Fester Gbieor is building Tutufy. In this interview with Habeeb Ajala, Fester discusses what it’s like to build a peer-to-peer international technology marketplace platform that connects travelers with people who need items transported across borders.

Excerpts:

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and what you are currently building?

My name is Fester Gbieor, and I am the Founder and CEO of Tutufy. I am a Liberian-American entrepreneur based in Minnesota, United States. I am currently building Tutufy, a peer-to-peer international technology marketplace platform that connects travelers with people who need items transported across borders. Our mission is to make international delivery more affordable, accessible, and community driven, especially for minorities living abroad who regularly send goods, documents, and essentials back home.

2. What first pushed you into technology or entrepreneurship?

I’ve always been drawn to solving problems. Growing up, I witnessed how difficult it was for families to access opportunities and services because of limitations in infrastructure and connectivity. Entrepreneurship became attractive because it gave me the freedom to create solutions rather than wait for someone else to solve those problems. Technology simply became the most powerful tool to bring those solutions to life.

3. Was there a specific moment or problem that led you to start this journey?

Yes. As someone who frequently interacts with the African diaspora, I experienced firsthand how expensive, slow, and unreliable it could be to send items between countries. I ventured into buying and reselling of electronics briefly. But due to the high costs associated with international shipping, I quickly found myself moving on from that model of business. Many people relied on extended networks of friends, family members, or travelers to carry items. Despite the demand, there was no trusted platform connecting these individuals safely and efficiently. That realization became the foundation for Tutufy.

4. What was the earliest version of your idea, and how has it changed since then?

The earliest version is what has been in production and what is soon to be released to the general public. Tutufy incorporates identity verification, secure payments, escrow protection, and structured delivery processes. We’ve evolved from a simple idea into a complete ecosystem designed to facilitate trusted cross-border transactions.

5. What specific problem are you trying to solve, and who is most affected by it?

We are solving the challenge of affordable and trusted cross-border delivery. The people most affected are immigrants, international students, small business owners, and families who regularly need to send items between countries but face high shipping costs and limited delivery options.

6. Why is this problem important in your local or African context?

For many African families, sending goods internationally is part of everyday life. Whether it’s medication, documents, educational materials, or personal items, these deliveries often support livelihoods and family well-being. Yet traditional shipping can be prohibitively expensive. By making delivery more affordable and accessible, we can help strengthen economic and social connections across borders.

7. What makes solving this problem difficult in your environment?

Trust is the biggest challenge. Whenever money, personal items, and international shipping are involved, users need confidence that the process is secure. Additionally, regulations vary from country to country, payment systems differ, and logistics infrastructure is inconsistent across regions. Building a platform that can operate effectively within these complexities requires significant planning and execution.

8. How did you take your first practical steps from idea to execution?

I picked up the phone one faithful day, and called the best developer I knew. We spoke lengthily, and then we conducted our market research. We wanted to understand how people were already solving the problem. After validating the demand, we assembled a small team of developers and designers, created the product roadmap, and began building the first version of the platform. Today, I’m proud to have Mojisola as my Technical Co-founder. It would not had been possible without this brilliant collaboration with her. 

9. What has been your most significant milestone so far?

One of our biggest milestones has been transforming an idea into a functioning platform with a dedicated team working across multiple countries. Another major milestone has been gaining validation from industry professionals, advisors, and early supporters who believe in the vision and potential impact of Tutufy.

10. What has been your hardest technical or operational challenge?

Building trust and compliance systems has been one of our most challenging tasks. Features such as identity verification, secure payment processing, escrow management, and dispute resolution require extensive planning and technical integration. These systems are critical because they form the foundation of user confidence.

11. How are you currently funding or sustaining the work?

Tutufy has primarily been funded through personal investment, bootstrapping and the dedication of team members who believe in the vision. Like many early stage startups, we’ve relied heavily on resourcefulness, strategic partnerships, and careful prioritization while preparing for future fundraising opportunities.

