Bolanle Solomon-Adewusi had always aspired to earn a PhD but never aspired to become an entrepreneur, until one thing led to another.
The Nigerian native grew up inspired by her father, her role model, a chemical engineering professor who earned his PhD abroad and funded his education through scholarships. After earning her bachelor’s in Nigeria, Solomon-Adewusi applied for a scholarship to earn a master’s abroad but was unsuccessful.
“It was different from what it was like for my dad,” she says. “He told me you need to get good grades to be able to get scholarships, so I worked towards getting those grades, but I still faced challenges.”
Not only had scholarship opportunities gotten more competitive, Solomon-Adewusi explains, but tuition, cost of living and exchange rates had changed drastically since her dad was a student.
Instead, she started her career at Nigeria’s Space Research and Development Agency, which ultimately supported her with paid study leave for a master’s degree in Advanced Computer Science at the University of Manchester.
After a few more years working for the space agency, Solomon-Adewusi decided it was time to fulfil her dream of earning a PhD abroad, and this time she wasn’t going to let a rejection letter stop her.
“I worked closely with my father and also reached out to international students who were already studying abroad and had secured scholarships, asking them about the process,” she says. “Today, much of this information is readily available through online searches and YouTube channels, and at The Scholarship Whizz we now provide students with personalized hands-on and guided support. At the time, however, I had to rely on individual conversations and gather as much information as I could on my own.
As she wrote and re-wrote her application materials, Solomon-Adewusi also emailed professors. Each week she’d choose one institution on her wish list and email a handful of professors in her desired program.
“There were times I thought, ‘should I give up?’ but I just felt like if I keep putting all the resources that I have together, if I submit high quality applications, eventually it will come true,” she says. “That was exactly what happened.”
After two years, countless essays and applications, and more than 100 cold emails to professors, Solomon-Adewusi secured over $420,000 in scholarships, enough to realize her dream of earning a PhD in the United States. Despite significant challenges along the way, including welcoming her first child and nearly abandoning the pursuit, she persevered and ultimately earned her doctorate in 2021.
Just before graduation, Solomon-Adewusi moved to Canada with her family and started a social media account called “The Scholarship Whizz,” where she shared her story along with some advice. “It wasn’t a business,” she says. “I just wanted to support people who are trying to navigate this.”
Eventually someone reached out offering to pay for a half hour consultation, then another inquired about a full hour, and then came inquiries about personalized coaching. That’s when Solomon-Adewusi did what she does best, and started coaching students on submitting applications for funding.
In May of 2024, The Scholarship Whizz was selected for the Sheridan Edge accelerator program. Soon after, Solomon-Adewusi entered the Sauga Pitch Competition in Mississauga.
“I didn’t win that night, but that was where I met the IDEA Mississauga team, and they said, ‘you did really well, we have this startup program, and we think you should apply,” says Solomon-Adewusi, who joined IDEA Mississauga’s Step-Up program for early-stage ventures. “That changed everything for me.”
During the six-month program, Solomon-Adewusi connected with other founders, coaches, and business leaders in the community, which helped turn what began as a hobby into a viable venture. Today The Scholarship Whizz employs a full-time staff of eight and has helped over 10,000 students secure $7 million in funding.
“It just changed my mind set about what I was building,” she says. “I’ve been able to create and define a new vision for The Scholarship Whizz, and now even my own dream scares me.”
That dream, Solomon-Adewusi says, is to achieve a valuation over $1 billion dollars, while expanding access to education around the world.
“I’m just glad to know that The Scholarship Whizz is not just going to be one of those companies that comes and goes,” she says. “There’s a future for it, and it is here to stay.”
To learn more about the Scholarship Whizz, visit their website here.
