On this day 21 years ago, I was born into a world that never promised ease. I grew up in Ghana—not with silver spoons, but with silent strength. My dad raised me and my two brothers alone after our mom left in 2010. No complaints. No excuses. Just a man determined to give his boys a future.
He didn't know it then, but he was raising a visionary.
From Volta to Visionary
I come from the Volta Region. A place often overlooked in tech conversations—but it made me. That small-town fire made me dare to dream of building global platforms. I started like everyone else—curious, broke, underestimated.
No connections. No capital. Just hunger.
The Pain That Built My Fire
Before Sendexa, I tried to build something called Xtocast. I was full of energy, but young, inexperienced—and I got scammed badly. People laughed. Friends stopped texting. Paystack ignored me. Hubtel pushed me aside. It felt like the entire system was closed to someone like me.
But I didn’t quit. I coded harder. I learned quietly. I planned silently.
Sendexa Was Born From the Dark
Sendexa wasn’t just another startup idea. It was my comeback. My revenge on failure. My answer to doubt. I didn’t want to just build an SMS company. I wanted to challenge the giants. I wanted to build Ghana’s own Twilio—a developer-first communication platform that’s fast, modern, and trusted.
Then came Xtopay—the simplest way to pay online in Ghana and beyond. And Xtottel—a dream to make Ghana’s first telecom company from Volta Region.
The First Yes That Changed Everything
When UNICEF Startup Lab accepted me into their program, something shifted. People started to ask questions. My inbox got warmer. I wasn’t just 'that guy coding alone' anymore—I was now the CEO of Sendexa.
What You Don’t See
I’ve designed and developed every part of Sendexa and Xtopay myself. I juggle school and running a startup—coding between classes and meetings. I built dashboards, APIs, UI/UX flows, landing pages—often listening to motivational speeches at 2AM. Most people only see links I post. They don’t see the bugs, the pressure, the broken laptops, the tears.
What’s Coming Next
I’m not here to impress. I’m here to execute. Sendexa will become Ghana’s most trusted communication platform. Xtopay will power everyday payments—simple, secure, and local. Xtottel will rise from Volta and compete globally. I will sit at the table with billionaires like Stripe’s founders and say—I built this from Ghana. From nothing.
21 Lessons at 21
1. God’s timing > everyone’s opinion.
2. Silence builds. Noise distracts.
3. Ideas are useless without insane execution.
4. Most people only support you when it’s trending.
5. Your pain is your platform.
6. Don’t explain your vision. Show it.
7. Don’t seek validation from those who quit on their own dreams.
8. “No” just means “not yet.”
9. Sleep is good. Purpose is better.
10. Never beg to be understood.
11. Protect your mental space.
12. Document your journey — even when no one reads.
13. Small wins compound.
14. Loyalty is everything.
15. You don’t need millions to start — you need madness.
16. Feedback is gold. But not all opinions are equal.
17. Focus is your superpower.
18. They’ll call it luck. But you’ll know it was war.
19. Be okay with being the only one who believes.
20. One day of consistency is better than ten days of hype.
21. You’re not behind. You’re just getting ready.
Thank You
To my father—for showing me what resilience looks like. To my two brothers—you’re the reason I keep going. To Ethel and my growing team—your belief fuels me. To Cyrenna—thank you for understanding the chaos that comes with building. To my mentors, supporters, and even my doubters—I see you. I needed you.
Say Something, Say It Now
To celebrate this milestone, I’ve built a little page for you to send in a birthday wish, prayer, or message. I’ll read every one. 👉 [Submit your wish here](https://collinsjoe.me/birthday)
"Visionaries build in silence. We are not loud—we are focused."
Collins Joe
Founder & CEO of Sendexa