Interwoven Episode 12: From MBA to Mission: Onome & Tulu’s Leap from Corporates to Collaborative Founders

Before becoming founders, Onome and Tulu were finance professionals, immersed in corporate roles and, later, pursuing MBA studies at the University of Essex. Both describe the same tension: a drive to make a difference for small businesses, contrasted with the limitations and frustrations they encountered in traditional work and business education. Their ambition was real but untested, fuelled by a desire to bridge the gap between business needs and their growing skill sets.

The spark for Recreates was not a singular lightning-bolt moment but a gradual series of conversations, case studies, and disappointments. Both were dismayed at the lack of hands-on, real-world application in their studies and saw others struggling too: talented individuals unable to gain practical experience, and founders stuck at the prototype stage, unable to access resources or support. Over coffee, the two realised they could connect these isolated groups. As Onome recalls, “Why not use these people to help these other sides of people?”

There was self-doubt and risk. Moving from the clarity of a defined corporate path or academia to the uncertainty of starting up meant confronting new skills, learning to collaborate and communicate in unfamiliar ways, and working without guarantees. Both drew on past relationships, grew from feedback, and learned to adapt as mistakes became lessons rather than failures.

Becoming founders changed both their outlook and identity. Success became less about financial returns and more about impact, seeing others grow, projects come to life, and communities form. Their story is a reminder: you don’t need total certainty to make a meaningful leap. You need curiosity, connection and the willingness to experiment in the unknown.