Interview

My Software Developer’s Journey Into Foundership

Michael •Solo Founder

•Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Nigeria

Please introduce yourself and describe what you do for work.

I’m a software developer and founder. I build digital products, design and develop software solutions, and work on turning ideas into scalable, real-world applications while managing the business side of building a startup.

How did you get started?

I got started through curiosity and problem-solving. I began learning how to build software on my own, working on small projects, and gradually moved into building products to solve real problems, which naturally led me into founding and building startups.

What is a common misconception that people have about you or your job?

A common misconception is that my job is mostly about coding. In reality, a large part of my work involves decision-making, communication, strategy, learning from failure, and navigating uncertainty—often with limited resources.

What part of your journey were you unprepared for? What caught you off guard?

I was unprepared for how much emotional resilience would be required. Beyond the technical and strategic work, managing uncertainty, self-doubt, and constant decision-making was more demanding than I expected.

What are you most proud of in your journey so far?

I’m most proud of staying consistent and continuing to build despite limited resources, setbacks, and slow progress, learning, improving, and showing up every day.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone who wants to follow a similar path?

Start before you feel ready, and focus on progress over perfection. Clarity comes from doing, not overplanning.

Anything you would like to add?

The journey is rarely linear. Embrace the mess, stay teachable, and remember that growth often happens quietly before it becomes visible.