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The Grinders Table

The Grinders Table

By Uwem Uwemakpan

The Grinders Table Podcast is your opportunity to sit at the table with entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders who are shaking things up in their industry.

Each week Uwem will interview these amazing thought-leaders to uncover how they've done it and learn something new in the process. Join me on the regular to hear how they dared to defy the odds and live their own success story... or epic failure!
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Currently playing episode

Taking ownership with Caleb Maru, GP at Proximity Ventures

The Grinders TableJan 26, 2023

00:00
28:02
The African startup landscape, a conversation with Oo Nwoye (Part 2)

The African startup landscape, a conversation with Oo Nwoye (Part 2)

In the second part of my conversation with Oo Nwoye on The Grinders Table, we shift our focus to venture capital, innovation, and the global tech landscape. Oo shares his insights on how venture capital can effectively support startups, the importance of domain expertise in angel investing, and the risks of providing too much capital too early.


We also discuss the evolution of startup funding and the ethical considerations for founders in managing investor relationships.


Mar 25, 202435:05
The African startup landscape, a conversation with Oo Nwoye (Part 1)

The African startup landscape, a conversation with Oo Nwoye (Part 1)

This week, I had the honour of hosting Oo Nwoye at The Grinders Table. Oo stands out as a key figure in Africa's startup ecosystem, providing advisory services to startups and serving as an exceptional source of deal flow for investors interested in the continent.


He shared so much that I split the conversation into two episodes. We dive deep into his fascinating entrepreneurial journey in this first part of our conversation. We explore his personal background and the early career experiences that shaped his unique path. We'll discuss the significance of networking in the tech industry and uncover the importance of building genuine relationships for fundraising success.


We'll also delve into the social media habits of founders, the challenges in maintaining an online persona, and how to navigate the complex landscape of social media work culture.


Join us for this exciting exploration of entrepreneurial beginnings and the power of networking.

Mar 18, 202437:23
Building an Integrated Life with Kanini Mutooni

Building an Integrated Life with Kanini Mutooni

Today, we're celebrating International Women's Day by revisiting one of our favourite episodes. Joining me is the remarkable Kanini Matooni, a voice that resonates with empowerment and inspiration. In this episode, we dive into Kanini's journey, her challenges, and the triumphs that define the essence of womanhood. So, whether you're a long-time listener or joining us for the first time, sit back and let's honour the spirit of women everywhere with this special conversation.

Mar 11, 202423:42
Scaling E-Commerce in Africa: Insights from Jumia's Ex CEO - Massimiliano Spalazzi

Scaling E-Commerce in Africa: Insights from Jumia's Ex CEO - Massimiliano Spalazzi

In this episode of the Grinders Table podcast, we're excited to feature Massimiliano Spalazzi, the former CEO of Jumia Nigeria and Group Executive VP Marketplace at Jumia. Join us as Massi shares his remarkable journey of being one of the first employees at Jumia and playing a pivotal role in the company's inception in Nigeria in 2012. Massi opens up about the exhilarating experience of starting a company from the ground up, launching into different markets, managing various verticals, and ultimately achieving the milestone of becoming the first African tech internet company to list on the New York Stock Exchange.

Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of Jumia, including the challenges and high-pressure environment that come with building a brand destined to scale across multiple markets. Massi reflects on working closely with the initial co-founders Tunde and Rafael in Lagos and the evolution of Jumia from its initial websites to the renowned brand it is today.

Tune in for an insightful conversation filled with valuable stories and learnings from a key player in the growth of Africa's e-commerce ecosystem.

Mar 04, 202427:45
Redefining Tourism Through Technology with David Gonahasa

Redefining Tourism Through Technology with David Gonahasa

Join us on an inspiring journey as David Gonahasa, Founder of Tripessa, takes us from his early beginnings on the streets of Uganda to revolutionizing the tourism sector with RoundBob, and now Tripessa. His narrative is not just one of success, but of resilience, as he navigates the trials of pioneering internet ventures and leadership roles in a pan-African enterprise.


David also shares invaluable insights on leadership, building teams, and attracting supporters for a new venture. Plus, we get a glimpse into the personal side of entrepreneurship, including the vital support of spouses and the importance of maintaining a moral compass.

