Episode 150 with Jihan Abass, who is CEO and Founder of Lami, which is an insurance as a service platform that digitises the entire insurance process and allows users to create and distribute digital insurance products in record time. As one of the first female African founders to secure $5.5 million in funding for her startup, Jihan's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Lami addresses Africa's significant insurance gap by digitising the entire process and empowering agents to sell products l...
Nov 25, 2024•34 min•Ep. 150
Episode 149 with Yuma Sasaki, CEO and founder of Dodai, a groundbreaking e-mobility firm revolutionising transportation in East Africa. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dodai Manufacturing PLC is assembling and selling high-speed, affordable electric motorcycles equipped with long-lasting lithium batteries. Yuma shares how Dodai is making e-mobility accessible for everyone in Africa, helping commuters escape traffic jams, cut fuel costs, and embrace a more sustainable future. What We Discuss With...
Nov 18, 2024•52 min•Ep. 149
Episode 148 with Emeka Obiwulu, Founder & CEO of The Offshore Lab (TOL). With over two decades of global experience in engineering and project delivery, Emeka has led impactful projects across continents, emphasising sustainable, community-driven solutions that prioritise local engagement and long-term growth. At The Offshore Lab, Emeka focuses on harnessing technology to empower communities, foster innovation, and unlock local potential. The Offshore Lab offers integrated services in projec...
Nov 11, 2024•45 min•Ep. 148
Episode 147 with Prachi Agarwal and Alberto Lemma, who are both Research Fellows at the International Economic Development Group at ODI. They came on the podcast to discuss their latest report, "Advancing Implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade in Nigeria" , which explores the transformative potential of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade for Nigeria. ODI (Overseas Development Institute) is a leading global think tank dedicated to driving positive change. Their mission is to sha...
Nov 04, 2024•44 min•Ep. 147
Episode 146 with Sylvia Brune who is CEO of pawaPass, a platform making it possible for millions of people in Africa to access services and opportunities without the need for a government-issued ID. With over 50% of people in Africa lacking valid identification, pawaPass offers an inclusive and secure solution to verify users online, enabling them to engage in remote jobs, financial services, online trade, and more. pawaPass' mission is to empower individuals and businesses across the continent ...
Oct 28, 2024•43 min•Ep. 146
Episode 145 with Parminder Vir OBE, a commercially focused executive with a distinguished career spanning entrepreneurship, media, and business development. Awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth for her contributions to broadcasting and film, Parminder has made a significant impact on the global stage. As the former CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, she spearheaded a groundbreaking pan-African entrepreneurship program that has empowered over 10,000 African entrepreneurs ac...
Oct 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 145
Episode 144 with Jo Griffiths, a visionary global strategist and entrepreneur who works at the crossroads of tech startups, major corporations, government, academia, and investors. As the Co-Founder and CEO of The Global Startup Awards Africa, the largest independent international startup awards platform, Jo has successfully launched groundbreaking innovation initiatives across the African continent, driving private-public sector collaboration to stimulate market-creating innovation and ensure s...
Oct 14, 2024•42 min•Ep. 144
Episode 143 with Isidore Kpotufe, founder of Rivia, a network of smart clinics redefining the healthcare experience across Africa. Rivia offers a "WOW" experience for both in-person and virtual care by leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver personalised healthcare, convenience, and broaden access to primary care services on the continent. Isidore is an accomplished tech entrepreneur with a diverse background in building and investing in African ventures across finance, transportation, and...
Oct 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 143
Episode 142 with Diseye Isoun who is a recognised authority in African broadband development, focusing on expanding internet access, connectivity, and stakeholder engagement across the continent. With extensive experience in the sector, he has a deep understanding of how broadband access drives technological innovation, economic development, education, and business growth. Diseye has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape in Nigeria, playing a key role in the establishment of Galaxy ...
Sep 30, 2024•39 min•Ep. 142
Episode 141 with Sola Osinoiki, who is an author, advisory board member, speaker, founder, growth strategist, and most importantly, angel investor in African startups. Sola Osinoiki is a business executive with over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry. Sola has spent numerous years working on global HR systems implementation and consulting with major international organisations and fast-growing small and medium-sized businesses. Sola's mission is to help businesses understand HR ...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 141
Episode 140 with Charles Miller, who is Director of Strategic Alliances and Development at Solynta. Charles also serves as a board member of the African Seed Trade Association and on the American Seed Trade Associations International Committee. In addition, Charles is a member of the International Seed Federations Value Chain Expert Group. Solynta uses hybrid potato breeding to grow a more sustainable future. Their mission is to create global solutions for food and nutritional insecurity by offe...
