By Adenike Lawal
The Nigerian startup community is reeling from the sudden loss of Adetunji ‘TeeJay’ Opayele, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of retail automation startup Bumpa.
Opayele tragically passed away on March 5, 2025, following a car accident in Lagos.
His death has left a deep void in the tech world, where he was known not just for his brilliance but for his passion and commitment to empowering small businesses.
Opayele, a law graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, co-founded Bumpa in 2020 with Kelvin Umechukwu.
Together, they revolutionized retail operations, raising $4 million in seed funding and integrating Bumpa with Meta platforms to support thousands of small businesses.
In an emotional tribute, Umechukwu described Opayele as more than a business partner.
“He wasn’t just a co-founder; he was my friend, my brother, my fight partner,” Umechukwu shared.
Opayele’s contributions extended beyond Bumpa. He had a remarkable career in software development, working at E-Settlement and founding HostCabal before building Bumpa.
His legacy will continue through an AI assistant, “Teejay,” to carry on his vision of solving business challenges.
As Bumpa mourns the loss of its visionary leader, the startup community reflects on the impact of a man whose dedication to innovation and growth will not soon be forgotten.
