Calendly: The $3 Billion Scheduling Platform Quietly Taking The Business World By Storm | Forbes
Nine years ago, Tope Awotona started Calendly, pouring his life savings of $200,000 into it and later quitting his job selling software for EMC. Today, the company has 10 million users and counts Lyft, Ancestry.com, Indiana University and La-Z-Boy among its customers. Revenue last year passed $100 million, double what it booked the previous year. It could double again this year.
The company, which was founded in Atlanta but no longer has any physical offices, has been profitable since 2016. Last year it raised $350 million in funding from OpenView Venture Partners and Iconiq Capital at a price that values the business at $3 billion. That means Awotona’s majority stake is worth at least $1.4 billion, after the 10% discount that Forbes applies to shares of all private companies. Awotona is one of just two Black tech billionaires in the United States, along with David Steward, the 70-year-old founder of Missouri-based IT provider World Wide Technology. “Tope could be the most successful African-American tech entrepreneur of his generation,” says David Cummings, founder of Atlanta Ventures, which led a $550,000 seed investment in Calendly seven years ago.
Calendly doesn’t have the scheduling business to itself. Square, Microsoft and Zurich-based Doodle offer competing products. But Calendly has gained traction with its sleek, consumer-friendly design and its freemium model that lets it gain paying customers with no marketing.
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Пікірлер: 428
Nigeria to the world. Im so inspired 💪
@Josh-pf9rs
2 жыл бұрын
So inspired ✨️ 🙌
@festusighalo
2 жыл бұрын
More to come... Watch out for this Space
@Good_Boy7
2 жыл бұрын
Yes o! Tayo, you sabi our resourcefulness if given the opportunity.
@emmanuelben1393
2 жыл бұрын
I have been using calendly as a nigerian and didn't even know it was built by one of our own. this is really inspiring.
@william_SMMA
2 жыл бұрын
Yes ooooo I've always used the free version but I'm going pro now This is so inspiring
I have been using calendly as a nigerian and didn't even know it was built by one of our own. this is really inspiring.
@kaden1199
6 ай бұрын
Why is it so inspiring for it to be built by one of “your own” thrrr 249 million of u
Black, self-funded what's not to love. Good to see another black billionaires who didn't have to do it with entertainment.
@aroaris843
2 жыл бұрын
Yep. Exactly. Very inspirational
@sandrap.7388
2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely
@blowme5258
2 жыл бұрын
Why couldn't he do it in Nigeria?
@compton8301
2 жыл бұрын
@@blowme5258 He wanted to show Americans how to innovate.
@blowme5258
2 жыл бұрын
@@compton8301 Americans where innovating long before you came along, in fact his achievements are only possible because he is in America, a white country.
All Nigerians🇳🇬 watching this right now, let’s gather here and show some love ❤️
@aster5031
2 жыл бұрын
👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
@suddenstutter
2 жыл бұрын
Lame af
@aster5031
2 жыл бұрын
@enis Lurch why do you hate us so much? Even as we innovate and improve you hate...
@sophiaatn5339
2 жыл бұрын
@enis Lurch why? We want to age well
I’ve used Calendly since early days and recommend it to all my clients. I love it. It was nice to “meet” the company founder in this video and hear his story. Now I like to product even more:)
As a Nigerian and recent alumna of the University of Georgia, I am so proud!
I'm soo happy to see my African doing so many positive things in the world👋🏾 in the next coming decades we are going to see hundreds of Africans billionaires in the world
@antnam4406
2 жыл бұрын
It says Nigerian! You guys like to latch on when it's positive but distance when it's negative when it comes to Nigeria.
@DirtyEdon
2 жыл бұрын
@@antnam4406 okay are Nigerians not Africans?
