How We Became Co-Founders
I arrive at Bamidele’s house. On his laptop is a conversation with Claude. It is Saturday, April 25th, but he’s planning for May. He’s documenting plans for his AI automation agency.
He’s not new at this. He’s already built things. Not just products — he’s executed an AI workflow that produces a few hundred thousand views on his YouTube channel. He wants to start automating the same thing for others, among other things.
I’m also working. I’m part of the Tangent accelerator by Grey Light Capital. The program has stretched my thinking about Poysis. I’m refining the ICPs and User Personas so I can start talking to more users. It dawns on me, I need a co-founder.
I say it out loud, in the room with Bamidele. I don’t make him an offer, but he understands what I mean. We continue to discuss other matters. Talking stages, chess, family, savings, and so on. I’m actually in a bad state emotionally, due to a failed romance. We take a long walk together, and he manages to cheer me up.
On my way back home, he raises the co-founder topic. I tell him I’m open to him being a co-founder. I get home that night, and we seal the deal over WhatsApp. He commits to making this his major pursuit (outside of his job).
That’s how we became co-founders. But there are many reasons I found him worthy of this job. So I’ll share a few anecdotes that prove just how worthy he is.
The Chess Moment
One time, I was struggling to break past 700 Elo on chess.com. He was rated 970 at the time, and opponents at that level should be very difficult for me to beat. He gives me his phone, tells me to play one of his opponents. And when I win, he says, “If you could beat these 900s, you can get past 700.”
The Integrity of a Man Who Didn’t Have To
When we first met, he had more than one job. One day, he said, “Armstrong, I’m going to quit one of my jobs. My main gig, this man relies on me to get this project over the line. I don’t want to dilute my focus because I want to deliver excellent work.” He didn’t have to quit the other job, as it was a low-energy role where he could mostly coast. But he’s a man of such integrity and focus that he refused to give his client less than they deserve.
The Reader Who Actually Read
When I first pivoted from Product Scout to Poysis, it was because I reasoned that the same primitives that power Product Scout could be repackaged into a no-code tool that becomes industry-agnostic. It felt like the bigger play, so I pivoted. I then wrote a long essay documenting how this could eventually help transition the world from search engines to discovery engines. It was quite dense and theoretical. I sent it to a few friends, knowing most wouldn’t really understand it. I knew they wouldn’t be patient enough to read it. Bamidele proved me wrong. Not only did he understand what I was saying, but he also asked thoughtful questions.
No Scores Kept
This one is not a single story, but a couple of scenarios that show a pattern. We first went out together on a Sunday. It was to Radisson Blu, Ikeja, to play chess, talk, and work on our individual products. The first time, I invited, so I paid for most of what we did. The next Sunday, we went again, and he insisted on paying for everything. Every time we go out, I have no anxiety wondering if I should pay or split the bill. Anyone pays, knowing that the other guy would do the same. No scores are kept.
There are lots of reasons I admire Bamidele. His integrity. His refusal to slander other people. His gracious nature. His ability to call me out. His intellect. His love and responsibility towards his family, and a lot more.
He’s not just a ruthless executor. He’s a good man. And I want to build with good men.