News

How a Nigerian Student’s Determination Took Him from Lagos to Silicon Valley

Published by admin on October 11th, 2025.

How a Nigerian Student’s Determination Took Him from Lagos to Silicon Valley

Oluwapelumi dada

Oluwapelumi Dada, a Nigerian student, made a bold move last year when he spotted entrepreneur and podcast host Sam Parr jogging in San Francisco. Without hesitation, Dada hopped on his bike, caught up with Parr, and pitched his innovative idea on the spot.

His concept? An app designed to streamline the job application process for students, enabling them to apply to numerous positions simultaneously. This spontaneous pitch grabbed Parr’s attention and soon went viral on social media. Today, that idea has been accepted into Y Combinator, one of the world’s leading startup accelerators.

Dada’s journey—from Lagos to Silicon Valley—is a testament to resilience and the power of dreaming big. After relocating to the U.S. for university two years ago, he devoted much of his time to developing apps and documenting his progress online.

Remarkably, last year he turned down internship offers from giants like Tesla and Dell to fully commit to his startup, initially called One Click Apply. The app simplifies the often tedious process of applying for jobs by allowing users to submit applications to multiple roles with just a single click.

Facing the challenge of not being able to afford a summer without income, Dada took a leap and joined The Residency—a hacker house in San Francisco where young founders live and build startups together. There, he convinced fellow Nigerians David Aladee and Damilola Ajayi to join him, and together they transformed the project into what is now known as Sorce, a platform often described as the ‘Tinder for jobs.’

Their early efforts attracted investment from tech backers like Hugo Thieblot and the startup collective Founders Inc., who helped fund the project’s growth. After returning to school and refining their product, they officially launched Sorce following graduation.

Despite missing the official Y Combinator application deadline, the team applied anyway—and the gamble paid off. Dada received a call from YC’s David Lieb confirming their acceptance, marking a pivotal moment in their entrepreneurial journey.

“We got a call that we got in,” Dada shared on X (formerly Twitter). “Dreams do come true.”

Sorce’s acceptance into Y Combinator signals a new era for African innovation, joining a growing group of startups founded by Africans making waves in Silicon Valley. The app addresses a major pain point for students and young professionals worldwide by simplifying the job application experience.

For Nigeria’s tech community, Dada’s story exemplifies the ambitious spirit driving the continent’s next generation of global entrepreneurs.

Originally from Oyo State, Nigeria, Dada’s educational path includes Rehoboth Peace Academy, Salem Academy, and Government Science Secondary School in Abuja. He is currently a Computer Science student at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, class of 2025.

His passion for technology started early. Introduced to computers by his mother, Temitayo Dada, and influenced by his father, Kehinde Dada—a graphic designer—Oluwapelumi dabbled in graphic design and coding from a young age. He began coding in Java at 11, took a break during early high school, then resumed web development using HTML and Wix in his later school years.

Supported by a full tuition scholarship and working as a resident assistant, Dada balances academics with his entrepreneurial ambitions.

Beyond tech, Dada is committed to community service, thanks in part to support from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) Scholarships, which help United Methodist students pursue higher education worldwide. He expressed gratitude for the scholarship, which eased his financial burden and allowed him to focus on studies and professional growth.

Looking ahead, Dada envisions transforming the recruitment industry, which he believes is “broken” and in desperate need of innovation. His mission is to make hiring simpler and more efficient for both employers and applicants, while continuing to build impactful technology that adds value globally.