About Podcast
In a world where countless graduates emerge with certificates yet still struggle to land their first job, why hasn’t practical upskilling unlocked those global opportunities? That’s the question Temidayo Adefioye set out to answer. What followed was a journey from selling his first C-Sharp CBT tool in Lagos lecture halls to building Talenvo a platform that, in just 14 months, has united 1,500 core members and empowered over 30,000 learners across Africa with real, hands-on experience. In this episode, Temidayo takes us behind the scenes of Talenvo’s rapid ascent from coding the very first MVP himself to scaling a community centric talent engine. He shares how his own frustration with theory only education drove him to spend years mastering enterprise software processes, why he chose empathy and user calls over chasing the “next big tech stack,” and how a simple open WhatsApp policy built trust in a market shadowed by stereotypes. Here’s what you’ll take away:
- How to turn a rough MVP into a continent-spanning talent network.
- The power of micro-learning and gamification in building true skill mastery.
- Why real innovation starts with listening, not scaling.
- What it means to lead a team through early-stage scaling pressures and limited resources.
- How focusing on open-door customer trust, not flashy tech features, became their biggest differentiator.
Join us for a conversation that’s equal parts strategic playbook, founder memoir, and on the ground community building perfect for edtech entrepreneurs, talent platform builders, and anyone passionate about turning potential into performance.
- Spot & Bridge Talent Gaps : Learn to identify work experience shortages in emerging markets and create practical skills solutions.
- Gain Industry Insights Pre-Launch : Discover how hands on roles in established firms build the leadership and execution, know how for your startup.
- Agile MVP Development & Iteration : Master rapid prototyping, alpha/beta testing, launch, and continuous improvements driven by user feedback.
- Foster a Community-First Culture : Learn to engage users as advocates via open communication one on ones, town halls, and feedback loops.
- Scale with Partnerships & Metrics : Understand how to partner with schools and businesses, use short form task metrics, and match talent efficiently.
Special Guest: Temidayo Adefioye – Founder & CEO
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Air Date: August 03 ,2025
Websites:
- Talenvo.co: Get noticed. Get hired. Explore careers and prepare for the job with thousands of free work scenario tasks designed by the world’s top experts.
- web Summit Qatar: Web Summit Qatar connects rising Middle Eastern founders with global investors, media, and more. Called “Glastonbury for geeks” by The Guardian and “the largest gathering of international start-ups in the Middle East” by Al Jazeera, we’re proud of our live event legacy.
Podcast:
- Business Infrastructure Season 23: Karen Mills discuses teaming agreements
Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
Producer & Voiceover Artist: Clarence Levy III
Audio Editors: Olanrewaju Adeyemo and Sabor! Music Enterprises
Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
Show Notes: Hashim Tale
Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.More About Guest, Temidayo Adefioye:
Temidayo Adefioye is a visionary entrepreneur and EdTech innovator with deep expertise in bridging the work experience gap and building community driven learning ecosystems. After graduating in computer engineering and honing his skills in industry roles from junior developer to Head of Mobile Development, Temidayo leveraged his hands-on product execution and stakeholder-management experience to found Talenvo in May 2024 a platform that equips African graduates with real-world projects and matches them to global employers, now serving 1,500 core members and engaging over 10,000 learners through strategic partnerships.
Temidayo’s journey began in 2010 when he taught himself C# and built a computer based testing (CBT) application, selling it directly to students as his first taste of entrepreneurship. He then navigated Nigeria’s “experience gap,” earning ₦50,000/month roles where he deepened his understanding of product roadmaps, team leadership, and iterative development. Rejecting the rush to market, he spent four years absorbing best practices at established firms before launching Talent Nest later rebranded Talenvo to ensure he had the capacity, network, and operational rigor to scale successfully.
A pivotal insight emerged during Talenvo’s alpha and beta tests: users would not pay for isolated tools or tutorials but for an end to end ecosystem that combines hands-on practice, personalized feedback, and community advocacy. Embracing a “committee” culture, Temidayo instituted open-door channels town halls, one-on-one calls, and direct WhatsApp access—transforming early adopters into co-creators whose candid feedback drove rapid UX simplification and bug resolution ahead of the May 22, 2024 launch.
Leading a lean, mission-aligned team of engineers, product managers, and growth strategists, Temidayo emphasizes “right tool” pragmatism over technology dogma and prioritizes relentless user engagement. His concentric-circle growth model—core community → academic partners → hiring companies—has enabled Talenvo to match 10% of its core base within 14 months, while initiatives like “Open Day” pitches and bite-sized gamified tasks compress skill-acquisition into minutes, not weeks.
Temidayo’s story underscores the power of lived experience, community first leadership, and strategic partnerships in scaling a complex platform into a continent wide talent engine empowering African graduates to demonstrate real competency and connect seamlessly with the global marketplace.
More About Host, Alicia Butler Pierre:
Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc.. Her career in operations began over 25 years ago while working in various chemical plants and oil refineries. She invented the Kasennu™ framework for business infrastructure and authored, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. She is the producer of the weekly top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast with a global audience across 70+ countries.Alicia is also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and serves as the USA Chair of the G100’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The Process Excellence Network recognized her as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Operational Excellence. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s designed and optimized processes for small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits, and government organizations alike.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is a 20-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand. 
