In this episode, I sit down with Shegun Otulana, founder and former CEO of Therapy Brands. His journey from arriving in Birmingham, Alabama at 18 to leading one of the largest software exits in the state’s history is nothing short of remarkable.

Shegun opens up about his early days, the lessons learned from failure, and the moment his wife encouraged him to finally go all in. He explains how he used consulting work to attract real-world problems and applied a personal framework to choose which one was worth building into a business.

We talk about why pricing can be a powerful form of innovation, how Therapy Brands stood out by aligning with what customers actually valued, and why differentiation often beats being the best.

Shegun reflects on communication as the greatest innovation of all time and shares his passion for helping build Alabama’s innovation ecosystem through his work with Innovate Alabama.

This is a conversation about self-awareness, long-term thinking, and what it really takes to build something meaningful.

About Shegun Otulana

Name:  Shegun Otulana
Title: Founder & CEO
Company: Harmony Venture Labs (HVL)
LinkedIn | Website | Company LinkedIn Page |

Shegun Otulana is a seasoned entrepreneur, advisor, mentor and investor on a mission to empower the next generation of builders. In 2013, he founded TheraNest and its parent company, Therapy Brands, a software platform for mental, behavioral, substance and physical rehab providers and organizations. He exited the business in the largest software exit in Alabama in 2021. He now acts as founder and CEO of Harmony Venture Labs (HVL), an idea and growth studio that owns and operates a family of technology companies. He is also the CEO of Copysmith AI, a startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) for generative content creation. Copysmith’s products include Describely, Rytr.me, and Frase.io. Shegun is the recipient of many awards, including EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year and the prestigious Henry Crown Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. Shegun resides in Birmingham with his wife Mary and their four children.