At 18 years old, Shegun moved to Birmingham, Alabama from Lagos, Nigeria to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Two decades after arriving as a teenage student immigrant, he sold Therapy Brands for $1.25B — one of the largest exits in Alabama history.
A Story of Resiliency and Resourcefulness
With help from his parents, credit cards, paid internships, side gigs, and the goodwill of others, Shegun earned his degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). His wife, Mary, encouraged him to take a bet — and using all of their savings he founded what would eventually become Therapy Brands. His experience served as the inspiration for his family’s commitment to education through their scholarship endowments that support underprivileged students.
Shegun is a recipient of EY Entrepreneur of the Year and several other awards, including the Aspen Global Institute’s Henry Crown Fellowship. Today, he runs HVL as a continuation of his “idea lab” approach and serves as CEO of Copysmith AI, one of HVL’s first ventures. Shegun lives in Birmingham, with his wife Mary, and their four children.
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“Shegun Otulana is a been-there-done-that SaaS CEO who will provide candid feedback and advice. I know personally that he’s launching this service due to his deep passion for coaching and seeing others succeed.”
– Dave Gray, CEO, Stoneybrook Ventures
Background
Shegun’s bootstrapped approach to building a startup is as unconventional as it is inspiring. His story proves that startup success isn’t about what zip code you live in, the funds you raise, or the people you know. It’s about being resourceful, continually growing your skillsets, and having a builder’s mindset.
Speaking
Shegun is an inspiring keynote speaker with a background that enables him to speak on a variety of startup topics. Through his talks, he encourages others to embrace the entrepreneurial journey with determination, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from every experience.