This interview is based on a conversation with the CEO and co-founder of Lingtec.AI, Abayomi Falansa, one of a growing number of entrepreneurs operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and language technology in Africa. Business Insider Africa has independently verified his professional background.
- Abayomi’s journey spans physics education, product management, and global AI team experiences.
- Abayomi reflected on his growth, noting his salary rose from ₦72,000 in 2019 to $2,000 within four years.
- Falansa encourages individuals from non-tech backgrounds to explore opportunities in AI, highlighting language roles as particularly valuable.
In this interview session with Business Insider Africa, Falansa traces his journey from a background in physics education to an internship at a major news app, and ultimately to becoming a sought-after founder in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
While many startups in the AI space are driven by buzzwords and hype, Falansa maintains a focus on traction and real-world impact. “We’re focused on what’s real,” he said, referencing clients like Uber and TikTok as early validation of Lingtec.AI’s approach.
He sees the company’s position—working at the nexus of African linguistics and AI innovation—as both rare and globally relevant.
Early career
Before co-founding Lingtec.AI, Abayomi cut his teeth in product management, beginning as an intern at a News app and rising to product operations manager roles at companies like Phoenix browser and Koo app.
This experience, particularly in localizing foreign apps for Nigerian users, proved crucial. It taught him how to define features, manage engineering teams, and, most importantly, take responsibility—skills that would later shape his entrepreneurial path.
Abayomi doesn’t shy away from acknowledging how often he has been underestimated in his career. But rather than viewing it as a disadvantage, he considers it a source of strategic strength.
One of his major career breaks came serendipitously via a Twitter exchange with his mentor, which led to a remote job at VeerOne AI (formerly BNN) without a formal interview.
There, he worked on a globally distributed team and, as the only Black person on the tech team, gained invaluable insights into the global AI landscape.
That global exposure sparked the idea behind Lingtec.AI. Observing the stark underrepresentation of African and Asian languages in AI datasets, Abayomi saw an opportunity to address a critical gap.
Of course, building a startup in Nigeria is no easy feat.
Asked how he navigates the country’s difficult terrain, Abayomi pointed to the “audacity” of Nigerians—a collective grit that has produced many of Africa’s unicorn startups despite overwhelming infrastructural challenges.
He believes that with consistency, high-quality output, and a refusal to give up, Nigerian founders can continue to punch above their weight in the global market.
Financial growth
Financially, Lingtec.AI is already turning heads. Its largest single deal to date was worth $25,000, with a healthy $15,000 profit margin.
Abayomi shared a personal reflection on growth—his salary journey from ₦72,000 in 2019 to $2,000 four years later—reflecting how far he’s come.
On the sensitive issue of fund management, especially in an ecosystem still gaining maturity, Abayomi is candid. He warns against reckless spending and encourages delayed gratification, emphasizing that startup funds should serve the business, not personal lifestyles.
While he acknowledges that fund mismanagement exists, he believes such cases are exceptions, not the norm.
Advice for new entrants in tech
For students and professionals from non-tech backgrounds interested in AI and innovation, Abayomi offers encouragement grounded in experience.
A physics education graduate himself, he stresses that today’s digital economy is borderless and increasingly merit-based. While tech requires effort and consistency, the barrier to entry is lower than ever.
And for those unsure of where to begin, Abayomi sees language-related roles in AI as an emerging goldmine, especially for those fluent in African languages.
