Entrepreneur Spotlight Feature (April) Seun Richards FR
Agunbiade Seun Richards is a Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur, researcher, lecturer, and author whose journey embodies the spirit of relentless pursuit, resilience, and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact.
In 2018, drawn by Canada’s promise of opportunity and inclusivity, Seun migrated from Dubai to embark on a new chapter. Despite initial settlement challenges, he worked briefly with RBC Bank before resigning his appointment and enrolled in a PhD program in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability at the University of New Brunswick, where he now teaches at the faculty of Business. Additionally, he volunteers as an entrepreneurial advisor at the University of Calgary – Haskayne School of Business.
Overcoming racial bias and impostor syndrome, Seun founded Door2Door Pickup Couriers as an academic research project in December 2019. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he provided free delivery services to international students, immigrants, and residents of New Brunswick. Door2Door quickly became an official partner of Amazon, DHL, FedEx, and Purolator, offering zero-emission delivery and sustainable transportation services. Door2Door has received multiple awards include being named one of Top 150 SMEs in Canada by Desjardins Group in 2022.
Recognized as one of Canada’s brightest young entrepreneurs, Seun represented the country at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (YEA) Summits in Germany (2022) and India (2023), fostering international collaborations and driving innovation on a global scale.
Awarded as one of the 2023 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants and recipient of the prestigious Harry Jerome Award as Young Black Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 in Canada, Seun’s impact resonates beyond borders. He was also included in the Top 20 social entrepreneurs in the world by the University of Pennsylvania and nominated by the United Nations as one of Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40. These recognitions underscore his dedication to addressing global challenges through entrepreneurship.
As an Ambassador of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Seun passionately contributes to fostering the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Canada, organizing the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week and other platform activities. He founded the Ministry of Entrepreneurs as a non-for-profit aimed at imparting entrepreneurial principles to charity organizations and less-privileged communities worldwide, bridging the gap between education, innovation, and impact.
With a loving family – his wife and three children by his side, Seun finds balance between entrepreneurial pursuits and cherished family moments. His journey is one of passion, purpose, and unwavering dedication to creating a better world through entrepreneurship and education.