Inside Talesconnect: How an African Edtech Startup is Redefining Campus Life

Redefining Campus Communication Through AI

Talesconnect is a campus-first social and productivity platform designed to remove the daily friction of university life. With privacy at its core, AI-powered student assistants, and persistent campus profiles, the platform has already onboarded over 20,000 students across 10 campuses, with most signing up for over 3-year contracts. We sat down with co-founder Boluwatife Bowale to discuss the origins, product, traction, business model, and long-term vision.

The Genesis Story

Q: Tell us who you are and how Talesconnect started.

A: I am Boluwatife Bowale, co-founder of Talesconnect. I grew up in a family of educationists. My mother runs multiple schools, and my father has lectured for decades, eventually becoming a professor. That upbringing shaped my belief that learning communities deserve better tools. In university, I saw first-hand how fragmented communication was, with students spread across WhatsApp groups, emails, and even spreadsheets. Our goal was straightforward: to build a simple platform that connects everyone on campus and reflects how universities actually work. Our first school was Global Wealth University with over 4,000 students, which gave us the confidence to expand quickly.

What Talesconnect Does

Q: What exactly does Talesconnect do?

A: It is a private network designed for schools. Students get AI assistants that act like lecturer assistants, helping them answer course questions, summarize notes, track deadlines, and plan study schedules. Lecturers reduce repetitive queries and can focus on teaching. Administrators gain dashboards and analytics to improve engagement and outcomes. Alumni remain in a continuous space for networking, mentoring, and fundraising. Talesconnect is one hub for the entire campus ecosystem.

Built for Everyone in Education

Q: Who is this built for — students, lecturers, or institutions?

A: It is built for everyone in higher education, both public and private institutions. Students benefit from academic and social support. Lecturers save time and improve communication. Institutions gain structure, compliance, and insights that directly improve retention and revenue. Alumni stay connected long after graduation. We are focused on education not because of technical limitations but because of passion and deep roots in academia. Interestingly, we have received inquiries from training institutes and professional bodies, but education remains our priority.

AI Assistants in Practice

Q: How do these AI assistants work in practice?

A: Think of them as teaching assistants available at any time. Lecturers upload syllabi and assignments, and the assistant uses that material to guide students. It never gives away test or assignment answers. Instead, it reminds students of important dates, generates practice questions, and adapts to class needs. Unlike generic chatbots, our models are trained on lecturer-provided content. This has helped us overcome distrust among school personnel by showing that the AI is a trusted extension of the lecturer rather than a replacement.

Privacy and Data Governance

Q: What about privacy and data governance?

A: Privacy is at the core of everything we do. All student data is encrypted, access is strictly controlled, and institutions can choose their hosting options. Analytics remain anonymised unless consent is given. We align with Nigeria's NDPR and international standards such as GDPR, so institutions know compliance is built in from day one.

Current Traction

Q: What traction do you have so far?

A: Since launching in May 2025 we have onboarded 10 campuses with 20,000 students on multi-year contracts. Global Wealth University was our first customer. From there, adoption spread through word of mouth, but we also invested in direct outreach to institutions and alumni bodies, as well as creative digital campaigns targeting student and staff communities. We focus on creating visible success stories that carry across campuses.

Overcoming Challenges

Q: What are the biggest challenges you face right now?

A: The main challenge is scaling to meet demand. Universities move slowly when it comes to adopting new systems, but students and alumni push strongly for Talesconnect once they experience it. We have addressed the trust question by grounding our AI assistants in lecturer-provided content and by building case studies that show proven results. The next challenge is to grow quickly while keeping the product experience sharp.

Measuring Success

Q: How do you measure success?

A: We look at student engagement, reduced lecturer workload, and alumni participation. Metrics such as daily active usage, event attendance, and institutional renewals are important. The clearest sign of success is when institutions commit to multi-year subscriptions and when customers tell us they finally have everything they need for campus life in one place.

Success Stories from Campuses

Q: Any standout stories from campuses using Talesconnect?

A: At Global Wealth University, administrators reported saving thousands of dollars every year by eliminating redundant communication tools. One lecturer with over 200 students also saw repetitive questions drop by half in just a few weeks. On the student side, event organisers had better turnout because the platform manages reminders and follow-ups. Alumni groups have also used Talesconnect for mentorship and fundraising.

Building Partnerships

Q: What partnerships are you looking for?

A: We are seeking universities and partners who share our vision of more connected campuses. These are institutions that want more than software, but believe in shaping the future of education with us. This includes forward-looking universities, edtech accelerators, and organisations focused on strengthening African education. We are also exploring payment and LMS integrations to make life easier for administrators. If this speaks to you, contact us at hello@talesconnect.io or visit Talesconnect - AI Educational Communication Platform to request a demo.

Long-term Vision

Q: What is the long-term vision?

A: Our long-term vision is for Talesconnect to become the trusted network for AI integration and communication for higher education across Africa. Students will build lasting academic identities, lecturers will engage more effectively, and alumni will continue to create value in their communities. We aim to scale to more than 200 institutions, making Talesconnect the backbone of campus communication and learning across the continent.