12. What is one decision you made that changed the direction of your journey?

The decision to focus specifically on the Immigrant diaspora significantly changed our direction. While the platform has global potential, concentrating on a clearly defined community allowed us to better understand user needs and build a stronger product foundation.

13. What failure or setback taught you the most?

One of the biggest lessons came from realizing that enthusiasm alone cannot replace validation. There were moments when assumptions had to be challenged through direct customer feedback. Learning to listen more than I spoke helped us make better decisions and avoid building features users didn’t actually need.

14. If you could restart, what would you do differently from day one?

I would spend even more time speaking directly with users before making product decisions. Building technology is important, but understanding human behavior and customer needs is even more important. The sooner founders embrace customer discovery, the better their chances of building something meaningful.

15. Describe a typical working day for you right now.

A typical day begins with reviewing team updates and project progress. Throughout the day, I balance meetings, strategic planning, partnership discussions, product reviews, and customer research. Startup life requires constantly switching between visionary thinking and practical execution.

16. Where do you usually work from, and what does that space look like?

Most of my work is done remotely from my home office. The setup is simple and functional laptop, notebooks, research materials, and multiple communication tools. It’s not flashy, but it’s where ideas become reality.

17. What sounds, routines, or distractions are part of your daily building process?

There are always notifications, emails, calls, and unexpected challenges competing for attention. I’ve learned to create focused work periods while remaining flexible enough to handle urgent issues when they arise.

18. Who are the people around you during a normal working week?

My week is spent collaborating with my developers, designers, advisors, and team members located across different countries. Despite the geographical distance, we remain connected through a shared mission and regular group communication.

19. What does a stressful day look like for you in practical terms?

A stressful day usually involves multiple critical decisions happening simultaneously. It might include technical issues, budget constraints, and project deadlines all competing for attention at once. The challenge is staying calm while continuing to move forward.

20. What does a “good day” feel like when things are working well?

A good day is when progress is visible. It could be completing a feature, receiving positive feedback, or seeing the team aligned around a common goal. Those moments remind me why the journey is worth it.

21. What keeps you going on difficult days?

The mission keeps me going. I think about the people who could benefit from a more affordable and trusted way to connect across borders. Knowing that our work can create real opportunities for families and communities gives me the motivation to keep moving forward.

22. What personal sacrifice has been necessary to keep this venture alive?

Building a startup requires sacrificing comfort, stability, and personal gratifications. These are the hardest disciplinary moments I’ve ever had to experience in my entire life. When financial resources are limited and uncertainty are high. Entrepreneurship often demands faith before results become visible.

23. How has this journey changed how you see yourself?

It has taught me resilience. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about continuing to move forward despite uncertainty. The journey has strengthened my confidence, patience, and ability to adapt.

24. What kind of impact do you hope your work will have in the next 3 to 5 years?

I hope Tutufy becomes a trusted platform that empowers millions of people to move goods across borders more efficiently and affordably. Beyond logistics, I want it to strengthen connections between diaspora communities and their home countries. At the end of the day, we’re not just moving items from one country to another. We’re helping people maintain relationships, support their families, and stay connected across borders. If people look back three to five years from now and say Tutufy helped bridge the distance between them and the people they care about, then I would consider that a success. Because Tutufy isn’t just about delivery. It’s about connection. 

25. What is the next big step or ambition for your venture?

Our next major milestone is launching and scaling the platform while establishing partnerships that support secure payments, compliance, and international shipping. Long term, we aim to expand across multiple continents and become a leading platform for community powered delivery.

26. If someone is reading your story today, what do you want them to learn from it?

I want them to understand that meaningful businesses often begin with simple observations about everyday problems. You don’t need perfect conditions to start. What matters is persistence, learning continuously, and remaining committed to creating value for others.

27. Is there anything about your journey that people usually don’t ask, but you think is important for them to know?

People often focus on the product, funding, or technology, but they rarely ask about perseverance. Behind every startup is a founder navigating uncertainty, setbacks, and personal challenges. Building a company isn’t just about creating a product. It’s about developing the resilience necessary to pursue a vision long enough for it to become reality. That part of the journey is often invisible, but it may be the most important.