At Apex, we’re redefining what’s possible. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, a recent grad, or someone ready for a fresh start, we help you launch a high-growth tech career in months, not years. Our mission is to unlock opportunity for anyone, anywhere, and empower you to thrive in the new economy.
We’re a career accelerator built for the real world. We know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s why we’ve created a platform where anyone—regardless of education, experience, or background—can access the skills, mentorship, and real-world experience needed to launch a rewarding tech career or build their own business. Our programs are designed for busy, ambitious people who want more than just a job—they want to lead, create, and make an impact.
Mission-Driven Founders
Meet the visionaries behind Apex.
Adetayo Ibijemilusi
Founder & CEO
AWS Cloud Engineer | DevOps & Site Reliability Expert | Infrastructure Automation Leader
Tayo is an AWS Cloud Engineer and DevOps leader with a proven track record architecting scalable, resilient solutions for organizations ranging from startups to government agencies. Tayo built his career from the ground up, overcoming barriers that keep so many talented people out of tech. After years of mentoring and building inclusive learning systems, he launched Apex to close the opportunity gap for aspiring professionals—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Tayo leads our flagship Cloud Engineering program, ensuring every student gets hands-on experience, real-world skills, and the confidence to succeed. As a mentor and educator, he’s passionate about helping others unlock their potential and navigate the tech landscape with confidence
Malik Mbaye
Co-Founder & COO
Product Leader | Startup Advisor | Alum — Linkedin, Meta, Google, Upwork, Lyft
Malik is a technology leader with a decade of experience scaling startups and leading product launches at top tech companies. At LinkedIn, he shaped the Jobs business, helping enterprises find and hire top talent. At Meta and Upwork, he launched products and campaigns that reached millions. As a startup advisor, Malik has has helped founders raise over $50M from investors like Google, Twitter, Techstars, Andreessen Horowitz, Vista Equity Partners, Softbank, and more. As a coach and educator, Malik has helped hundreds of professionals into roles at companies like EY, Deloitte, and Goldman Sachs, and more. He brings a unique perspective on how hiring really works and how to help people succeed. Malik’s passion is building systems that help people stand out, get hired, and become leaders, no matter where they start. At Malik leads corporate strategy, oversees our A.I and development teams, and and connects students to a powerful network of mentors and opportunities through our Job Search Accelerator.
We prepare the world for the careers of tomorrow
At Apex, we believe talent is universal, regardless of where someone comes from, how they identify, or what their past experiences have been. But opportunity isn’t equally distributed. That’s what we’re here to change.We’re building a world where anyone can pursue the career they truly want.
Never Stop Learning
Education unlocks opportunity. We're committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning within our communities.
Put People First
We put people at the center of everything we do, from making our platform accessible to delivering a world-class experience.
Think Big
We believe anything is possible, and the best way to seize tomorrow’s opportunities is to be prepared today.
Lift as you Climb
We all rise when we come together. Everyone has something valuable to offer, and we’re strongest when we share our gifts in community.
Our model emphasizes accelerated, accessible, and high-quality learning that empowers students to think critically, solve problems, and adapt in a fast-changing world. By integrating real-world scenarios into daily lessons, we are building a clear and effective pathway for individuals to break into high-growth tech careers with confidence and purpose.
Focusing on impact
After years in the tech industry, we saw how challenging it can be to grow in your career without the right support. We know the struggle of being overlooked despite your abilities. The real problem isn’t talent, it’s access, guidance, and a system that actually works. We set out to create something better, and that is how Apex was born.
A story of struggle, breakthrough, and building a new kind of opportunity.
Apex didn’t start as a business plan—it started as a lifeline. For Adetayo “Tayo” Ibijemilusi, the journey into tech was anything but easy. After dropping out of nursing school, Tayo cycled through a series of dead-end jobs, feeling the weight of family expectations and the sting of being overlooked. Determined to turn things around, he went back to school, earned a degree in Information Technology, and stacked up certifications—doing everything he thought was “right.” But even with all that, he found himself stuck, underemployed, and watching others land the jobs he dreamed of.
The breakthrough didn’t come from another certificate. It came from identifying the right opportunity and realizing what companies actually cared about: real-world experience and project work that proved you could deliver results. Tayo shifted his focus from chasing credentials to building his own projects and portfolio. That shift helped him break into tech, land high-paying roles, achieve financial independence, and even retire his family. Most importantly, he started helping others do the same.
What began as informal mentorship quickly became a movement. People from all backgrounds—even those with no tech experience—were landing jobs, building wealth, and changing their lives. Tayo realized this was a hidden gem: so many were struggling not because they lacked talent, but because they lacked the right information, systems, and support.
Meanwhile, one of Tayo’s childhood friends, Malik Mbaye, was on a similar journey. At LinkedIn, Malik saw the other side of the opportunity gap: companies desperate for talent, but unable to find candidates who could truly stand out. He realized the traditional playbook—degrees, credentials, endless applications—was broken. This hit home for Malik because, for years, Malik faced rejection after rejection—unable to land the roles he knew he was qualified for, despite having strong skills and experience. It was only after he cracked the code on how to stand out in the job market—by building a portfolio, mastering the application process, and learning how hiring really works. That same portfolio approach not only helped Malik break into top companies, but also allowed him to launch a thriving consulting business.
As soon as Malik figured this out, he made it his mission to help others do the same—coaching, mentoring, and helping people get the opportunities they deserved. Not only was he able to guide and mentor countless professionals as a career coach, but his consulting business also became a launchpad for others: he provided real project opportunities for those who needed to build their portfolios and gain hands-on experience.
Recognizing the power of this approach, Tayo and Malik partnered up to expand these opportunities even further—giving students from direct access to real-world projects, mentorship, and the kind of experience that truly sets candidates apart. But Malik also brought something more: the network and technology background build a system that could deliver these results at scale—not just for a handful of people, but for thousands.
They recognized their journeys were two sides of the same coin. Both had been overlooked and both had to figure it out the hard way, and both became obsessed with designing a formula that anyone could follow: building formal curriculum, a vibrant community, and a network of mentors and industry leaders.
Apex was born from this convergence: a career accelerator for anyone ready to take control of their future, regardless of background, education, or experience. Built for busy, ambitious people—parents, teachers, career changers, and dreamers—Apex is more than a program. It’s a system, a community, and a movement. Thanks to their experience, network, and the power of AI, they’ve turned their knowledge into a foolproof system that actually gets results.
Since launching, Apex has helped over a thousand people—especially those from overlooked and marginalized backgrounds—build real skills, launch new careers, and even start their own businesses. What started as two friends helping others has become a platform for transformation, leadership, and generational change.
Apex remains committed to one core belief: talent is everywhere, and with the right support, anyone can build a life and career they’re proud of.
