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Kintrace Merch Has Landed!

Stuff

Where to begin? First off, a huge shoutout to the talented designers at Greyscale Design Co., led by Jide Akinlabi – they did an absolute madness with the brand identity! I still remember the excitement when I first saw the logo; it instantly stood out from the pack.

Now, seeing it on the merch, I’m convinced we made the right choice. The design just pops!

See if you can interpret the logo. There are at least two visual representations in it—Bonus points if you get the third one that recently emerged (because good things always work in 3’s 😉).

Special thanks to my friend CAN LIAO for making this happen. Your support means the world!

Also, I’m thrilled to say that 2025 is off to a flyer – exciting things are already in motion, and the Kintrace journey is just getting started. 🚀

Stay tuned for more updates from the Kintrace community. Let’s make this year unforgettable!

2024 LinkedIn Rewind by Coauthor

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In 2024, I discovered that reinvention isn’t just about changing direction – it’s about having the courage to bring your whole story.

When I shared my story about having a “toxic relationship with entrepreneurship” early this year, I didn’t expect it to become a transformation catalyst. Yet here we are, with Kintrace officially incorporated and a community of 3,000+ followers joining our mission to ensure no story is lost.

Key moments that shaped our journey:

→ Successfully completed the Communitech Startup Bootcamp
→ Spoke at the 1st UN Tourism Africa & Americas Summit
→ Advanced through the MBET program at the University of Waterloo
→ Built Kintrace from concept to incorporated company
→ Grew LinkedIn community by 150% (mostly on days when nothing seemed to happen)

Three posts that resonated deeply with our community:

“Toxic Relationship with Entrepreneurship”
On the courage to start again in a new country
“After over a decade of hard work, I was exhausted. I felt like I had little to show for it regarding success…”
https://lnkd.in/gGPtC8sR

“Loss, Love, and Legacy”
On honoring my father’s memory through purposeful work
“My father was the embodiment of integrity, compassion, and strength…”
https://lnkd.in/gGNK7MG9

“KintraceAI is Now Officially Incorporated!”
On persistence leads to momentum
“Through consistency, I managed to grow by over 150% followers this year…”
https://lnkd.in/g6AM9dpf

Looking ahead: 2025 is about scaling Kintrace’s impact while staying true to our mission – helping families preserve their stories and cultural heritage. We’re not just building a platform; we’re creating a legacy.

To every immigrant carrying their story across borders, to every entrepreneur rebuilding after setbacks, and to my father whose legacy guides every step – our stories matter. They deserve to be preserved, shared and celebrated.

Join us: www.kintrace.ai

Exciting Updates Ahead

Life

I’ve got a couple of updates to share!

✨ KintraceAI is now officially incorporated! Whoop whoop! 🎉

Yesterday, we reached out to 75 of our earliest supporters, those who’ve helped shape our product with invaluable feedback. Your input has been crucial, and we’re so grateful for your support!

Now, let’s dive into something I’ve been reflecting on: Has my LinkedIn activity paid off? 🤔

At first, I said “Yes” without hesitation, but I decided to back it up with data. Here’s what I found:

📈 I’m about to hit 3,000 followers (up from 2,994 when I started drafting this post). While that might not sound huge, over 1,200 followers joined this year alone, averaging 100 new followers per month.

What’s fascinating? Most days, I gained zero followers. But through consistent posting, I grew by 150% this year, proving that persistence pays off.

This mirrors the entrepreneurial journey, with lots of ups and downs, but with steady effort, growth is inevitable.

But beyond the numbers, LinkedIn has opened incredible doors for me:
🌍 A private conversation with the Chief Brand Officer of one of the world’s most valuable companies, a surreal moment.
🎯 Found a reliable assistant after years of struggling with recruitment. A true game-changer.

Here’s the kicker: I’m not a LinkedIn guru. I’ve simply committed to posting at least once a week (sometimes more, sometimes less). Imagine if I developed an actual strategy. That’s definitely on my 2025 to-do list.

So, yes, LinkedIn has brought both quantitative and qualitative benefits. Thank you to my 3,000+ followers for being part of this amazing journey. Here’s to the next 3,000 and beyond!

🚀 Join our waitlist if you haven’t already: www.kintrace.ai

Kintrace is Growing!

Adventure Life Stuff

At Kintrace, our journey has been anything but straightforward. What began six years ago as a simple hypothesis has evolved into an AI-driven storytelling platform redefining how families preserve their heritage.

Our path has been marked by persistence, pivots, and a deep commitment to solving a fundamental human need: keeping family stories alive. We underwent a critical reset after relocating to Canada and enrolling in the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. Our focus shifted entirely to customer validation, ensuring that our platform meets the needs of families wanting to document their unique narratives.

