From Lagos to Silicon Valley: How A Nigerian Student’s Bold Hustle Landed Him In Y-Combinator

How a Bold Pitch in San Francisco Led to Silicon Valley Success

When Oluwapelumi Dada spotted tech entrepreneur Sam Parr jogging through San Francisco, he didn’t hesitate. The Nigerian student jumped on his bike, chased down the My First Million podcast host, and delivered an impromptu pitch that would change his life forever.

That viral moment became the catalyst for Sorce, a job application platform now accepted into Y Combinator, one of the world’s most prestigious startup accelerators. Dada’s journey from Lagos to Silicon Valley is a masterclass in determination, risk-taking, and the power of believing in your vision.

The Birth of Sorce: Solving the Job Application Problem

Dada’s startup, originally called One Click Apply, addresses a pain point millions of students and young professionals face: the tedious, repetitive process of applying to multiple jobs. The platform allows users to apply to numerous positions with a single click, eliminating the frustration of entering the same information across dozens of different websites.

“The end goal is to build the standard for applying to jobs on the internet, so that anyone, anywhere, won’t have to put in the same information on 10 different websites several times,” Dada explained.

Described as “Tinder for jobs,” Sorce streamlines the entire application process, making it easier for job seekers to find opportunities while helping companies discover qualified candidates more efficiently.

A Leap of Faith: Turning Down Tesla and Dell

The path to Y Combinator required extraordinary sacrifice. Last year, Dada made a decision that shocked many: he turned down internship offers from Tesla and Dell, two of the world’s leading tech companies, to focus full-time on his startup.

Unable to afford the summer without employment, Dada took a massive leap of faith by joining The Residency, a San Francisco hacker house where young founders collaborate and build startups together.

At The Residency, he convinced fellow Nigerians David Aladee and Damilola Ajayi to abandon their own projects and join him in building what would become Sorce. Their hustle attracted early support from tech investor Hugo Thieblot and startup collective Founders Inc., who provided crucial seed funding.

The Y Combinator Breakthrough

After missing Y Combinator’s official application deadline, the Sorce team made a bold decision: they applied anyway. Weeks later, Dada received a life-changing call from YC’s David Lieb with the news that Sorce had been accepted.

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

This acceptance marks a significant milestone not just for Dada, but for African innovation as a whole. Sorce joins a growing number of African-founded startups making waves in Silicon Valley and competing on the global stage.

From Oyo State to Austin: The Early Years

Born in Oyo State, Nigeria, Dada’s journey into technology began remarkably early. He attended Rehoboth Peace Academy in Abuja for primary education, Salem Academy for middle school, and Government Science Secondary School for high school.

His introduction to technology came at age 11, sparked by his mother Temitayo Dada bringing a computer into their home. His father, Kehinde Dada, a graphic designer, taught him design skills using Photoshop and CorelDRAW.

“I learned Java when I was 11, but only for that summer,” Dada recalls. He stopped coding during early high school but resumed in 11th grade, teaching himself HTML and building websites with Wix before graduation.

Scholarship Success and Educational Journey

Dada’s academic journey led him to Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, where he earned a full tuition scholarship to study Computer Science. He worked as a resident assistant to secure free housing, demonstrating the resourcefulness that would later define his entrepreneurial career.

He also received support from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) Scholarships, which provides approximately $4 million annually to United Methodist students pursuing higher education.

“I am deeply honored to receive this scholarship. Your generous support has lightened my financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies and professional development,” Dada said of the GBHEM support.

Representing the Huston-Tillotson University class of 2025, Dada continued refining Sorce throughout his studies, officially launching the platform after graduation.

The Vision: Revolutionizing Recruitment

Dada’s ambitions extend far beyond his current success. His goal for the next five to ten years is nothing less than completely reinventing the recruitment industry.

“Recruiting today is broken and is desperately begging to be fixed,” Dada explains. “Finding applicants is hard for companies and employers. There’s a lot of work to be done in making the experience easier on both the employers and applicants.”

His broader life mission reflects the values instilled during his education: “I want to build really cool stuff and create a lot of value for the world.”

Inspiration for the Next Generation of African Founders

For Nigeria’s thriving tech ecosystem, Dada’s story represents the bold, self-starting attitude driving the next wave of African entrepreneurs. His journey demonstrates that with determination, strategic risk-taking, and unwavering belief in your vision, geographical boundaries are no barrier to global success.

From chasing entrepreneurs on a bike to securing a spot in Y Combinator, Oluwapelumi Dada’s story is just beginning. As Sorce scales and tackles the recruitment industry’s biggest challenges, the young Nigerian founder is proving that African innovation belongs on the world’s biggest stages.

About Sorce: Sorce (formerly One Click Apply) is a job application platform that allows students and young professionals to apply to multiple positions with a single click, streamlining the recruitment process for both applicants and employers.