Michael Ogunsanya
Title: CEO and Co-founder of MindStand Technologies
Age: 23
A team of young entrepreneurs, led by Michael Ogunsanya, is aiming to take on some major, top-of-mind societal and workplace issues with their technology company.
MindStand Technologies was launched in 2019 with the focus of using artificial intelligence to help companies detect and prevent hate speech, harassment, sexual misconduct and other problematic language in online communications channels. The startup has participated in multiple accelerators, raised about $220,000 from friends and family, pitch competition and the Maryland Technology Development Corp., and is looking to confirm its first clients this year.
The company’s goal is to help build more inclusive workplaces and communities, a mission Ogunsanya takes very personally. As, he says, do his fellow co-founders Eric Solender and Nikita Wootten, whom Ogunsanya says have become more like his brothers.
Did you always know you wanted to try and build your own business?
Yes, when I was in elementary school, I saw the hard work and sacrifice both my parents contributed to launching their own successful businesses. My mother, launching two successful pediatric clinics, and my father, involved in the oil and gas business in Nigeria. My mother and father instilled in me the belief that if I work hard, anything is possible and they gave me the blueprints to build and galvanize successful businesses.
Your company is aiming to tackle some significant, timely issues such as hate speech and online harassment. Why are these important to you and your team?
I think our team was destined to create MindStand. As a college freshman intern, I experienced workplace discrimination firsthand when an, initially well-intentioned, supervisor called me a thug for wearing a polo shirt instead of my usual button up shirt and glasses. In that moment, I knew I couldn’t react in a way that would get me labeled as “quick to anger” or “hot tempered.” I then researched and realized there are little to no opportunities for employees to constructively inform their company about microaggressions and feel protected. [Co-founder] Eric [Solender] has a history of building philanthropic technology and witnessed the effects of cyberbullying within his family. [Co-founder] Nikita [Wootten] is an [artificial intelligence] innovator and experienced similar cyberbullying stories between friends and family. We are young enough to fully enjoy this digital world yet old enough to remember when in-person dialogue was the main form of communication.
It’s no secret that diverse startup founders face added challenges and barriers to growth. Have you faced such challenges yourself? How have you dealt with them?
As a diverse startup founder, investors and potential partners are constantly expecting more traction from us than our peers in a similar space. At the end of the day, I know the biggest issue is the lack of diversity that causes bias in the AI space. Venture-funded machine learning companies are hiring people that do not represent their diverse customer base and it generates huge sampling and coverage bias. I know that as long as MindStand follows our mission and works tirelessly with organizations that value [diversity, equity and inclusion], we will succeed.
Which leaders or mentors do you look up to and why?
Gib Mason [entrepreneurship adviser and graduate program director at UMBC], Dr. Freeman Hrabowksi [outgoing president of UMBC] and LeBron James are huge figures in my life. Gib Mason encouraged me to prioritize the people and the problem when creating new, innovative ideas. Dr. Hrabowski was there for me when I struggled as a student entrepreneur balancing education and innovation. He went out of his way to be a mentor to me and advocate for my success at UMBC. LeBron James epitomizes success as a black man and community leader. I find his story and ongoing success a huge inspiration and motivation for my own growth.
To read about the rest of our Inno Under 25 class, click here.