Sep 16, 2024•48 min•Ep. 140
Episode 139 with Andrew Mori, the CEO and co-founder of Deimos, Africa’s leading cloud technology and professional services company based in South Africa. Deimos was born from the desire to place Software Engineering best practices and first principles at the heart of decision making and strategic direction at technology startups and enterprises, the Deimos story started in Lagos, Nigeria and Cape Town, South Africa. Deimo's mission is to be the leading Cloud Native technology company in Africa....
Sep 09, 2024•53 min•Ep. 139
Episode 138 with Yonas Ademassu Alemu, an investment banker turned entrepreneur who founded Lovegrass Ethiopia. As the Managing Director of this innovative health food company, Yonas has been instrumental in bringing the rich heritage of Ethiopian grains to the global stage. Lovegrass Ethiopia specialises in creating a diverse range of products, including pasta, breakfast cereals, pancake mixes, powdered beverages, and snacks, all crafted from teff and other traditional Ethiopian grains. Teff, a...
Sep 02, 2024•58 min•Ep. 138
Episode 137 is with Walter Wanyanya, a Zimbabwean creative and tech entrepreneur. He's the founder of Apple gadget retail company TechTools Technology as well as the founder of Ngoma Nehosho, a music promotion and marketing company. In the music industry, he is commonly known for his work as the manager of the late popular musician, Oliver Mtukudzi. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Jacaranda Music Festival, the Jabulani Jazz Festival, and the Flame Lily Rock Music Festival in ...
Aug 26, 2024•56 min•Ep. 137
Episode 136 is with Gretchen Villegas, a global development executive with a passion for transformation—disrupting poverty and empowering vulnerable populations. Gretchen began her career as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she experienced firsthand the challenges of living in poverty without access to basic resources or education. This experience inspired her to work with global development organisations, partnering with local communities to identify innovative and creative programming that can b...
Aug 19, 2024•55 min•Ep. 136
Sydney Scott Sam, a celebrated leader in Africa’s marketing and entrepreneurship landscape, notably recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30. Over the past decade, he has been at the forefront of a mission to assist African entrepreneurs in establishing robust brands through his tech platform, Workspace Global. Workspace Global has revolutionized access to top-notch creative services and created remote work opportunities for countless African freelancers across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and South...
Aug 12, 2024•48 min•Ep. 135
Episode 134 is with Claude Grunitzky, a Togolese-American journalist, editor, and entrepreneur, renowned for his work in media and investment. As the founder of TRACE TV, Claude has built a career on elevating diverse voices, particularly women and people of colour. He's also committed to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs in his home country of Togo through specialized training programs. A MIT Sloan Fellow and the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, Claude’s influence e...
Aug 05, 2024•45 min•Ep. 134
Episode 133 is with Prakash Sabunani, Senior Vice President & Partner at N-Soft, a company that uses its advanced solutions to generate extra Government revenues without raising taxes. In ten years of working with emerging states, N-Soft has built substantial expertise in creating innovative technological solutions providing essential support to national budgets. Our solutions allow governments to see where income is leaking away, improve their credit standings and their ability to govern ef...
Jul 29, 2024•50 min•Ep. 133
Episode 132 is with Nader Abdelrazik, Co-Founder and CEO of MoneyHash, a company that addresses all payment needs, helping businesses build, optimise, and scale their payment infrastructure at any stage of growth. MoneyHash recently raised $4.5 million to combat payment failures across the MEA region, despite a significant funding slowdown. They achieved this remarkable feat by tripling their revenue and increasing transaction volume by an astonishing 3,000% post-beta, making them a highly attra...
Jul 22, 2024•56 min•Ep. 132
Episode 131 is with Onyeka Akumah who is a serial entrepreneur. He is the Founder and CEO of Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility solutions startup, with more than 5 million customer journeys completed across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda. As a seasoned executive with a background in agriculture, real estate, mobility, and e-commerce, Onyeka has founded four startups and exited two. His work includes founding Farmcrowdy - the largest agriculture crowdfunding platform that came from Ni...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 131
Episode 130 with Edna Frimpong who is an award-winning entrepreneur who is making remarkable strides in the shoemaking business. Affectionately called the "shoemaker girl," Edna is breaking barriers and inspiring others to pursue their passions, regardless of societal norms. Edna's journey as an entrepreneur began while she was a student at Adonten Senior High School. She had always been interested in fashion and started making slippers as a hobby. However, as she began to receive positive feedb...