Feb 20, 202433:06
Breaking Barriers and Building Networks: A Conversation with June Angelides MBE

Breaking Barriers and Building Networks: A Conversation with June Angelides MBE

In this episode of the Grinders Table podcast, I sit down with June Angelides MBE, a trailblazer and advocate for diversity in the startup ecosystem.


June is the founding partner at Levare Ventures which backs early-stage startups across E-commerce, Fintech, Healthtech, Future of Work and B2B Saas across sub-saharan Africa. She has invested across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. She also invests in European startups with Samos Investments.


June shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Lagos to studying economics in London, and how she found her passion for supporting female founders and breaking down barriers in the tech industry.


June's story is one of resilience and determination as she navigated different industries, from working in finance to founding a child-friendly coding school for moms. She opens up about the challenges she faced and the lessons she learned along the way, including the importance of authenticity, building meaningful relationships, and embracing failure.


June also delves into the power of networking, the value of curiosity, and the importance of creating opportunities for others. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make a difference in the world.


Timestamps:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction

  • 00:00:15 June's background and journey to the UK

  • 00:02:02 Joining Silicon Valley Bank and learning the world of startups

  • 00:03:16 Founding Moms-in-Tech and the challenges of building a business

  • 00:05:57 Transitioning to Venture Capital

  • 00:06:30 Investing in Africa and the exciting startup ecosystem

  • 00:08:46 Overcoming challenges and staying motivated

  • 00:11:28 Motivating others and building a strong network

  • 00:14:46 The importance of authenticity and storytelling

  • 00:18:18 Addressing the lack of capital for diverse founders

  • 00:23:05 The role of female investors in allocating capital

  • 00:26:12 Learning to swim and the power of networking

Feb 12, 202436:53
The Intersection of Tech, Policy and Entrepreneurship with Oswald Osaretin Guobadia

The Intersection of Tech, Policy and Entrepreneurship with Oswald Osaretin Guobadia

I am delighted to have Oswald Osaritin Guobadia as our guest on the Grinders Table Podcast today. He is a prominent figure in the Nigerian Tech Ecosystem who played a key role in passing The Nigerian Startup Act.


Oswald's story is a powerful narrative of transformation, resilience, and the pursuit of value. His insights on career change, the importance of impact, and the power and money dynamics give us much to ponder.


Subscribe, share with a friend and leave a comment.

Feb 06, 202428:01
Mastering the art of building a business with Anil Atma (CEO, Kreem Inc)

Mastering the art of building a business with Anil Atma (CEO, Kreem Inc)

For this episode, I had a wholesome conversation with Anil Atma, a savvy entrepreneur and advisor to various venture funds, startups and businesses in Nigeria, including a unicorn.


We explore the fascinating world of tech and business, and what entrepreneurs need to focus on as they build. Whether you dream of launching your startup, scaling your existing company, or learning from the best practices of successful entrepreneurs, this episode will give you valuable insights and motivation for your journey.


Listen, subscribe and share with a friend!


Jan 29, 202427:34
Turning lemons to lemonade with Seyi Abolaji (Founder, Wilson's Juice Co)

Turning lemons to lemonade with Seyi Abolaji (Founder, Wilson's Juice Co)

Join us on a captivating journey with Seyi Abolaji, who went from pursuing his football aspirations to becoming a leader in the Nigeria Food and Beverage industry with Wilsons Juice Co, aka, Wilson's Lemonade. In this episode, we dive deep into Seyi's pursuit of impact over comfort, his dedication to personal growth, and his dogged pursuit of impact. Seyi discusses the intricacies of making it in Nigeria's beverage industry, the importance of playing to your strengths, and how his personal mantra, "create better," along with his SKITS philosophy—Sacrifice, Creativity, Integrity, Teamwork—guides his entrepreneurial spirit. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom not only for aspiring entrepreneurs but for anyone looking to forge a meaningful trajectory in their professional and personal lives.

Subscribe and share with a friend!

Jan 22, 202433:23
A Journey of Resilience: Joe Kinvi's Path to Pan-African Impact

A Journey of Resilience: Joe Kinvi's Path to Pan-African Impact

On the first episode of this season, we dive into Joe Kinvi's inspiring story, a visionary whose roots in Togo have branched out to make a Pan-African impact in the business world. We trace Joe's remarkable journey from an accounting and finance student in Dublin to building one of Africa's top investment syndicates - Hoaq. His story is a masterclass in resilience, underscored by an unyielding passion to drive Africa's economic renaissance. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned businessperson, or simply a curious mind, there's a wealth of insight waiting for you in this episode.


