Netochukwu Onuoha is proving that building a successful tech company does not always require coding skills. At just 26 years old, the entrepreneur has already launched two technology startups, despite having a background in science and law instead of software engineering.
Her latest company, Inkognito.AI, uses artificial intelligence to help founders and business owners find the right public relations opportunities. The platform also creates personalized media pitches, helping entrepreneurs tell their stories more effectively. Before launching Inkognito.AI, Onuoha founded KB Matrix, a platform that connects textured hair stylists with clients across Europe.
Netochukwu Onuoha Turns a Simple Idea Into Two Tech Startups
Onuoha’s newest venture was created alongside her co-founder, Deepali Garg, during Build Club’s Women in AI accelerator. The four-week program helps women transform AI ideas into working businesses. Their project finished third at this year’s final showcase, highlighting its strong potential.
According to Onuoha, the idea came from a challenge she experienced while growing her own businesses. She realized that many founders struggle to gain media attention even after building great products.
“The idea came from my experience building in tech and realizing that one of the biggest challenges founders face isn’t creating the product but getting visibility and finding the right PR opportunities,” Onuoha said.
She believes every entrepreneur deserves the chance to share their story. That belief inspired Inkognito.AI to automate personalized outreach instead of relying on generic pitches.
“Every founder has a story worth telling,” she said. “We built Inkognito.AI for the founders, business owners, and PR teams who are done sending generic outreach and getting silence back.”
How Netochukwu Onuoha Built Tech Companies Without Learning to Code
Although many people believe founders must know programming, Onuoha disagrees. She says leadership, problem-solving, and clear vision matter just as much. Instead of learning to code, she relied on no-code platforms, artificial intelligence, technical collaborators, and strong partnerships.
Her legal education also gave her skills that translated well into entrepreneurship. She learned how to identify problems, understand customer needs, communicate ideas, and build teams that could turn those ideas into reality.
Onuoha says technology should be viewed as a tool rather than a barrier. She believes founders should focus first on solving real problems before worrying about technical details.
KB Matrix Helped Shape Her Entrepreneurial Journey
Before entering the AI space, Onuoha launched KB Matrix to connect Afro-textured hair stylists with clients across Europe. While building the company, she spent time listening to stylists and learning about their everyday challenges.
Those conversations shaped her approach to entrepreneurship. Instead of rushing to build products, she learned to validate ideas through customer feedback and constant improvement.
She also discovered that creating a great product is only part of the journey. Strong marketing, community building, and clear messaging are equally important for long-term success. Those lessons now guide the growth of Inkognito.AI.
Netochukwu Onuoha Sees AI as a Major Opportunity for Black Entrepreneurs
Onuoha believes artificial intelligence is opening doors for Black entrepreneurs who have traditionally faced barriers to funding, networks, and business resources. AI allows founders to automate tasks, analyze information, create content, and build products with fewer resources.
However, she says Black entrepreneurs should aim to become creators of AI technology instead of only using it. She believes diverse founders can develop solutions that better reflect their communities and solve problems often overlooked by the wider technology industry.
According to Onuoha, this moment offers a chance for Black innovators to become leaders in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
Netochukwu Onuoha Encourages More Black Women to Enter Tech
Looking back on her own journey, Onuoha admits she once questioned whether she belonged in technology because she lacked a technical background. Eventually, she changed her mindset and focused on becoming an effective technology leader instead of an engineer.
She also found encouragement through communities such as Rewriting the Code, where she connected with other women working in technology. Seeing successful Black women in the field helped strengthen her confidence.
Today, she encourages other Black women to recognize the value of their existing skills. She believes creativity, leadership, communication, strategy, and problem-solving are just as important as coding.
“I would encourage other Black women to see themselves as contributors to technology, not just users of it,” Onuoha said. “The future of tech, especially the advancement of AI, needs diverse builders, founders, and leaders.”
As more industries embrace artificial intelligence, Onuoha’s journey shows that innovation begins with solving problems. For aspiring entrepreneurs, her story is proof that determination, curiosity, and vision can matter more than writing code.
