A Chat with Adetoyese Kola-Balogun, Founder at Tenantpro and AI35 Judge

Tell us about yourself

 

I’m Adetoyese Kola-Balogun, a seasoned senior engineer, founder, and thought leader with a strong focus on building purposeful digital products. Over the years, I’ve worked across fintech and property technology, blending deep technical work with a hands-on approach to solving real-world problems. Most recently, I launched Tenantpro, a UK-based lettings and property management platform built to help agents simplify operations and stay compliant.

My background spans both startups and scale-ups, and I’m always drawn to work that has tangible impact, especially in sectors that are underserved or unnecessarily complex.

 

 

Tell us about your company

 

Tenantpro is an all-in-one platform built for letting agencies in the UK. It handles everything from viewings and applications to invoicing, maintenance, and deposit compliance, all in one place. We’ve integrated with key services like the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and referencing providers to cut down on admin and reduce the compliance burden for agents. The goal is to give agencies more time to focus on growth, while making the lettings experience better for tenants and landlords alike. We launched recently, but the response from the market has been exciting. We have already onboarded our first clients, with more in the pipeline.

What sets us apart is how deep we go with features that agents actually need, not just surface-level dashboards. We are building a system that make day-to-day operations smoother, reduce risk, and allow letting agents to scale without getting buried in spreadsheets or outdated workflows.

 

 

What advice do you have for companies entering the AITech 2025?

 

Be clear on the problem you’re solving. It’s easy to get swept up in the hype around AI, but the strongest entries will be the ones that demonstrate real, measurable value, especially in areas where AI can unlock something that wasn’t possible before. You don’t have to be flashy. Focus on showing how your tech makes life better, easier, or more efficient for someone.

Whether you’re using machine learning, large language models, or simple heuristics, explain how your solution changes the user experience, improves outcomes, or creates efficiency. Keep it real, especially for judges and audiences who care more about usefulness than buzzwords.

 

How do you suggest entrants should stand out from the crowd?

 

Tell a focused story. What’s your edge? What’s your insight? Every strong company has a reason for existing that goes beyond “we’re using AI.” Whether it’s domain expertise, a fresh take on an old process, or a real-world pain point you’ve lived through, bring that to the front. Simplicity and clarity will do more for you than buzzwords ever will.

 

Any final thoughts?

 

Tech is moving fast, faster than most industries can keep up with. But progress isn’t just about pace; it’s about direction. I’d encourage founders to stay grounded in the real world. Focus on people, on meaningful problems, and on building with intention. I believe that’s the kind of innovation that lasts.