Some journeys are meticulously planned. Others begin with a single unexpected spark, and change everything.

For Alice Arimoro, that spark came during her NYSC year when a simple task led her down a path she never imagined. With no background in computer science and a degree in English, Alice didn’t seem like your typical tech founder. But what she lacked in convention, she made up for in curiosity, purpose, and heart.

Today, she is the powerhouse behind Inkio Web Studio and Jobapay AI, two groundbreaking platforms transforming how African businesses and homeowners experience digital innovation. Her work doesn’t just create sleek websites or cutting-edge AI tools, it builds economic pathways, inspires future tech leaders, and bridges a long-standing digital divide.

In this interview, Alice opens up about her unplanned but powerful leap into tech, the mission behind her companies, and how she’s helping shape a future where African businesses and talents thrive globally.

CA: Alice, you’ve played a key role in helping African businesses embrace digital transformation. Can you take us back to where your tech journey began, and what sparked your passion for building Inkio Web Studio?

Alice: Thank you for this thoughtful question. My journey into tech started in the most unplanned way. I studied English at the University of Ibadan and didn’t see myself working in technology until my NYSC year. My younger brother paid me to help upload a client’s course content on a website. I had no clue how to at the time, but I figured it out, and something clicked. That simple task lit a spark. I started learning on my own. Over time, I became fascinated with how digital tools could help small businesses grow and compete.

Coming from an English Language background, I understood the power of storytelling and communication. When I started exploring web development, I realized that building websites wasn’t just about code, it was about translating a business’s story into a digital experience that resonates with their audience. That’s when everything clicked for me.

Inkio Web Studio was born from my belief that every African business, regardless of size or budget, deserves a digital presence that competes globally. I wanted to bridge that gap between brilliant business ideas and the digital platforms that could scale them.

CA: That’s such a powerful and purpose-driven origin. Breaking into the tech space and founding Inkio Web Studio is no small feat. What was your journey like, and were there any key mentors or moments that shaped your path into web development and entrepreneurship?

Alice: My journey wasn’t linear, and that’s what made it beautiful. I didn’t have a computer science degree or come from a traditionally technical background, which initially felt like a disadvantage. But I soon realized that my foundation gave me something unique, the ability to understand user experience from a communication perspective.

I didn’t have one singular mentor, but I was fortunate to be surrounded by inspiring women in tech who showed me that success was possible. Watching other Nigerian women build technology companies gave me the courage to believe I could do the same. The tech community here, especially the women-led initiatives, became an informal mentorship network that kept me grounded and motivated.

One pivotal moment was landing my first client who trusted me despite my relatively new presence in the space. Their success became my success, and that validation gave me the confidence to think bigger about what Inkio could become.

CA: That must have been incredibly affirming. Now, digital innovation moves fast and comes with its own pressures. What challenges did you face building tech-driven platforms like Inkio and Jobapay AI, and how did you push through them?

Alice: The technical challenges were obvious, staying current with rapidly evolving technologies, ensuring scalability, and managing development costs, but the real challenges were often more nuanced.

One major hurdle was earning credibility in a space where many clients expected to work with large, established agencies. As a young woman building a web studio, I had to prove my expertise repeatedly. I pushed through by letting my work speak for itself and building a portfolio that showcased real impact, not just pretty designs.

With Jobapay AI, the challenge is different but equally complex. We’re not just building technology; we’re creating a trusted ecosystem where homeowners feel safe inviting professionals into their homes. That requires solving for trust, quality assurance, and cultural nuances.

The way I navigate these challenges is by staying obsessively focused on the problem we’re solving. That human element keeps me grounded and solution-oriented.

CA: That “human element” really shines through in your work. Your work have always been rooted in impact. What kept you going, especially during the early, uncertain days?

Alice: Honestly? Necessity. I needed to make a living. But beyond that, I saw how much value I was creating. I remember one of my early clients, a fashion designer who was selling beautiful pieces but struggling online. After we built her e-commerce platform, her sales doubled within months. She was able to hire additional seamstresses and expand her product line. That’s when I truly understood that I wasn’t just building websites, I was building pathways to economic empowerment.

What also kept me going was witnessing the untapped potential across Africa. I knew that with the right digital tools, African businesses could compete anywhere in the world. That vision of contributing to Africa’s digital renaissance sustained me through the uncertainty.

There’s something powerful about knowing your work has ripple effects, that the business you help today might employ ten people tomorrow, or inspire another entrepreneur to start their own venture.

CA: That’s deeply inspiring. Let’s talk about your background and experience, how have they influenced the way you think about web strategy and tech for African businesses?

Alice: My background has been surprisingly foundational to how I approach technology. I understand that effective web strategy isn’t just about functionality, it’s about narrative, user journey, and emotional connection. Before I develop any website, I spend time understanding the story a business wants to tell and the experience they want to create.

