Entrepreneur, innovator, and CEO Olugbenga Olubanjo was an active Massey College Junior Fellow and committee member from 2017-2019. Mr. Olugbenga Olubanjo holds a Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with First Class Honours from the University of Ibadan.
Mr. Olubanjo was part of the Massey community while a Master’s student at the University of Toronto. Massey College was his first residence in Toronto, Canada and provided him with an enriching experience throughout his graduate studies. He was an active member of the College and co-chaired the Community Service and Entrepreneur committees.
In 2018-19 as co-chair of the Community Service committee, Mr. Olugbenga organized various events supporting historically marginalized communities in Toronto and beyond. He organized volunteers for the Massey Friday Food Ministry at the St.Thomas’ Food Ministry, a meal program for individuals and families who are marginally housed and experiencing homelessness. That year, the committee raised over $3,000 for the scholars-at risk program, a program that offers support and protection to academic facing threats to their lives, liberty and well-being. Mr. Olugbenga was also involved in organizing the Robbie Burns Charity Auction which raised $5,000 for Child Welfare Political Action Committee and Sistema Toronto, organizations that offer advocacy for childcare reform and support for children living in underserved communities. Through these initiatives, Mr. Olugbenga demonstrates care, empathy and the importance of collectively addressing issues experienced by historically marginalized communities here in Toronto and globally.
Mr. Olubanjo describes his experience as Massey as transformational, giving him the space and support to incubate his prototype and setting the foundation to develop new clean energy technology for the world. At Massey, he met other Fellows and alumni who inspired him to establish Reeddi, an independent sustainable and clean energy company.
As CEO of Reeddi, Mr. Olubanjo works to provide clean energy and allied innovations at a price point that both individuals and businesses operating in energy-poor regions can afford. He developed an energy system to increase access to power and helps families and communities save over 30% of their energy expenses. Reeddi is on track to serve over 10,000 household and businesses by 2022.
Mr. Olubanjo and his company have received over 27 honors and awards including: the 2020 RBC prize for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the 2020 Stanford Global Energy Heroes Finalist award, the 2019 University of Toronto’s Wesley J. Hall Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, and the 2019 MIT Clean Energy Prize. Most recently, he was a finalist for the inaugural Earthshot Prize.
How as your first year as a Massey Fellow?
Massey was my first home in Toronto, and it was amazing. Our company basically started in Massey. We used my room for meetings, to build prototypes, and it’s where I decided to build my business. I got to speak with alumni and other Fellows, some of whom are my best friends today. I met a couple of collaborators and students who were doing research. They helped me bounce ideas, talk through pitches, and supported my growth as an entrepreneur. I enjoyed my time very much at the College.
How did your role as Junior Fellow support your personal or professional growth?
I love the environment – it’s very inspiring. After my Junior Fellow ended, I continued to be involved at Massey through the committees and would go to the College to study. It has a way to make you feel refreshed. It’s a space where you are doing a lot of thinking and getting inspiration, and it helped my ideas flow.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying to be a Junior Fellow?
Just apply. Massey is an amazing place. Just put yourself out there, express yourself, let them know what you have done, your history and what you can contribute to the community. Massey is a place where you get exposed to a variety of ideas and you get to learn from other researchers and colleagues.