Jan 15, 202433:16
Unconventional Routes with Ikpeme Neto (Founder, Wella Health)

Unconventional Routes with Ikpeme Neto (Founder, Wella Health)

Join us in this insightful episode as we explore the journey of Ikpeme Neto, the founder and CEO of Wella Health. This episode provides an in-depth look at one of those transforming healthcare in Africa through the lens of a visionary who traded in his scrubs for the world of startups. Hear about the challenges and triumphs of building a successful team, leveraging data in healthcare tech, and maintaining a balanced family life while pioneering change.

Neto shares valuable insights from his experience, shedding light on the unique path he's carved at the intersection of medicine, technology, and entrepreneurship.


Jul 25, 202336:42
Increasing the Odds with Cindy Ai and Mark Kleyner of DreamVC

Increasing the Odds with Cindy Ai and Mark Kleyner of DreamVC

In this enlightening episode, we have an in-depth discussion with Mark Kleyner and Cindy Ai, co-founders of Dream VC, as they reveal the realities of the venture capital world. They share their journey from being entrepreneurs to becoming venture capitalists and how their shared passion has been a catalyst for their success.

Mark and Cindy delve into the dynamics of the African venture capital market, discussing the importance of understanding the various aspects of the industry and the challenges they've faced. They also touch on the unique dynamics of their co-founder relationship, including how they support each other during challenging times and the principles they value.

The conversation takes a turn towards diversity and ethics in the venture capital space. Mark and Cindy discuss the need for improved knowledge and standards in the African VC space, creating a culture of ethical behaviour, and promoting diversity. They also highlight the need for better support systems and resources to create a more accessible and safe space for young women to transition into venture capital.

Listen in to get insights into the venture capital landscape from the perspective of Mark and Cindy, co-founders of Dream VC.

Shownotes:

(0:00:00) - Introduction to Mark and Cindy, co-founders of Dream VC

(0:07:56) - Transition from entrepreneurs to venture capitalists

(0:13:10) - The importance of a strong co-founder relationship

(0:18:05) - The value of taking a break

(0:27:12) - Promoting diversity and ethics in the venture capital space

(0:34:27) - Managing expectations

Jul 17, 202337:04
The Balance of Passion and Practicality with Eugene Nwoke (Country Manager, Roche)

The Balance of Passion and Practicality with Eugene Nwoke (Country Manager, Roche)

In this insightful episode, we delve into the intriguing world of healthcare and the rich career of Eugene Nwoke across FMCG, Pharma, and Biotech. Eugene shares his journey and commitment to addressing the stark inequity in healthcare. He also talks about the balance of passion and practicality in making decisions. Listen and share with a friend.


Key points discussed:
- Eugene's journey into healthcare, triggered by the stark disparities he observed in the field.
- Balancing passion and practicality in decision-making


- Understanding you can't control everything
- Learning from failure
- Mentorship
- Learning beyond conventional education

Jul 11, 202331:09
Leading with influence: Babajide Duroshola (M-Kopa)

Leading with influence: Babajide Duroshola (M-Kopa)

In this episode, we dive deep into the life and experiences of Babajide Duroshola, a seasoned operator who helps African companies scale. Babajide offers invaluable insights into leadership and team building, learned from his time with reputable firms like Andela, SafeBoda and M-Kopa. He discusses the importance of shared understanding, learning from mistakes, and the pursuit of progress before perfection. This episode is packed with life lessons, personal experiences, and inspiring stories that are sure to enrich your perspective as you build your career and run your business.
Key Discussion Points:
- Babaji's journey in striking a balance between personal and professional life (0:00:00)
- His insights on leadership and team building, learned from firms like Andela, SafeBoda, and M-Kopa (0:15:41)
- The philosophy of play and personal growth - taking a hiatus from work to reconnect with inner selves, being a life-long learner (0:28:35)
- Importance of independent thought (0:33:33)

Key Quotes:
- "We're not striving for perfection. We are striving for what works."
- "The only way you are able to pull in the same direction is by getting everybody to a point of shared understanding."
- "Progress before perfection. For me, it is like progress. It's never really perfection. Like are we moving forward? Are we moving? Are we moving in the right direction?"
- "Leadership is hard. You make decisions and you have to look at those decisions and live with it."