We’re proud to embrace an African proverb that resonates deeply with our mission: “It takes a village to raise a child.” At Kintrace, this isn’t just a saying it’s our operational philosophy. Our growth is a collective effort, supported by a community of storytellers who believe in our vision.

Recently, we experienced a significant milestone that validates our approach. A family channel, already experienced in documenting stories, chose to migrate their entire network of storytellers to our platform. This 43.33% community growth is more than a number, it’s a testament to the trust families are placing in Kintrace to preserve their most precious memories.

We’re building more than a platform. We’re creating a future where no story is lost, and where every family narrative is cherished and preserved through cutting-edge AI technology. Our commitment is simple: empower families to document, share, and protect their unique histories.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be showcasing the transformative power of Kintrace. We invite you to be part of this exciting movement. Join our waitlist and help us ensure that your family’s stories continue to inspire generations to come.

Together, we’re keeping stories alive.

Graduation Day

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After an incredible 6 weeks, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve completed the Communitech #StartupBootcamp! The journey concluded with Storytelling Pitches to an amazing panel of experts:

  • Steve Currie, VP at Graphite Ventures
  • Andrew Moss, Founder of Circle of Impact Community
  • Ellen Johnson, Founder Success Manager, Communitech
  • Matthew Robertson, Director of Capital Services, Communitech

From pitching KintraceAI at the University of Waterloo (8 pitches, 10 minutes each) to this 3-minute, no-slides challenge. I’ve grown immensely (even if I went 6 seconds over 👀).

The bootcamp was a game-changer, thanks to:
✅ Top-notch programming and curriculum
✅ Brilliant growth coaches and advisors
✅ Unparalleled support from Communitech

Special thanks to Angela Bruce and Justine Leblanc for their stellar leadership, and to my incredible cohort—you’ve set the bar high!

💡 Can’t wait for our January pitch event with family and friends. Stay tuned!

Here’s to building community and pushing boundaries. Here’s to Communitech! 🙌

Finding Inspiration: Where Stories Come to Life

Adventure Life Nature Travel

“We need stories to understand ourselves.” – Salman Rushdie

At Kintrace, we believe that inspiration for storytelling can be found in the most unexpected places. Recently, our journey of discovery led us through a day of meaningful exploration that reinforced our mission to preserve family narratives.

To commemorate our 6th anniversary, we embarked on a journey through Waterloo’s rich tapestry of stories. Our day began in a local bookstore, where we encountered Yahaya Baruwa, author of “Struggles of a Dreamer” – a powerful novel chronicling an immigrant’s journey. Baruwa’s own story is remarkable; his family emigrated to Canada in 2001 when he was 12, and his novel has resonated with over 55,000 readers.

The Waterloo Museum’s exhibition, “Waterloo From Above 200 Years of Change,” offered a profound testament to the power of preserving stories. The exhibition traced the city’s transformation from early Indigenous communities to its current vibrant landscape. One particularly moving narrative was that of Levi Carroll, a Black freedom seeker whose family history is deeply interwoven with Waterloo and Kitchener’s historical fabric.

What struck us most was the exhibition’s innovative approach to storytelling. Historic maps, aerial images, and even LEGO recreations of iconic structures demonstrated the myriad ways we can connect with and preserve our past. It’s a reminder that stories are not just about words, but about creating meaningful connections across time and space.

These experiences reaffirmed Kintrace’s core mission: building a future where no story is lost. Every family has a unique narrative waiting to be discovered, preserved, and shared.

We’re curious: Where do you find inspiration for stories? What narratives in your family or community deserve to be remembered?

At Kintrace, we’re committed to helping you capture and celebrate those irreplaceable moments that define who we are.

A Week of Loss, Love, and Legacy

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This past week was one of the most challenging times in my life, filled with both deep sorrow and unexpected moments of hope.

Sunday morning brought the heartbreaking news of my dad’s passing. Even in grief, life continued. I completed a group presentation on Tuesday, drawing strength from the values my father taught me.

   

On Wednesday, I attended Communitech Week 2. Charles Plant shared new ways to measure market sizing, and Heather Galt talked about identifying the ideal customer profile. The day’s highlight was meeting Kitchener’s mayor, Berry Vrbanovic. He told me, “I have an Ayo on my team,” referring to Ayo Owodunni. Funny enough, this was the second mayor I’ve met while wearing this turtleneck – maybe it’s my lucky outfit.

  

Yesterday, my brother achieved something incredible – earning his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and Construction Management from the University of Derby. His success reflects the hard work and sacrifice our dad always inspired in us.

Sitting here, my heart feels heavy with loss but full of gratitude. My father embodied integrity, compassion, and strength. Knowing him meant understanding what it truly means to live with purpose.

