Dapo Kolawole’s journey as an entrepreneur and product development engineer is rooted in both heritage and hands-on experience. Entrepreneurship runs deep in his family. Both of his grandfathers were entrepreneurs in Nigeria, one a cocoa farmer building value from the land, and the other a Yamaha motorcycle parts dealer operating a trade-based business grounded in trust and consistency. Growing up, Dapo worked in his mother’s restaurant, where he saw firsthand what it takes to run a business day to day, from serving customers to managing operations. Those early experiences shaped his understanding of ownership, responsibility, and value creation.

That foundation carried into his own path. His first real business began at the Toronto Harborfront Queen’s Quay Artisan Market, where he sold handcrafted jewelry and artwork and learned how to price products, tell a story, and connect directly with customers. He later founded a web design company, Plus5technologies, strengthening his skills in digital product creation and client-focused problem solving. Dapo and his wife later co-founded Citispoon, a dining app that helps people make faster dining decisions while enabling restaurants to reach nearby guests through a meaningful local advertising experience. Years later, a simple insight into the untapped value of everyday furniture led to Roomii, where Dapo now serves as Founder and CEO, building practical, human-centered solutions that help people unlock value from what they already own.