Jul 04, 202335:37
Bonus: Building in a Crisis

Bonus: Building in a Crisis

On this week's episode of The Grinders Table, I share insights from my conversations with guests on the podcast to provide you with inspiration and guidance as you navigate the world as it unfolds. If what you’ve heard today is beneficial to your journey, please hit the share button on your podcast platform and share it with a friend. Remember, tough times don't define us; they refine us. Keep grinding and stay resilient.


Thank you to Blessing Abeng, Anta Diallo, Will Senyo, Temitope Ekundayo, Hafsah Jumare, Max Cuvellier, Kanini Mutooni, Kristin Wilson, and Dayo Ademola for sharing your time with us.

Jun 28, 202327:59
Digitising the Hospitality Industry with Havar Bauck, CEO of HotelOnline

Digitising the Hospitality Industry with Havar Bauck, CEO of HotelOnline

We dive into the fascinating world of hospitality with Havar Bauck, founder and co-CEO of Hotel Online, as he shares his incredible journey from a one-year international exchange program in Kenya to building a successful business in the hospitality industry. Hotel Online is the leading revenue partner for hotels in emerging markets like Africa. Founded in 2014, they help more than 6,000 hotels in 27 countries boost occupancy, and increase yield.


In this episode of the Grinders Table podcast, Havar reveals the passion that drives him, his experience working in Africa, and the unique challenges he faced along the way.


Get an inside look at the hurdles and triumphs of steering a business to profitability, including the impact of COVID-19 on travel and tourism and how Hotel Online pivoted to a domestic market. Havar and his co-founder's open and honest dialogue led them through such turbulent times, and together, we explore the potential of AI in the hospitality industry.


Join us for an engaging and informative episode that's sure to inspire and educate!

Jun 07, 202336:57
Launching in a pandemic with Mayowa Alli (Co-founder, Traction Apps)

Launching in a pandemic with Mayowa Alli (Co-founder, Traction Apps)

In this inspiring episode, Mayowa Ali, co-founder of Traction Apps, shares his journey from studying engineering to launching a digital operating system for SMEs in Africa amidst a global pandemic. Mayowa's passion for technology and entrepreneurship led him and his co-founder to address the underserved SME market and pick so many invaluable lessons along the way.

Learn about the challenges of building a startup in financial services, fostering a collaborative remote environment, and the importance of understanding your motivations and staying true to yourself. Join us for a fascinating conversation with Mayowa Ali and see how embracing resilience can lead to success on your entrepreneurial journey.

May 23, 202334:42
Creating Change with Angie Madara (Founding Partner, Athena FundX)

Creating Change with Angie Madara (Founding Partner, Athena FundX)

In this inspiring episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Angie Madara, a passionate advocate for women in tech entrepreneurship. Angie is a Founding Partner at AthenaFundX, a fund that invests in providing women entrepreneurs with the support, resources, and visibility they need to turn their ideas into successful businesses. Angie shares her experience in business and her foray into tech which led her to create groundbreaking projects like M-Pesa, a mobile money platform widely used in Africa.

We explored Angie's lessons from the acquisition of her startup to the importance of preparing entrepreneurs for the types of questions they may face when pitching. She emphasizes the need to give value to receive value and to focus on building and improving the lives of others.

May 14, 202333:03
Bonus Episode: Navigating Uncertainty with Yusufa Sey

Bonus Episode: Navigating Uncertainty with Yusufa Sey

I thought to share a conversation I recorded in 2016 with Yusufa Sey, founder of Northern Industries. In this BONUS episode, our guest shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey from Gambia, the United States, London, and finally Denmark, where he co-founded Athene, a personal genetics company that unlocks the secrets of sports and diet genes. He discusses the importance of taking calculated risks and embracing uncertainty as an entrepreneur and shares his experience of moving to Denmark, overcoming challenges, and the power of perseverance in building a global business. The episode also explores the importance of risk-taking in life and business, the story of Facebook's unexpected growth, and the key to successful entrepreneurship: facing uncertainty and moving forward with courage.

