Work with me
Tochii Achebe, smiling, black-and-white portrait

Experience

Platforms other people build on.

I am Founder and CEO of Amakora, which builds the systems that let AI agents and models do real work safely: connected, governed, and proven.

API volume at Interswitch
$1M → $35M
Transaction value in 8 months
5x
Amakora products
4
LinkedIn GitHub Download resume

Current Positioning

Based in London, I work professionally through New York, San Francisco, and Nigeria across AI, platforms, APIs, systems architecture, technical product leadership, education, and social impact.

The through line is building platforms that scale, making technical product decisions under pressure, and translating emerging technology into practical business outcomes.

Signature Achievements

  • Built one of Africa's first self-service API marketplaces at Interswitch.
  • Scaled API-driven transaction volume from $1M to $35M through developer ecosystem and platform strategy.
  • Delivered platform integrations and partnerships that drove 5x transaction value growth within 8 months.
  • Built and deployed SmartHR, an AI-powered recruitment platform that reduced candidate screening time by 45% and increased placement accuracy by 63%.

Selected Experience

Founder & CEO

Amakora

Greater London, England, United Kingdom · Hybrid

June 2025 - Present

Founder and CEO of Amakora, which builds the systems that let AI agents and models do real work safely: connected, governed, and proven.

  • Helps organisations move from AI interest to execution through product development, agent systems, technical training, and innovation programmes.
  • Builds useful AI products and learning systems for organisations applying AI responsibly and effectively.
  • Works across product strategy, system design, AI implementation, API ecosystems, and technical education.
  • Develops technical talent through Amakora and connected education initiatives.
Applied AIAgent SystemsLearning SystemsInnovation Programmes

Head of Platforms

RedCloud

Greater London, England, United Kingdom · Hybrid

June 2022 - May 2025

Led platform strategy for RedCloud, a NASDAQ-listed open commerce platform connecting FMCG brands, distributors, and retailers across emerging markets.

  • Led ERP and partner system integrations using a connector-based architecture and secure client credentials.
  • Owned platform and payments strategy across authorization, clearing, settlement, reconciliation, and ledgering.
  • Defined API-first architecture and integration runtimes for reliable merchant and partner payment flows.
  • Designed an abstraction layer to unify external system schemas and improve integration scalability.
PlatformsPaymentsIntegrationsAPI Architecture

Product Lead - API Marketplace & Developer Experience Advocate

Interswitch Group

Lagos State, Nigeria

May 2021 - May 2022

Led API marketplace and developer experience work at Interswitch, one of Africa's largest payments infrastructure companies.

  • Externalized internal APIs as monetized products and helped grow the developer ecosystem.
  • Designed API architecture, governance, and developer experience to support scalable adoption.
  • Defined canonical data models to standardize interactions across heterogeneous external systems.
  • Contributed to scaling API-driven transaction volume from $1M to $35M through increased API adoption.
API MarketplaceDeveloper ExperienceFintechAPI Monetization

Product Owner, VAS Partner Channels [Quickteller as a service]

Interswitch Group

Lagos State, Nigeria

November 2020 - May 2021

Owned partner channel product work for Quickteller as a service, supporting fintech and bank partner growth.

  • Managed 8,000+ fintech and bank partners, driving 15% year-on-year revenue growth.
  • Rolled out Quickteller 4.0 across ATMs, expanding the biller network.
  • Supported partner-channel growth across payment, biller, and financial service use cases.
  • Built on existing tier-one bank partnerships while expanding collaboration with fintech partners.
Partner ChannelsQuicktellerFintech PartnershipsVAS

Core Expertise

AI product strategyAI agents and LLM/NLP productsAPI marketplacesDeveloper ecosystemsPlatform strategyERP and partner integrationsPayments infrastructureAPI governance and lifecycle managementSystem design and architectureStrategic decision-making

Education

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

LEAD Programme, Corporate Innovation and Executive Leadership

Global peer cohort engagement, faculty-led electives, applied innovation labs, leadership simulations, and business model design sprints.

Redeemers' University

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

July 2016

License & Certification

Critical Analytical thinking

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

Issued December 2025

Data-driven Decision MakingArtificial Intelligence (AI)

License & Certification

Strategic Leadership

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

Issued March 2026

Platform StrategyStrategic Leadership

Teaching, Advisory & Social Impact

Founder, The Nwa-Amaka Achebe Trust

Provides scholarships and career mentorship to UK and Nigerian youth through separate foundation and social impact work.

Education Mentor, The King's Trust

Guides students in academic planning and career readiness across technology and business fields.

Creator, Learn with Tochii

Teaches product, APIs, AI, career growth, and faith-driven leadership across content, courses, and community.

ProductDive teaching and speaking

Teaches technical product management and API product thinking through workshops, conference sessions, and practical content.

Connect About Work

For platform strategy, API ecosystems, AI product advisory, technical product leadership, or speaking opportunities.

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