@dekev7503
2 жыл бұрын
@@DirtyEdon @antman is right. If its positive news, we're "all Africans", if it's negative news, it's Nigerians
@DirtyEdon
2 жыл бұрын
@@dekev7503 I don't even do that lmfao what does that have to do with me? I always show love to my Nigerians and Africans period
@dekev7503
2 жыл бұрын
@@DirtyEdon your love is well received brother. We're just tired of the way other Africans are quick to distance themselves from us when times get rough but their quick to claim us when things are good.
He funded from his own money!” Very important to acknowledge because a lot of people including the banks will not invest in a Black Man entrepreneur.
@buravan1512
2 жыл бұрын
bruh, it's very difficult to get investors... they think you'll fail, let's say that a Black man fail... he has right to fail just like a White man can fail.
@kimeli
2 жыл бұрын
even black banks?
@Entergalactic
2 жыл бұрын
@@kimeli they don’t worth that much though
@kimeli
2 жыл бұрын
@@Entergalactic does it matter?
This makes me even prouder to be Nigerian!!! 🇳🇬
@Dakingsnake
2 жыл бұрын
Stop leaving. Its the second poorest country in the world. If you’re successful bring your success back home
@aster5031
2 жыл бұрын
👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
@nurudeen2881
2 жыл бұрын
🇬🇭
@ebensales3496
2 жыл бұрын
We Nigerians
@gundamt437
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dakingsnake there are successful businesses in Nigeria, you obviously have to watch the African KZread video section to hear about them. Besides for that, many companies in America, have origins with immigrants. So not sure why you so salty
Nigerian people are incredibly hard working Kamaru Usman, this guy, the magician kid, etc
Thanks Tope! I had a client appointment this morning scheduled on your software.
We started using calendly last year in our medical recruitment business in order to give over control to our candidates of our calendar in order to allow them schedule in a call at a time that suits their business days. It has transformed our business. Highly recommend! Awesome origin story!
@william_SMMA
2 жыл бұрын
Spot on The feature where you can set your availability just makes it so smooth
@seunakinola27
2 жыл бұрын
Medical recruitment business...sounds great. I would love to know more about that. Good stuff giving candidates a level of choice
Nigerians are so hardworking, no matter where we find ourselves, we're gonna make it. We got success in our blood😁
@buravan1512
2 жыл бұрын
better talk less, compared to a sheer size of Nigerian population... Nigeria doesn't even have Talents to speak of... 206 million, you dont even make a car engine from scratch, ar even a radio let alone a TV set or generator, medicine. keep quite, the journey is still long.
@BrianKabonyo
9 ай бұрын
Maybe. Or you are just many, populationwise?
My paternal grandmother's ancestors are from Nigeria🤗 I'm claiming Tope as my own!! I've been using calendly for a few years now, so happy to learn it's black owned✊🏾
I need this at work ASAP. Getting everyone to agree on a time is always a nightmare.
💪🏾💪🏾 if government was better Nigeria could be really something. That place is stuffed full of driven talented people.
@opekatakata1424
2 жыл бұрын
If government were working, after a while, the talents will dry up. Like he said, the resourcefulness of Nigerians stems out of the fact that the environment is harsh. You're forced to be resourceful. Getting to an environment like that in the west just makes you shine.
@NigerianKitchen
2 жыл бұрын
@@opekatakata1424 I see your point. I would still say though that if you compare with other nations around the continent with troubled governments people will still speak about "those Nigerians" for good or for bad.
@william_SMMA
2 жыл бұрын
@@opekatakata1424 nah not really
@free22
2 жыл бұрын
@@opekatakata1424 Calendly was started in the US for a reason. If what you are saying were true, as soon as he moved to the US where life was easier, this guy would have just spent his day in front of the TV instead of starting a company. If Nigeria were to remove barriers, the entrepreneurial culture would really shine.
I love Calendly so much. It's just perfect. Easy to use, simple, clean. Perfect!
Wow I didn't know Calendly was started by a Nigerian. Guess I'll be supporting.
I love this in ways words cannot sufficiently express. I appreciate it so much and it encourages me to learn and move forward in my own ventures like Tope Awotona. Thank you big brother Tope.