May 04, 202328:41
Navigating Growth, Risk, and Empathy in Financial Services: Insights from Branch's Dayo Ademola

Navigating Growth, Risk, and Empathy in Financial Services: Insights from Branch's Dayo Ademola

In this insightful episode, we speak with Dayo Odutale-Ademola, Managing Director for Nigeria at Branch International Financial Services, about her professional journey driven by the desire to create an impact through her work. Dayo shares her experiences, emphasizing the importance of growth, risk management, and building a sustainable business for long-term success. We also discuss the transformational experience of losing her father and how it led her to reconsider her views on mortality and legacy.

Additionally, we explore the significance of empathy and patience when dealing with others in the workplace and the power of understanding different backgrounds and perspectives. Listen this thought-provoking conversation and learn valuable lessons that will be worth revisiting.

Apr 18, 202330:38
From Passion to Profession: Diji Aderogba's Inspiring Journey

From Passion to Profession: Diji Aderogba's Inspiring Journey

In this episode I sat down with fast-rising Filmmaker and Creative Director, Diji Aderogba, where he shared his creative journey, experiences working with big brands and achieving success despite the odds. Diji talks about his love for cultural storytelling, his background as an actor, handling criticism and the lessons he's learned from various projects that have shaped his career. This conversation provides valuable insights for aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs.


Timestamps: (0:00:01) - Creativity Through Cultural Storytelling: Discover Diji's love for the arts and his path to becoming a filmmaker, as well as how his experience as an actor has informed his work as a director. (0:13:37) - Working With Big Brands: Learn about the challenges and benefits of working with various crew members, staying up-to-date with industry trends, and partnering with big brands while balancing trust, communication, and respect. (0:22:14) - Achieving Success With Goals: Find out the importance of focusing on the work, not getting carried away by big brands or celebrities, and the value of building a portfolio and making connections in the industry. (0:32:40) - Living in Bondage: Listen to our guest reminisce about the classic film Living in Bondage and its impact on his creative journey.

Apr 04, 202334:07
Navigating Academia to Entrepreneurship with Hafsah Jumare, CEO of CoAmana

Navigating Academia to Entrepreneurship with Hafsah Jumare, CEO of CoAmana

I had the pleasure of talking with Hafsa Jomari, CEO of CoAmana, an Agtech startup operating in Nigeria and Kenya. We discussed her inspiring journey from academia to entrepreneurship and how her obsession with solving the issue of market access for smallholder farmers led her to create CoAmana. In this episode, Hafsa shares invaluable advice she received during her entrepreneurial journey and how CoAmana has adapted and evolved over time. We also discuss the challenges of building and managing a team, the importance of having a co-founder, and the best and worst advice she has received in her career.


(0:00:01) - Exploring Curiosity and Leadership in Business (0:14:03) - Navigating Agriculture Markets (0:25:31) - Just Do It Key moments from the podcast: - Hafsah's journey from academia to entrepreneurship and her obsession with solving market access for smallholder farmers - The importance of curiosity and understanding the local context when solving problems - Challenges in building and managing a team, and the role of a co-founder - Valuable advice Hafsah received during her entrepreneurial journey and how CoAmana has adapted and evolved over time - The importance of overcoming analysis paralysis and taking action to learn and grow

Mar 28, 202328:07
Connecting the dots with Desigan Chinniah aka Dees

Connecting the dots with Desigan Chinniah aka Dees

We spent time with Desigan Chinniah aka Dees or Cyberdees, a successful technology entrepreneur and investor in under-represented minority founders.  In this episode, we explore his journey through the dotcom era (his time at Mozilla and deprecating Flash), taking risks, building diverse teams, the rise of AI, and much more.

This episode is full of insights into succeeding as a technology entrepreneur! From staying curious and staying focused on things that bring joy and energy to exploring new opportunities through taking risks - there is something for everyone! So why not give it a listen? We guarantee you'll learn something valuable about navigating the world!


