Tech Innovator visits TSU to talk AI
Written by Paris Blaylock on April 4, 2025
By: Paris Blaylock
Texas Southern University’s Research Week featured Damola Idowu, CEO of Toyz Electronics, who took the stage to educate, advocate, and encourage diversity in technology and AI.
Idowu, a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and engineer, implored the need to create pathways in STEM for minorities while sharing how he took the reigns himself.
“In technology, you need to break down the barriers of persistent prejudice to people who aren’t cis white males,” Idowu said.
Damola Idowu, CEO of Toyz Electronics
Idowu graduated from high school at 15 years old and has dedicated his career to empowering young people through education, mentorship, and innovative AI-driven platforms.
“Being a Black man, I come with a perspective that understands the challenges so that now I can bring equity,” Idowu said.
His company’s latest initiative, “Dahversity AI,” is an AI-powered mentor-matching platform designed to connect students and young professionals with industry experts.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” he said. “So we’re building a whole mentorship recommendation and matching tool with AI.”
Idowu says mentorship is a critical component in getting minority communities involved in STEM.
“Sidekicks need to find heroes, and heroes need to find superheroes,” he said.
Damola Idowu, CEO of Toyz Electronics
“It allows people to thrive in industries where they don’t have representation. Now, you can amplify economic mobility and improve capability and competencies in diverse communities so they can be self-sufficient,” he added.
Idowu’s passion for technology traces back to his youth, inspired by the TV show “Knight Riders” and the song “Follow the Leader” by Rahkin, ultimately influencing his educational journey.
As a result, at 14, he got into the pre-engineering program at Michigan Tech. A year later, he attended Syracuse University.
He attributes his early exposure to STEM to shaping his belief that educational access is essential.
“If you give people broad exposure, then they can figure out what they want,” he said.
Damola Idowu, CEO of Toyz Electronics
This belief extends to his son, who also entered college and pitched smartglasses called “Soul Aurum” at Silicone Valley at 15.
Idowu said he infused confidence in his son early, helping him bring ideas like the sunglasses to life.
“When I exposed him to Toy Magazine, he accelerated his vision, and we started sketching ideas to make technology sustainable,” Idowu said.
“My son took an interest in my work,” he added.
Idowu’s work is rooted in cultural and economic development. He says he drew inspiration from the independent hip-hop movement in the South, where artists built careers outside major labels.
“I loved what y’all were doing in the South, that independent movement,” he said.
“In New York, we were like, ‘You have to get to the label.’ In the South, it was out of the trunk.”
This mindset led him to commercialize his Intellectual Property at 19 while studying at Howard University. Today, he integrates AI into mentorship and career development to close racial and economic gaps.
“You have to make it cool. People don’t like economic policy, looking at data science and numbers,” Idowu said. “Most of my work now is developing practicum around theoretical principles we teach.”
Damola Idowu, CEO of Toyz Electronics
Despite his success, Idowu remains deeply aware of the negative factors behind AI today, providing a different perspective.
“There’s not enough of us in data science and machine learning in large language models to program algorithms,” he said. “It affects us badly because we’re not involved.”
He says his commitment extends beyond the Black community.
“My work does not only limit me to Black communities. My work goes to Appalachia, Hispanic communities, and white communities. It goes to all of humanity,” Idowu said.
As technology continues its rapid development, Damola Idowu is determined to ensure disadvantaged communities have what they need to thrive. His approach blends cultural awareness, mentorship, and technological advancement to create a model for economic mobility.
“I can’t guarantee your outcome, but what I want to do is guarantee your exposure, resources, and access,” Idowu said.
Damola Idowu, CEO of Toyz Electronics
