48 rejections later, Bode Roberts went from job seeker to opportunity builder

Bode Roberts, co-founder of Dataleum, an award-winning EdTech platform, transformed his three years of unsuccessful job applications into a successful venture. The initial 48 interviews and 297 applications represented a period of hope, rejection, and uncertainty for Roberts. He describes the job search process as a cycle of hope followed by silence.

The experience made Roberts realise that if someone like him, with drive and talent, was struggling to find employment, the system itself was broken. This realisation led him to build Dataleum, which aims to transform African talent into a global export. Roberts' entrepreneurial journey began during his childhood when he observed the disparity between talent and opportunity in his private school and public school environments.

He also learned strategic thinking and emotional intelligence through games with adult neighbours. His mathematical prowess earned him the Milo Nestlé award in 2002. Roberts started his first business in secondary school and went on to study Computer Engineering at Covenant University, where he experimented with various businesses.

After graduating, he pursued a master's degree in Production and Operations Management at Lagos Business School, which further shaped his focus on long-term sustainability. Roberts and his co-founder Titilola Bello validated their idea through conversations with 20 people, 15 of whom confirmed the need for accessible and affordable digital skills training.

Dataleum's first revenue came from an organization paying upfront for 10 training slots, which allowed the company to grow and secure partnerships with institutions like the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Access Bank.