(0:06:03) The Journey of a Technology Entrepreneur: Dees talks about his personal experience of getting into the tech industry, nurturing relationships, and his multicultural family background. (0:14:46) Empathy and Investing: The conversation focuses on topics such as Firefox OS, deprecating Flash from the web, taking risks, building diverse teams, and the rise of AI. Dees encourages listeners to take risks and be empathetic when hiring and managing teams. (0:26:33) Navigating a New World: The speaker discusses the African continent, the future workforce, and the potential for disruption, as well as the importance of time management and creating calendar entries to remind oneself of important tasks. (0:33:46) Staying Focused on What You Want: The conversation concludes with the idea of staying curious and staying focused on the things that bring joy and energy, even when it is hard to achieve.

Mar 16, 202335:33
Unlocking potential with Ashley Immanuel (Co-founder, Semicolon)

Unlocking potential with Ashley Immanuel (Co-founder, Semicolon)

This week we had a chat with the amazing Ashley Immanuel, the Co-founder and COO of Semicolon. Semicolon's goal is to turn Africa's vibrant youth population into an army of technologists, software developers, enterprise architects and project managers.

Ashley shares her journey with us, how she followed her passion and experiences, as well as one of the coolest intros you'll ever hear!


Timestamp:

(0:00:00) - Unlocking Potential to Change the World: Ashley shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting the importance of being inquisitive and open-minded when starting out in a career. (0:16:34) - The Journey of Co-Founding Semicolon: Ashley talks about the challenges and benefits of running a startup with her husband, and how their complementary skills contribute to the success of the business. (0:25:07) - Building Talent Pipeline: Ashley discusses the talent pipeline problem in Africa and how Semicolon is working to bridge the gap between unemployed or underemployed individuals and businesses in need of tech talent. She also shares advice for founders on being values-driven and committed to their vision.

Mar 06, 202336:25
The road less travelled with Oyinkansola Fawehinmi (Foza)
Feb 20, 202337:48
Taking ownership with Caleb Maru, GP at Proximity Ventures

Taking ownership with Caleb Maru, GP at Proximity Ventures

I am excited to start 2023 buzzing with Caleb Maru, Managing Partner at Proximity ventures, on the Grinders Table. Caleb also writes an amazing newsletter that tracks the African tech ecosystem called Tech Safari. Caleb shares why he invests in startups, his approach to managing teams and insights on his journey so far.
Jan 26, 202328:02
Nurturing Tech Talent with Snehar Shah, CEO of Moringa School

Nurturing Tech Talent with Snehar Shah, CEO of Moringa School

This week we had the pleasure of chatting with Snehar Shah, the CEO of Moringa school. Snehar is passionate about spearheading the development of Africa's young people through learning tech skills and this is evidenced in his leadership at Moringa school. Snehar has over 25 years of diverse experience in building and running businesses in multiple industries and geographies (UK, Europe and Africa).


Dec 20, 202227:27
Navigating Career with Mouna Akefli

Navigating Career with Mouna Akefli

This week we had Mouna Akefli, Marketing Manager CU West Africa & Morocco at Ericsson. Muna discusses her journey of finding purpose in life and her deep-rooted love for Africa. She talks about purpose-led marketing and impacting initiatives through her work, and why young professionals should focus on growing their talents, taking risks, and experimenting. 

Nov 29, 202223:60
Championing Inclusivity with Solape Akinpelu, CEO of Hervest

Championing Inclusivity with Solape Akinpelu, CEO of Hervest

Last weekend we spent time on the Grinders Table with Solape Akinpelu, CEO of Hervest. Hervest is pioneering inclusive finance for the African woman! Solape took time to share her experience and wisdom about fundraising, why businesses and the world are not as inclusive to women, what holds them back, and how the behaviour of finance needs to be part of the conversation in order to change.


Nov 22, 202224:41
Scaling impact with Will Senyo, CEO, Impact Hub Accra

Scaling impact with Will Senyo, CEO, Impact Hub Accra

This week's featured conversation is with a 'true son of the soil' and Co-founder of Impact Hub Accra - Will Senyo. Will shares tips for founders, his thoughts on the over-fixation on Fintech, revitalising dying industries, his recent fund targeting the creative space in Accra, Ghana and future plans. One of our hottest episodes yet!
Nov 01, 202234:52
Transformation using digital skills with Martin Ndlovu

Transformation using digital skills with Martin Ndlovu

Martin is a technologist and PanAfricanist who believes in technology's ability to put Africa on the map as the most significant workforce in the world. He has been working on delivering programs and aggregating relevant programs to empower Africans with 21st-century skills and bringing remote workers from around the world to Africa to realise the continent's beauty.

