Introduction

Michael Onwuatuegwu is a migrant entrepreneur originally from Nigeria and currently based in Berlin, Germany. He has lived in Germany for over 11 years, during which time he studied, completed his master’s degree, learned the German language, and gained professional experience. Drawing from his personal journey as a migrant, Michael founded Ojiraasoft UG, a Berlin-based company where he serves as the CEO and Founder. His background and lived experience inspired him to create solutions that address inequality, inefficiency, and misinformation within the global migration space.

The Idea

Ojiraasoft UG is the company behind Setlinn, a digital platform designed to support people who want to study or work abroad. Michael identified that the migration ecosystem is highly fragmented, making it difficult for individuals to access reliable information, connect with the right service providers, and integrate successfully into new societies. This fragmentation leads to wasted time, financial losses, emotional stress, and poor integration outcomes. Setlinn brings these scattered resources together into one sustainable digital platform, helping users make informed decisions faster while improving their chances of successful social and economic integration. The initiative contributes strongly to social sustainability by reducing exploitation, misinformation, and unnecessary waste of resources.

Journey and Challenges

Michael’s entrepreneurial journey officially began in 2021 when Ojiraasoft UG was incorporated, although the idea itself dates back to 2017, when he provided study-and-work-abroad consultations after completing his studies. Turning this experience into a scalable digital platform came with significant challenges. One of the biggest obstacles was the lack of mentorship in the early stages, especially as a migrant entrepreneur navigating the German business environment. Bureaucracy, complex regulations, and system unfamiliarity often competed with product development for time and energy. Funding was another major challenge. Ojiraasoft has been fully bootstrapped, forcing difficult decisions between focusing on product growth or chasing funding opportunities. Despite these challenges, persistence, adaptability, and a clear mission helped the company move forward.

Achievements and Impact

Since launching Setlinn in 2023, the platform has grown to nearly 10,000 registered users, with active discussions, questions, and shared experiences from people across the globe. One of its most significant impacts has been empowering youth in African countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana by connecting them to global opportunities. Ojiraasoft has partnered with student union governments in universities to improve access to migration-related information. Beyond Setlinn, Michael co-founded Opportunity Pulse, a Berlin-based nonprofit helping migrants better integrate into Germany’s labor market—saving public resources while unlocking human potential. His work has also expanded into sports migration through a football consulting initiative supporting migrant talents in Europe, addressing yet another overlooked aspect of the migration ecosystem.

Message to Youth

“You will get all the help that you need as long as you’re ready to do the job. Help is everywhere, but you must take the lead. Once you act, others will come to your aid.”