From Lagos to Birmingham: Bootstrapping to Billions and Scaling Belief Systems Through Constraints w/ Shegun Otulana, Founder & CEO of TheraNest & Harmony Venture Labs

In this episode of Outsider Inc., host Ian Hathaway speaks with Shegun Otulana, co-founder and CEO of TheraNest and Harmony Venture Labs. Shegun shares his journey from arriving in Alabama from Lagos, Nigeria at 18, to bootstrapping his first consulting firm, and eventually scaling TheraNest into a national leader in mental health software. The conversation covers his unique approach to pricing, building a remote team, and the importance of eagerness and passion in serving customers. Shegun also discusses his transition from the CEO role, the creation of Harmony Venture Labs to support the next generation of entrepreneurs in Birmingham, and the influence of his faith and family in his career. Throughout, Shegun emphasizes the impact of creating intentionally and staying aligned with one's values.

Show Notes:

(05:09) Shegun’s Transition to the US and Early Impressions

(08:28) Founding Zertis Technologies and the Entrepreneurial Drive

(11:26) Identifying the Right Problem and Market

(13:18) Building TheraNest and the Mental Health Focus

(18:45) Differentiation and Pricing Strategy

(21:59) Remote Work and Team Building

(26:06) The Challenges and Benefits of Being a One-Man Band

(29:50) The Founder Mentality: Building a Culture of High Performance

(33:30) Scaling Up: From TheraNest to Therapy Brands

(40:33) Transitioning Out: From CEO to Board Member

(43:26) Harmony Venture Labs: Building a System for Startups

(46:55) The Importance of Family and Partnership

(50:43) Faith and Leadership: Guiding Principles

(53:14) Beyond the Bio with Shegun Otulana

✅ Host: Ian Hathway - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, FOVC

✅ Guest: Shegun Otulana, Founder & CEO, TheraNest & Harmony Venture Labs

Produced by Spellbinder Media. Executive Produced by Bridge Five Ventures. Copyright ©️2025, Bridge Five Ventures, LLC, All rights reserved.

Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or at outsiderinc.substack.com.