Martin talks about his motivations, as well as shares some really good advice you don't want to miss.


Oct 24, 202232:08
Tackling emergency healthcare challenges with Folake Owodunni, Founder of Emergency Response Africa

Tackling emergency healthcare challenges with Folake Owodunni, Founder of Emergency Response Africa

Folake Owodunni is the Co-founder and CEO of Emergency Response Africa (ERA), a health-tech company dedicated to saving lives one emergency at a time. Folake shares her inspiration for building the company, lessons she learned along the way and tips for aspiring founders.

Oct 15, 202234:10
Building in uncertainty with Damilare Ogunleye

Building in uncertainty with Damilare Ogunleye

I had the pleasure of speaking with Damilare Ogunleye, the co-founder at FoodLama. FoodLama is a personalized genie that helps you find the best food for you, based on your preferences and your lifestyle choices. Damilare shared how being an entrepreneur requires work-life balance, communication, and discipline. 

He talked about building distribution into your products and having a clear vision and roadmap for the next ten years. He touched on relationships and how being a father impacted his life.

Sep 13, 202236:07
Enduring tough times with Thrive Agric's Uka Eje

Enduring tough times with Thrive Agric's Uka Eje

This week I caught up with the founder of Nigeria Agritech, ThriveAgric, while playing football. ThriveAgric provides access to finance, technology-based advice, extension services, and global and local markets to smallholder farmers in Africa. They noticed that smaller farmers faced a lot of problems, and they wanted to provide them with solutions so that they could increase their yield and also assess a larger market.

Uka shared his story of building his business, and he advised founders to take their time to relax, have friends within their startup, and embrace uncertainty. He shares that the key to solving a problem is to take one step at a time and to have the right mentors who can help you along the way. 

Aug 30, 202230:45
Taking Risks with Yvonne Bajela (Local Globe)

Taking Risks with Yvonne Bajela (Local Globe)

Yvonne Bajela spent time with us on the Grinders Table sharing her experience building a career, following her intuition, taking risks and pivoting throughout her career. 

Yvonne invests in startups across the UK & Africa. She is a founding member at Impact X a UK-based venture capital fund founded to invest in companies led by underrepresented entrepreneurs. Over the last five years, Yvonne has invested over £200 million in various startups across Europe, the Middle East and Africa including Wise (formerly TransferWise), Flutterwave and Marshmallow.



 

Aug 16, 202219:04
Building Teams with Sam Sturm (Founders Factory Africa)

Building Teams with Sam Sturm (Founders Factory Africa)

This week's episode features a conversation with Sam Sturm, Chief Venture Architect at Founders Factory Africa (FFA). FFA is the go-to innovation partner for startups, investors, governments, and corporates — throughout Africa and beyond. Sam shares insights on the value of relationships, his journey into the venture space, his thoughts on the Venture ecosystem, the myth of talent scarcity and his favourite productivity hacks.



Aug 09, 202241:30
Zouheir Lakhdissi, The Accidental Entrepreneur

Zouheir Lakhdissi, The Accidental Entrepreneur

This week I had the opportunity of having a chat with Zouheir Lakhdissi, a Moroccan entrepreneur and founder with more than 22 years of experience in the digital industry and more than 15 years in C-Level positions. Zouheir shares his journey, how he has built his career and why he thinks AI is the future of human existence.

Aug 01, 202234:44
Conversations with Kristin Wilson
Jul 25, 202233:04
Conversations with Joseph Agunbiade

Conversations with Joseph Agunbiade

I spoke with Joseph Agunbiade, Co-founder of BudgIT and founder of Univelcity. Joseph explains his love for physics and how it has influenced his life. He also shared key insights on how he has built a successful career (even if he doesn't regard himself as successful). Finally, Joseph capped our conversation with some amazing book recommendations that you should definitely take a look at.


Jun 14, 202234:27
Conversations with Prasanth Kumar

Conversations with Prasanth Kumar

On the Grinders Table was Prasanth Kumar.  Prasanth has held leadership roles in India, Dubai, Morocco to Ghana with a career spanning over 20 years. He shares his lessons learned, failures and key insights from his journey.

