When Oluwaseyi Joshua Olore left Lagos for the United Kingdom in 2022 to pursue a Master’s degree in Advertising and Marketing at the University of Hull, he had no idea that a delayed order of chicken and chips would spark a business idea that could reshape the restaurant industry.

“I’ve always been around food,” he says, laughing. “My mum ran a small restaurant when I was younger, and today she runs a catering business and a catering school. So hospitality is in my blood.”

That background, combined with his passion for technology, laid the foundation for his AI startup, Orryx — an intelligent AI voice assistant built specifically for restaurants. Its goal? To solve one of the biggest operational headaches for eateries: missed calls and lost orders, especially during peak hours.

A Simple Frustration Sparked a Big Idea
Oluwaseyi met his co-founder Mike, an ICE and AI engineer, at the gym in his apartment complex. “We’d always throw around ideas and discuss how AI could solve real problems,” Joshua recalls. One Saturday evening, after a long day, he ordered food from his favourite spot, but it arrived almost two hours late.

“I asked the delivery guy what happened, and he told me weekends are chaotic. Phones ringing nonstop. Staff running around. Orders getting mixed up or ignored. That’s when it hit me. Why can’t an AI handle some of those calls?”

That question turned into action. Just months later, Orryx was born — now in testing with early restaurant partners in London.

Building Hospitality Tech That Actually Works
Unlike generic AI tools, Orryx is purpose-built for restaurants. It handles bookings, order-taking, FAQs, and customer service via phone, and also takes payments — all through natural, human-like conversation powered by advanced AI models.

“Restaurants shouldn’t be missing sales because they’re understaffed or overwhelmed,” Joshua explains. “We’re building a tool that plugs directly into their existing systems and takes the pressure off staff. It’s like hiring a 24/7 receptionist, without the overhead.”

The long-term goal? “To become the default voice AI assistant for restaurants in the UK, Europe, and Africa.”

Why AI Matters for Africa Too
For Joshua, the potential for AI goes far beyond European markets.

“AI is not just for big tech companies. In Africa, small businesses stand to benefit the most — from restaurants and logistics companies to hospitals and schools. The difference is massive when you give them tools that actually save time and money.”

He believes Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in practical AI — not fancy use cases, but real, working tools that solve real, frustrating problems.

The Challenge of Building Abroad
It hasn’t been smooth sailing.

“Building in the UK tech ecosystem as a Black African founder comes with its own set of challenges. Funding is harder. You don’t always have the same networks. You have to work twice as hard to prove your idea is valid.”

But he’s not deterred. With Orryx in pilot testing and support from early believers, Joshua is optimistic about what’s ahead.

A Word to the Next Generation
For young Nigerians looking to break into tech or AI, Joshua’s advice is simple: “The time is now. There are free resources everywhere. Just start learning.”

He points to platforms like LearnPrompting, OpenAI, and YouTube tutorials as great starting points. “AI is truly a game-changer. There are so many problems to solve in Africa. If you get in now, you’re not just learning tech, you’re positioning yourself for the future.”

As Orryx moves closer to its full launch, Joshua is staying focused — not just on product development, but on building a company that reflects the future he wants to see: tech that’s inclusive, local, and deeply useful.

From Lagos to Hull, he’s proving that the future of AI doesn’t belong to Silicon Valley alone — it belongs to anyone willing to solve problems that matter.