The Journey of Bright David Akhetuamen: Building Karamel Hub From Scratch
I often hear people say that success comes to those who start early. That if you didn’t begin your journey at the age of 14 or 16, then maybe you’re already behind. For a long time, I believed that too. I thought maybe I missed my shot. I was already 20 when I wrote my very first lines of code. And at that time, I didn’t even think it would take me this far.
But life has a way of surprising you when you’re bold enough to step into the unknown.
My name is Bright David Akhetuamen, and I began my coding journey during my university internship at the age of 20. Honestly, I sometimes felt like I started a little late compared to many people who began earlier. But looking back now, I realize that it’s not about when you start, but how much passion and consistency you put into the journey.
The Beginning That Felt “Too Late”
It all started during my university internship. I was 20, curious, and eager to learn something new. I remember opening up a text editor, staring at strange-looking symbols and tags, and thinking to myself—this is it? This is what powers the internet?
My first programming languages were HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL. I still remember the excitement of building my very first projects. One was an e-commerce website, the other was a social media platform. Did I complete them? Not really. But those unfinished projects lit a fire in me that has never gone out.
They taught me one important lesson: you don’t have to be perfect to start. You just have to start.
Walking Without a Guide
If you’ve ever tried to teach yourself something completely new, you’ll understand what I mean when I say it felt lonely. I didn’t have a mentor. No one to sit me down and say, “This is the path, this is what you should learn first, this is how to grow.”
I had to figure it out myself. And let me tell you—it wasn’t easy. I failed more times than I can count. I would write code that didn’t work, stay up at night debugging errors that made no sense, and spend hours searching forums that only left me more confused.
But I refused to stop. I became my own motivation. On the days I felt like giving up, I reminded myself why I started. I reminded myself that every great builder was once a beginner.
My First “Aha” Moment
There’s a moment in every coder’s journey when things suddenly shift. For me, it was when I got my very first gig. It came from an Indian client. The pay? Just 25 USD.
Now, 25 dollars might not sound like much. But to me, it was priceless. It was proof that my skill was valuable. It was proof that I could sit in my room in Nigeria, write lines of code, and someone thousands of miles away would pay me for it.
That single payment opened my eyes. If I could earn $25, then surely I could earn $250. If I could earn $250, then why not $2,500? At that moment, I knew there was no limit only the boundaries I set in my own mind.
Learning, Building, Becoming
From then on, I threw myself into learning with everything I had. I became a student of YouTube tutorials. I built project after project, sometimes just for practice, sometimes for clients. Each line of code taught me something new.
A major turning point came when I joined an e-commerce app project. I was responsible for writing the APIs. It wasn’t easy, but it was one of the best learning experiences of my life. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. It forced me to grow. And when I saw the project come together, I realized just how powerful collaboration and persistence could be.
Frameworks like Laravel and Flutter also shaped my journey. They gave me structure, speed, and confidence. They taught me that technology is always evolving, and the best way to keep up is to keep building.
If I could give one piece of advice to beginners, it would be this. Don’t just learn. Build. Take the little you know, create something with it, and you’ll learn ten times more than any tutorial could ever teach you.
Beyond the Code
As my skills grew, something else began to stir inside me. I realized that being a developer wasn’t enough. Yes, I could build apps, design websites, and write software. But what about the bigger picture?
What about business? What about impact?
I saw that coding was just one piece of the puzzle. Businesses didn’t just need websites they needed solutions. They needed systems that could make their operations smoother, faster, and more digitalized. They needed someone who could think beyond the lines of code.
That realization gave birth to Karamel Hub.
I wanted a startup that would not just write code but solve problems. A brand that could carry my vision far beyond me. A hub that could use technology to empower businesses and individuals to do more.
The Weight of Leadership
Let me be honest. Transitioning from being “just a coder” to being an entrepreneur wasn’t easy.
There were nights when I doubted myself. Days when imposter syndrome whispered in my ear, telling me I wasn’t good enough, that I didn’t have what it takes to lead.
But then I would look around and realize something powerful, people were watching. People were looking up to me, counting on me. And I couldn’t let them down.
That’s why I don’t call myself a CEO yet. Not because I don’t believe in myself, but because I know I’m still building. Right now, I’m not just the programmer, I’m also the marketer, the social media manager, the strategist, and everything else in between. It’s heavy, yes. But I know this is just a phase. And one day, the foundation I’m laying now will hold up something much bigger.
The Heart of Karamel Hub
At its core, Karamel Hub exists to make business smoother. To help entrepreneurs, startups, and companies run digitally with ease. I believe that every line of code should solve a problem, and every solution should bring people closer to their goals.
But beyond the services, I want Karamel Hub to be a symbol. A symbol that you can start small, grow, and build something that matters.
Lessons Along the Way
If there’s anything I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that mastery comes from focus. Don’t jump from one programming language to another because it looks fancy. Master the one you know. Build with it. Grow with it.
As a leader, I’ve also learned the power of empathy and integrity. Leadership is not about titles. It’s about responsibility. It’s about caring for the people who trust you and holding yourself accountable to the vision you carry.
And as a creative mind, I’ve discovered that problem-solving is the purest form of creativity.
Looking Ahead
When I think about the future, I don’t just see lines of code. I see businesses running seamlessly because of software we built. I see individuals empowered by digital tools that make their lives easier. I see Karamel Hub expanding into industries we never imagined.
In 5 to 10 years, I want Karamel Hub to have software products that stand tall on the global stage. I want it to be a hub where creativity, technology, and impact collide.
And when it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered simply as the one who solved problems with software and code.
A Message to Dreamers
If you’re reading this and you feel like it’s too late to start, let my story remind you—it’s never too late.
If you can learn a new word today, then you can learn a new programming language tomorrow. If you can stay consistent, then you can become the Zuckerberg of Africa—or even greater.
Don’t let fear stop you. Don’t let doubt silence you. Start where you are, with what you have, and build.
Because greatness doesn’t wait for perfect timing. It begins the moment you decide to begin.
And that’s exactly what I did. At 20, I took a chance on coding. Today, I’m building a startup that’s shaping the future. Tomorrow, who knows how far this story will go?
This is my journey so far, and it’s only the beginning. My name is Bright David Akhetuamen, Creative Director of Karamel Hub and I believe the best is yet to come.