May 25, 202232:42
Conversations with Kanini Mutooni

Conversations with Kanini Mutooni

Today we had Kanini Mutooni on the Grinders Table and I was awed. Kanini has held leadership and board level positions in East Africa, Europe and the US. She shares with us her 'behind the scene' story as well as lessons she learned along the way. Grab a cup of coffee, tea or whatever you like, plug in your headphones and join the conversation.

May 17, 202223:26
Conversations with Olawale Adegoke

Conversations with Olawale Adegoke

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Olawale Adegoke, a serial entrepreneur, who runs two interesting businesses - an outdoor advertising agency and a fantasy sports platform. Olawale shares his journey from construction to real estate and now advertising and sports.

May 10, 202229:40
Conversations with Bola Lawal

Conversations with Bola Lawal

This week we had Bola Lawal on the Grinders Table. Bola Lawal, an impact Entrepreneur focused on emerging markets, founded ScholarX (LearnAm), an Education Finance platform that helps students access funding to get an education. Bola shares insights and learnings from his journey in 'startuping'.

Apr 26, 202229:49
Finding Clarity with Tomilola Majekodunmi (Bankly)

Finding Clarity with Tomilola Majekodunmi (Bankly)

This week I had the pleasure of having Tomilola Majekodunmi, CEO of Bankly, on the Grinders Table. Bankly, a Nigerian fintech startup digitizing cash for the unbanked, recently announced a $2 million seed round. Tomi shared insights on her journey and lessons she learned along the way.


Who would you like to have on the Grinders Table?

Apr 19, 202229:34
Conversation with Temitope Ekundayo

Conversation with Temitope Ekundayo

This is the longest and most interesting episode yet!!! This week I spent some time chatting with Temitope Ekundayo, co-CEO of Printivo and Co-founder of GetEquity. I have to apologize for butchering his name too!

Temitope shared insights on building a great company, lessons from his journey and how he manages a million and one things at a time.

Honourable mention to Oluyomi Ojo, who birthed Printivo and is now building Cova.

Apr 05, 202247:27
Conversation with Tomi Solanke

Conversation with Tomi Solanke

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Tomi Solanke, Founder of Trove. Trove is one of the pioneer apps in Africa that gives access to American and Chinese stocks, bonds and ETFs for a fractional sum of money, think of it as the Robinhood for Africa. Tomi shares his journey into entrepreneurship, the lessons he learned and his mistakes.

Mar 29, 202236:35
Conversation with Max Cuvellier

Conversation with Max Cuvellier

This week I'm sharing my conversation with Max Cuvellier, Head of Mobile for Development at GSMA and one of the publishers of one of my favourite newsletters - The Big Deal. Max shares how he grew career-wise, the mistakes he made and his insights on leadership. 

Is there anyone you'd like to be on The Grinders Table? Send me a message.


Mar 08, 202219:18
Conversations with Eman Wahby

Conversations with Eman Wahby

This week I had the opportunity of speaking with Eman Wahby, GP of Egypt-based fund Grow in Africa Fund and worked for 13 years in international development with the World Bank. She has experience in working with governments, civil society, youth groups, the private sector, donors and multilateral organizations. 

Eman brings fresh perspectives on making career decisions, investing in women and mistakes she made in her illustrious career. 

Mar 01, 202218:45
Conversations with Clive Butkow

Conversations with Clive Butkow

This week, we have Clive Butkow on the Grinders Table. Clive is the CEO of Kalon Venture Partners, a disruptive digital technology Venture Capital Fund located in Johannesburg. He was the COO of Accenture South Africa and has a 28-year illustrious management consulting experience. There's so much to unpack in the episode, so grab a seat and join us at the table.

Feb 20, 202219:03
Conversation with Pamela Wagner

Conversation with Pamela Wagner

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Pamela Wagner, founder of Ajala Digital, a certified Google Partner that specializes in mobile, search, video, and display ads. She has helped over 2000+ advertisers from all over the world to achieve 6- & 7-figure results. She shared so many nuggets on building a viable business, the mistakes she made and insights that you will surely find useful in your journey to fulfilment.




Feb 13, 202219:26