This approach has taught me to see web development as communication design. Every element on a website should serve the larger narrative and guide users toward meaningful action. This perspective helps me create digital solutions that don’t just look good but actually drive business results.

Working specifically with African businesses has also taught me the importance of cultural context in digital strategy. What works in the US might not work in Nigeria, and what resonates with Gen Z entrepreneurs might not connect with established business owners. I’ve learned to build flexibility and cultural sensitivity into every project.

My ongoing software engineering studies keep me technically sharp, but my liberal arts foundation keeps me human-centered. That combination allows me to build technology that feels intuitive and serves real people solving real problems.

CA: That’s truly powerful. You’ve trained and mentored aspiring designers and freelancers while championing women in tech. How does it feel knowing your work is opening doors for the next generation?

Alice: It feels deeply fulfilling. Every time I mentor or train someone, especially young women, I’m reminded of my own journey, the uncertainty, the doubt, and then the transformation that happens when someone realizes they can do this.

What moves me most is seeing young women realize they belong in tech spaces. Many come to me thinking they need to choose between being feminine and being technical, or believing they’re not “math-minded” enough for technology. Showing them that there are multiple pathways into tech, and that their unique perspectives make them stronger developers and entrepreneurs is incredibly rewarding.

CA: You’re not just creating platforms, you’re helping reshape the future. What drives your commitment to mentoring, capacity building, and women’s participation in tech?

Alice: My commitment stems from a deep belief that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. I’ve seen brilliant minds go untapped simply because they didn’t have access to the right resources, networks, or encouragement. That’s a loss we can’t afford, especially in Africa where we need every talented person contributing to our development.

Women’s participation in tech is particularly crucial because we bring different perspectives to problem-solving. When women are involved in designing technology, we create solutions that serve broader populations. We think about safety, accessibility, and social impact in ways that make technology more inclusive.

But beyond the business case, there’s a moral imperative here. Technology is reshaping every aspect of how we live and work. If women, who make up half our population, are not active participants in building this future, we’re essentially allowing others to design our world for us. That’s unacceptable.

My volunteer work with organizations like the International Association for Democracy and Carifika Africa has reinforced my understanding that economic empowerment and technological inclusion are deeply connected to broader issues of governance and development. When we build tech capacity, especially among women, we’re building a foundation for more equitable and prosperous societies.

CA: Looking ahead, what’s next for you? Any exciting projects or milestones on the horizon?

Alice: Jobapay AI is definitely a major focus right now. We’re in the exciting early stages of building something that could truly transform how people access home services across Africa. The potential to create thousands of jobs while solving a real everyday problem has me incredibly energized.

I’m also working on expanding Inkio’s impact beyond individual client work. We’re developing training programs and digital resources that can help more businesses DIY their digital transformation. The goal is to democratize access to quality web strategy knowledge.

Looking ahead, I see myself playing a larger role in shaping policy conversations around digital inclusion and entrepreneurship support. My volunteer work has shown me how important it is to have technologists involved in governance discussions, especially as technology becomes more central to economic development. I want to create the comprehensive support system I wish I’d had when I was starting out.

CA: Wow! That’s incredibly exciting. For those still learning, what’s one misconception about digital strategy or building platforms that you wish more people understood?

Alice: The biggest misconception is that digital strategy is primarily about the technology itself. In reality, successful digital strategy is about understanding human behavior and business objectives first, then using technology as the tool to bridge that gap.

Another misconception is that digital transformation is a one-time project rather than an ongoing process. Businesses will build a website and think they’re done, not realizing that digital success requires continuous optimization, content updates, and adaptation to changing user needs and market conditions.

For African businesses specifically, there’s often an assumption that what works internationally will automatically work locally. But effective digital strategy must account for local internet speeds, payment preferences, cultural communication styles, and user behavior patterns.

The key is always starting with strategy before technology, and never losing sight of the human beings you’re trying to serve.

CA: Finally, for young Africans dreaming of launching a digital business or breaking into tech, what’s one piece of advice you’d offer them?

Alice: My advice is to identify a real problem you’re passionate about solving, preferably one you’ve experienced yourself, and start building a solution, even if it’s imperfect. The keyword is “real”. Don’t build something just because it’s technically interesting; build something because people actually need it.

Use the resources available to you. Africa has incredible online learning platforms, tech communities, and startup support programs. Take advantage of free courses, join developer communities, attend tech meetups. The knowledge and networks you need are more accessible than ever before.

And remember, every expert was once a beginner. Every successful entrepreneur started with uncertainty and fear. What separates those who succeed from those who don’t is the willingness to start despite the uncertainty and to keep learning and adapting along the way.

Your background, your experiences, your perspective, these aren’t limitations, they’re your competitive advantages. Use them.