Very inspiring! Congrats to him!
Landlord’s in Manhattan use calendly to set up tours. Its a good company, this company was a right time right place situation. Covid gave this life.
I learned system designed through calendly. It is mind-blowingly amazing.
Very impressed. Well done, keep going.
Google looking forward to crushing smaller startups like calendly, the startup community will not let it happen.
To anyone watching this... GIVE YOUR BEST THIS WEEK FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO! 💪🔥
Proudly Nigerian!
Big up brother.
This technology makes my life so much easier!
I wish to be successful and live a better life, I hear people grabbing multi-figures on the market in this crazy days, I've tried but failed please any advice or financial growth adviser. Would really appreciate 🙏
@binagital5665
2 жыл бұрын
Mr Thomas Alex is simply the answer to investor's prayers
@binagital5665
2 жыл бұрын
His tele gram handle 👇👇
@binagital5665
2 жыл бұрын
At Trademarksss
@binagital5665
2 жыл бұрын
I highly recommend him 👆👆
@DinhNguyen-lq9rf
2 жыл бұрын
One of the best secret I have got in the market is the realization of a professional skills, with it no need to pass through the stress of self trading to avoid losses, thanks to Thomas Alex for improving my portfolios.
Love this! #NeedMoreEntrepreneurs
Wow! Very inspiring! Congratulations Tope Awotona!
Nigerian gang gang!
Very inspiring! I love stories like this.
I'm binging your videos as I await new ones and I'm reminded of how much I love your mom & her attitude!
Nigeria truly to the world!!!
My Professors use calendly all the time I am amazed at how simple yet effective it is
Super inspirational, salute to this man and his vision and dream
Incredible story..Sooo inspiring!
RIP to Dad. I’m sure he is proud as we all are. Calendly is a superb product. It still irks me how folks pronounce your name. If they only knew the meaning.
@schumzy
2 жыл бұрын
Dude, your video's inspired me to learn to fly as a blackman. And yeah, what a story from this dude. Next level
I once tried had the idea to launch a calendly competitor. Than I saw how much funding Calendly had received. My idea stopped that day, no way to compete against that. Proud of this man!
@newempire158
2 жыл бұрын
Lol still do it though, we have this life let us not suffer for nothing.
I’m so inspired 🇳🇬
Congrats. Another brother on the billionaire list. I hold he holds or keeps his company. I'm sure he will sell to the right buyer for the right offer. Build to sell.
@amjds1341
2 жыл бұрын
Lol
@yourmomshouse0486
2 жыл бұрын
you folks are embarrassing
@pria7538
2 жыл бұрын
I hope not.
@Entergalactic
2 жыл бұрын
Nopeee
Wild I just signed up for this last week
Calendly has changed my life!
Inspirational story and a great product!
Thank you being such an inspiration.
Great stuff...
So inspiring
Amazing stuff!
Love it love it love it!! So inspiring
Powerful story brother 🎈🎈🎊🎊🎉🎉🙏🙏
Beautiful story, so inspiring.
The Inspiration I needed today!
Love this! 🏆
Absolutely 💯
One word - inspiring
Congratulations🎊😊
Love using calendy to book my social media clients!
Truely inspiring…
Love his story!!!🥳🥳🥳
Good for you, brother.
Great 👍
Love to see it.
Congrats dude
Inspiring! Now I need to get my SAAS CRM which has a robust scheduling software out to the Real Estate niche. Help the world and help yourself.
@elena7659
Жыл бұрын
What’s SAAS CRM?
@MichaelScarchilli-M4Marketing
Жыл бұрын
@@elena7659 Software as a Service ... Customer Relationship Management a software such as Calendly
Love this app
congrats indeed
Time is the only asset everyone has it equally, and most successful people only invest time and get rich and successful. ..
They claimed he is African American, let him be the underpants bomber guy, and he will be tagged Nigerian. This is a guy who legit was born in Nigeria. Just like Elon Musk was born in South Africa. The richest man in the world is from Africa.