Jul 08, 2024•46 min•Ep. 130
Episode 129 with Efayomi Carr, who is Principal at Flourish Ventures, leads Africa investments for Flourish Ventures, and has worked with founders in the startup ecosystem for the last five years. As of November this year, fundraising declined to nearly pre-Covid levels, with startup founders raising only $3.2 billion in a difficult macroeconomic climate that negatively impacted many global companies and regional scaleups and startups. In this period, Flourish Ventures, a global venture capital ...
Jul 01, 2024•41 min•Ep. 129
Episode 128 with Ibrahim Toyeeb Ibitade, co-founder and CEO of Leatherback, on his remarkable journey as a fintech founder and entrepreneur and the driving force behind his mission to transform global financial access for individuals and businesses. Driven by the need to enable global financial access, payments, commerce, and lifestyle opportunities through more equitable financial solutions, Ibrahim started Leatherback in 2019 with an ambition to democratise banking by providing a single access...
Jun 24, 2024•37 min•Ep. 128
Episode 127 with Elizabeth Rossiello, who is the CEO and founder of AZA Finance, an established provider of currency trading solutions that accelerate global access to frontier markets through innovative infrastructure. By leveraging cutting-edge technology in its flagship products, TransferZero and BFX, AZA is able to significantly lower the cost and increase the speed of business payments to and from frontier markets. AZA is now a market maker in every major African currency and facilitates pa...
Jun 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 127
Episode 126 with Dr. Anne Makena, who is Co-Director of the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), a cross-university platform for academic and research collaborations between the University of Oxford and African researchers and institutions. The Initiative aims to support the work of universities and research institutions across Africa and to facilitate the development of equitable and extensive collaborations between Oxford and African institutions. What We Discuss With Anne What are the specific me...
Jun 10, 2024•57 min•Ep. 126
Episode 125 with Paul Breloff, Founder and CEO of Shortlist, which is building a better way to hire, combining the best of tech, data, and human touch to provide executive search and youth employment programming across Africa, India, and 20+ countries globally. Since its inception in 2016, Shortlist has collaborated with more than 900 companies and connected with over 1.5 million professionals. Shortlist is focused on two core offerings: (1) Shortlist Search: This service focuses on executive se...
Jun 03, 2024•46 min•Ep. 125
Episode 124 with Ebun Feludu, who is the Founder and CEO of Kokari Coconuts & Company, which is an integrated coconut processing company that serves the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical markets in Nigeria and across Africa. Since they began operations in 2016, they have processed over one million coconuts into a range of premium coconut oils, coconut foods, and coconut beauty topicals. What We Discuss With Ebun The journey from starting Kokari Coconuts in a kitchen to becoming a major play...
May 27, 2024•34 min•Ep. 124
Episode 123 with Vincent Li, who is a product manager, seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and mentor. He has more than 15 years’ experience in tech product management and VC investment in China, Africa, and the Middle East. Vincent is also a founding partner of Adaverse, which is the Cardano Ecosystem Accelerator that aggregates entrepreneurs, strategists, and mentors to build its most robust foundation in Africa. Adaverse supports blockchain founders with funding, mentorship, and tech. What We Di...
May 20, 2024•39 min•Ep. 123
Episode 122 with Ola Fadiran, who is Co-Founder and CEO at Chiplab, a company that emerged from a critical need—bridging the talent gap in the semiconductor industry and unlocking Africa’s youthful potential. Inspired by conversations with industry leaders seeking to diversify their workforce, including the inclusion of more women and diverse talent, Chiplab was born. ChipLab's mission is to nurture talent across Africa to create state-of-the art intelligent systems. Chiplab has curated an envir...
May 13, 2024•52 min•Ep. 122
Episode 121 with Geoffrey de Mowbray, who is creating a lean and trusted ecosystem for trade through his two business ventures. He is the Chief Executive Officer at Via.Trade, which enables trade by digitising several aspects of the supply chain and bringing customers and suppliers together, all supported by a financial solution and world-leading logistics. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Dints International, a company that leverages industry expertise and cutting-edge technology to pr...
May 06, 2024•55 min•Ep. 121
