Name: Valeen Oseh-Ovarah
Company: TisOva Ltd.
Position: Founder & CEO
Website: https://www.tisova.co.uk
About Valeen Oseh-Ovarah and TisOva Ltd.
I started my TisOva entrepreneurial journey in 2023. TisOva is an innovative cybersecurity startup empowering students to protect themselves from online fraud and financial exploitation.
As a female founder and an immigrant, I’ve faced unique challenges along the way. Navigating the tech industry has meant overcoming visa restrictions, building a business in a new market, and establishing networks from scratch or breaking into networks that often lack diversity. Accessing funding has been particularly challenging, given the disparities women of color face in securing investment.
The lack of representation for women of color in cybersecurity and business has often left me without a readily available support system who understand my journey.
Additionally, building a network from scratch in the UK has been both rewarding and difficult, especially when trying to connect with industry leaders and mentors who appreciate my unique perspective. However, these experiences have strengthened my resolve and driven me to create spaces for others.
Despite these hurdles, I am proud of the impact I’ve had so far. TisOva has garnered early recognition through awards and support from Innovate UK and accelerator programs, validating not only the relevance of our mission but also my journey as a Black female founder. Through TisOva, I’ve raised awareness about the vulnerabilities students face in online safety and advocated for stronger security measures within the higher education sector. Our long-term goal is to reduce scam incidents and financial losses among students, ultimately ensuring safer digital experiences for young people globally
Beyond TisOva, my impact extends to mentoring the next generation, especially young women and girls in STEM. As an NCSC CyberFirst and STEM Learning ambassador, I aim to inspire diverse talent to pursue careers in tech and cybersecurity. I have impacted 700+ students and 15 organisations within a year.
I also founded Female Founders First CIC, a community that has supported over 400 female founders across the UK, providing them with resources and a network to navigate their entrepreneurial journeys, an initiative born out of my own challenges as a female founder in the UK.
By advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech and cybersecurity, I aspire to make a lasting impact in both the cybersecurity sector and the broader business ecosystem, particularly for underrepresented female founders.
My story is one of resilience and the power of diversity, and I’m determined to show others that success in tech is achievable, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
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