@BoogieDownShoes2
2 жыл бұрын
we are all from africa brother ✊🏾
@mitch6160
2 жыл бұрын
The richest man in the world took his intellect and his money out of that continent.
nice work
AWESOME!!
Inspiring
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼That’s awesome!!
Oh wow, I'm sticking with calendly for life
*Change the narrative* : our resourcefulness is a result of cultural dynamism and ambition ethic, not "economic and political instability". Nigerians still outperform in the United States precisely because of less economic/political instability than back home. Bangladesh and Pakistan together have close to 400 million people and have challenges, and together may count one Forbes billionaire in total (Khan). Nigeria has variously had anywhere from 3 to 6 over the past decade and now counts a U.S. based Nigerian (and frankly as a Nigerian this is a relatively underwhelming number if you ask me). Point is, our success is due to our culture, not environmental circumstance so please embrace this :)
This is awesome
🙌🏽 🙌🏽 🙌🏽
This is how it's done. Ignore the people who tell you you're a victim.
@Entergalactic
2 жыл бұрын
Please stfu they are many African tech founders i am sure you don’t know, and Africans have never claimed to be victims.
@raferaustin1627
Жыл бұрын
Well said
i love calendly!
I’m very impressed 🙂
*bows in respect*
Smart, innovative, and handsome too. Well... made my day.
Nice video!! Very engage from beginning to end. Nevertheless business and investment are the easiest way to make money irrespective of which part make it to oval office.
@kanuemma1008
2 жыл бұрын
Investing in cryptocurrency is the best way of getting ahead to build wealth, investing remains a priority. The cryptocurrency market has plenty of opportunities to earn a decent payouts, with the right skills and proper understanding of how the market works, I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life...........
@roseking4386
2 жыл бұрын
Cryptocurrency is the most profitable investment online business opportunity if only you trade with a professional broker
@zenebebiracial9235
2 жыл бұрын
How do I get a professional broker I have been wasting my time tradlng on my own and blowing up my account
@lakijude374
2 жыл бұрын
if you wanna earn well on crypto, I personally intro you to Forex Royale trade financial institution. Royale has always been the best in that institute, i have been working with them for months
@Forex_trade3..
2 жыл бұрын
How do you earn alot for money in this bitcoin mining
Nice.
This guy is amazing yo
Love it
Cool dude
She didn't even try to say his name correctly 😄🙄😄
i didn't know that calendly's founder is a black man. mad respect! very smart n well spoken too. but the thing that i respect abt him most is the fact that he didn't flex that he is a black entrepreneurial billionaire even though prbably he is richer than jay z n dr dre combined
@Dakingsnake
2 жыл бұрын
Nigerian. Let him own his ethnicity and freedom
@kevingarris198
2 жыл бұрын
Nope, his estimated worth is 'only" 1.4 billion according to this report; roughly equivalent to theirs respectively.
@Kayodoms
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dakingsnake so he’s not black?
@thisandthat1523
2 жыл бұрын
@@Dakingsnake the rest of you are busy hawking that famous powder and getting locked up globally. Boko haram
@blokchainjunky
2 жыл бұрын
@Kayodoms There is a reason why we indicate the origin of every successful Nigerian person. Whenever a Nigeria commits crime, all black race groups always make sure the origin of the culprit is known and highlighted, so therefore we also make sure the origin of every successful Nigerian is known and highlighted . We will not use African or whatever. cheers.
Congrats to Tope.
I'm all for black success stories. I would never want to do something like this, but it's good he has found success with this venture.
@Entergalactic
2 жыл бұрын
No one cares
Lovely.
Very inspiring i'll be the next #Laxis Electronic
I love my Calendly!
It’s great to see my fellow Africans succeeding. There’s still hope for the rest of us out here as well.😁😁
Great software
Clapping!
10/10
omo lets go
Africa to the world ...