital funds when he founded Calendly in Atlanta in 2013, a challenge often faced by Black founders. This experience instilled in him the importance of financial prudence, prompting him to maximize every dollar and minimize reliance on external funding sources.

Personal Details

• Married
• Raised in Lagos, Nigeria, immigrated to the United States as a teenager
• ttributes parents as primary role models
• Father, a microbiologist and serial entrepreneur, was tragically killed in a carjacking when Mr. Awotona was 12
• Graduated high school at 15
• Initiated Calendly with personal funds before securing VC backing through resilience and financial acumen
• Plans to foster entrepreneurship in Nigeria, inspired by his own journey