November will always be the month we lost him, but also the month we celebrate his amazing life and legacy.

Thank you for everything, Dad. ❤️

The Rise and Reality of Nigeria’s Tech Hub: A Personal Reflection

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Nigeria’s tech ecosystem has come a long way, but its journey reveals triumphs and missed opportunities. I vividly recall the excitement that swept through the tech community when Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani and Femi Longe pioneered a new era in Nigerian tech education by founding Co-creation HUB (CcHUB).

As a young design enthusiast, I was fortunate to receive an invitation to CcHUB’s inaugural hackathon. The hub’s strategic location in Yaba, nestled between two prestigious institutions – Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos – seemed perfect for nurturing innovation. The tech world took notice, with industry giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey making landmark visits, validating Nigeria’s emerging position in the global tech landscape.

The “Yaba Effect” was immediate. Startups rushed to establish their presence in the area, driving real estate prices skyward. However, this boom revealed a crucial oversight: despite the surge in business activity, there was minimal investment in sustainable infrastructure and community development.

Thirteen years later, the landscape tells a different story. Many startups that once called Yaba home have either ceased operations or relocated, leaving behind unfulfilled potential. This trajectory reflects a broader challenge in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, as highlighted in a recent feature with University of Waterloo alumnus Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.

The Path Forward

While encouraging, the occasional startup launches, funding rounds, and exits aren’t enough to drive transformational growth in Nigeria’s tech economy. The key to leaping into the future lies in our tertiary institutions stepping up to play a more significant role in tech development.

From my observations, discussions about impact and vision in Nigeria often derail pursuits of personal interests, undermining the broader mission of growth and transformation. For the Nigerian tech ecosystem to truly flourish, we need to shift our focus from individual gains to collective progress.

This isn’t just about creating another tech hub – it’s about building sustainable foundations for long-term growth. The next chapter of Nigeria’s tech story depends on our ability to learn from past experiences and prioritize institutional development over quick wins.

A Lesson from My Morning Routine

Life Stuff

My grooming routine every morning usually involves combing out my hair first, followed by applying hair mousse and finally using a Big Twist Sponge to achieve the Afro Curl Coil.

As I carried out the routine this morning, I noticed my almost 4-year-old son by my side waiting for school drop. As he watched, he had a comment for each process. For the first one, it was “Daddy I like your hair”. For the second one, “Daddy what is that and why apply so much”. I had a response ready for each of his questions up to this point, but nothing prepared me for the last one, “Daddy why are you scattering your hair?”

I mean, he just passed a compliment when he saw me comb it out, only to watch in horror as I scattered the same hair 🤦‍♂️

This brings me to the why of this post. During a recent class at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, one of the professors Dean Pacey talked about the concept of #creativedestruction. Being someone who is fascinated by paradoxes, I found this very interesting. Even more so when he shared an example of its use – during Steve’s Jobs second stint at Apple, which ultimately turned the fortunes of the company around, making it the most valuable company in the world.

The more I explored, the more I found it relatable to my professional journey up to this point – First it was Design, then Photography, then Branding, then Advertising, then Websites and Digital Marketing, then Events, then Software Development. Today I’m embracing Sales. The outcome for me is that each iteration sets you up for innovation.

So I’m curious about why more companies are not open to adopting a concept that could exponentially change their outlook. Could it be fear? comfort? or just having their head in the sand. Let me know in the comments section.

Just in case you’re wondering what I told my son, let’s just say that I told him the truth. That was his first lesson in Creative Destruction 😎

 

We Are The Stories We Tell

Adventure

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Dominican Republic, located on the island of Hispaniola. From the moment I arrived, I felt the vibrant energy of the culture around me. One of the highlights was dancing #Merengue at the Gala Dinner hosted by His Excellency David Collado, alongside Natalia Bayona. As I swayed to the rhythm, I couldn’t help but reflect on how deeply African and Latin American cultures are intertwined.

At one point, a local complimented my dancing and asked if I had been practicing. With a smile, I responded, “I just followed the rhythm.” After all, every African is born with it.

Culture is at the heart of everything we do—from the languages we speak, the art we create, and the food we savor, to the music that moves us. Tourism, at its essence, is about the exchange of these experiences, where diverse cultures blend, evolve, and adapt. During the summit, I had the privilege of connecting with remarkable individuals from across the globe, including Angola, Namibia, Morocco, Colombia, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Haiti. It was a humbling experience to see how our unique stories beautifully intersect across continents.

I was part of the panels, where I took the stage to speak on the preservation of culture and heritage, and how we’re bridging the past with the future through KintraceAI. It was an exciting moment as we explore how technology can help us keep our stories alive for future generations.