Seye Bandele always had big dreams. As a child, he confidently declared his ambition to become a billionaire. While the journey to that goal has been anything but easy, his relentless drive, strategic mindset, and passion for technology have put him firmly on that path. Today, he is the co-founder and CEO of PaidHR, a Nigerian startup revolutionizing HR management for African businesses. Early Life & Education: Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Seye moved with his family to Ibadan at age five, where his father sought a quieter environment after retirement. With his dad mostly at home and his mum working at a bank, Seye's childhood was shaped by an academic focus, leaving little room for typical childhood activities like video games or cable TV. Instead, he found entertainment in his father's vast library, immersing himself in books that fueled a love for knowledge—a foundation that would later play a key role in his success. Inspired by tech visionaries like Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Jerry Yang, and David Filo, he set his sights on a career in technology. However, despite his plans to study computer science, he was admitted to study agricultural science at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) instead. His parents encouraged him to accept the course, but his passion for business and technology never wavered. Entrepreneurial Beginnings: While in university, Seye launched Showoff Magazine, the first campus journal at FUNAAB. He focused more on selling magazines and growing the publication than on academics, setting the foundation for his future as an entrepreneur. Career Journey: After graduating, Seye chose to complete his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja to gain exposure outside Lagos. There, he trained as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyst, working with a private consultancy on land administration software. During this period, he met Lekan Omotosho, who would later become his co-founder at PaidHR. Before founding PaidHR, Bandele was a business development, strategy, and marketing professional. He'd previously held chief of marketing roles at Konga and Yudala, and ran a marketing consulting agency alongside Chikodi Ukaiwe (now CEO of Salad Africa). During his consulting days, Bandele worked with companies like Flour Mills and, notably, HR tech competitor SeamlessHR. Founding PaidHR: While navigating corporate life, Seye and Lekan continued to develop software applications for government agencies, including the Abia State GIS system, which remains in use today. These experiences sharpened his ability to identify gaps in business operations particularly in HR and employee management which led to the birth of PaidHR. In 2020, still running his consulting gig, Bandele began work on PaidHR. Together with his co-founder, Omotosho, they spent about three months studying various global HR software companies—Gusto, Swingvy, and Zenitz—before deciding on their product direction. The first version of PaidHR was a direct copy of Gusto, the YC-backed San Francisco-based company that provides cloud-based payroll, benefits, and human resource management software. PaidHR's Growth: In July 2024, Seye and Lekan rebranded their HR software from Pade HCM to PaidHR, focusing on streamlining HR processes, payroll management, and employee benefits. The company quickly gained traction, attracting businesses looking for efficient ways to manage their workforce. PaidHR has grown into a leading HR solutions provider in Nigeria, currently processing payroll for over 250 companies and impacting the lives of around 25,000 employees. Seye has ensured that the company maintains an impressive 5% employee attrition rate, demonstrating his commitment to effective people management. PaidHR's first angel check was $5,000 from Bandele's friend. He would get another $5,000 from another friend. And yet another friend from high school would connect him to the lead investor for their $500,000 pre-seed round. By the end of 2022, PaidHR had 35 customers and $5,000 in monthly recurring revenue and had processed ₦7.24 billion in salaries. In June 2025, PaidHR raised a $1.8 million seed round led by Accion Venture Lab, bringing total funding raised to $2.3 million. The startup is now present in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, serving nearly 300 businesses. Personal Values: Despite his demanding career, Seye remains deeply committed to self-improvement and impact. He is passionate about education, believing that Africa's future depends on equipping young people with the right knowledge and skills. He actively supports initiatives that bridge the education gap, ensuring that more young Africans gain access to quality learning opportunities. He is married with two kids and loves to keep his family life private.