The Founders Peak Podcast

Dr. Karen started her entrepreneurial journey early, launching her first enterprise—a travel agency—at 22, which funded her studies and fueled her passion for travel. She recently completed her PhD after enduring many short nights, balancing her academic pursuits with adventurous hobbies like surfing, tree climbing, and skiing. As President of SwissFinTechLadies, Dr. Karen empowers women to become...

Yemi is a powerhouse in digital transformation, tackling business and social challenges through cutting-edge technology. Recognised as one of Nigeria's top women in tech, she's also a mentor to numerous digital start-ups and was honored as Nigeria’s most outstanding Public Sector CIO at the ICT Centenary Awards in 2014. In this episode, Yemi shares her incredible journey and the core values that h...

Elizabeth began her career as a translator in the German Parliament and speaks five languages! Her passion for microfinance took her to Nairobi, where she lived for many years before moving to Senegal and Nigeria. Fun fact: Elizabeth is also a skilled ballerina, having danced for 15 years, even while founding AZA Finance! In this episode, Elizabeth shares her extraordinary journey of perseverance...

Starting her business with just one sewing machine, Nora has grown it into a powerhouse with over 300 machines and 1000 workers at full capacity. In this episode, Nora shares her incredible journey of growth, resilience, and empowerment. Named one of the Top 20 Global Female Business Leaders in emerging markets by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group in 2019, Nora's story...

Benjamin grew up in Tanzania and earned scholarships to America at 17. By 21, he made history as the youngest African ever accepted into Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, being the first Tanzanian to attend both institutions. A former national TV personality in Tanzania, Ben founded NALA in 2018, a fintech startup building payments for the next bill...

Robert was the first person in his village to own a laptop and built the first Digital Learning Hub in his community. He designed his own degree program at the University of Oklahoma, graduating as the first person with a degree in African Development Engineering and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Despite nearly dropping out of school due to financial hardships, he became the top student in Uganda,...

Nono wears many hats – not only is she the Founder and Head of Data & Strategy at Data Sentinels, she also produces a podcast called Shameless. She has explored an impressive 40 countries, including Ghana. Her creative spirit shines through in her work as an author of three African-fantasy novels and her screenplay, "Finding Themba," which addresses mental illness among males. A linguistics en...

Saqib Nazir is not your average CEO. A tech enthusiast turned fintech superhero, and the visionary leader behind Cross Switch Africa. Saqib is on a mission to revolutionise how we think about payments across Africa's diverse industries—banking, insurance, remittances, you name it! But here's the twist - Saqib didn't just stumble into fintech; oh no, he chose it with purpose. In this episode, Saqib...

Dr Valentine Obi is a fintech pioneer with a twist of persistence and a dash of rejection. Ever been politely asked to walk out of the Central Bank? Well, in 2002, that's exactly what happened when he proposed payments by mobile phone. Fast forward to today, he holds patents for ATM Cardless transactions and mobile OTP generation. But here's the surprise—when he's not revolutionising fintech, he's...

Emma Maame Efua Tandoh is the Founder and Creative Lead of Love Ankara, a brand that celebrates African culture through stylish foldable footwear. Despite no formal fashion training, Emma's 13-year corporate journey in marketing and PR set the stage for her entrepreneurial success. She's also a polyglot, speaking German and having worked on three continents. At Love Ankara, Emma's passion for Afri...

Benjamin Nortey is the brilliant mind behind Mingo Blox. Benjamin's journey from his living room to global impact is nothing short of remarkable. As the creator of Ghana's first robot for autistic children, he's brought joy and support to countless families (in fact, we even met one!). Beyond that, he's a familiar face on television, sparking curiosity and imagination as the producer and presenter...

The fabulous Onyinye Okonji is a powerhouse, balancing her multifaceted life as a dancer, YouTuber, serial entrepreneur, business strategist, and food curator. She met her business partners in business school and embraced the risk of entrepreneurship, leading to the founding of Sycamore. NG. In this episode, Onyinye shares her journey of growing two businesses in hospitality and catering in Lagos,...

Kofi Owusu-Nhyira is a master multi-tasker, having earned a journalism degree running multiple businesses and qualifying as a lawyer. His flair for dramatic storytelling and vivid tales drawn from everyday life mesmerises audiences. As an extroverted introvert, he navigates social situations effortlessly but finds strength in solitude and introspection fueled by his love for reading. Under his lea...

Evita is a true jack-of-all-trades with a diverse background in chemical engineering, medical life sciences, and law. Raised by inspiring women, she is driven by a passion for empowering women-led businesses to conquer global markets. At TecHustle, she's building the largest small business trade network in Africa, helping African small businesses trade globally and competitively by providing finan...

Magalie is the multilingual Founder of Koree, who learned languages by listening to songs and translating the lyrics. She has traveled to 33 countries and made the bold move to live in Africa after being born and raised in France. Her company, Koree, draws inspiration from the cowry shells that were once used as currency in Africa, symbolising a return to roots, with cutting-edge technology. In th...

Desmond is a poet who turns to writing to escape stress and burnout. He initially avoided farming as a career choice, dreaming of becoming a chef instead. At Complete Farmer, he honors his roots by naming their offices after crops—his office is aptly called Pineapple, given his own love for the fruit and in tribute to his father, a pineapple farmer. Complete Farmer’s journey has been a testament t...

Denisha's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite studying nursing in college, a tech internship led to a full-time offer at Silicon Valley Bank. Her life took a dramatic turn when she was robbed at knifepoint and used technology to catch the robber within five hours, a pivotal moment that shaped her path. Moving to Ghana during COVID, Denisha launched Stan, raising an initial 300,00 do...

Boum is a man without a first name. He effortlessly navigates French, English, and German. Recognised by Forbes as a 30 Under 30 honoree for his groundbreaking work with Daba Finance, he's also a former under-16 breaststroke vice champion and an enthusiastic tennis and football player. Under his leadership, Daba Finance is pioneering investments in Africa, offering the continent’s first multi-asse...

Here is a funny story - Romeo once got so flustered about a meeting that he kept driving his car in circles. When a colleague asked why he wasn’t going in, Romeo admitted he was looking for his phone—only to realise he was talking on it the whole time! With a story that ranges from those humble beginnings to building a multi-million-dollar business, Romeo’s experiences are rich with insights and l...

This episode is a very special one. Andrew Ginsberg is the Head of Office for A.I. for the United Nations Refugee Agency in Ghana. We bring you an inspiring episode titled, "Leaving No One Behind: Accelerating Private Sector Leadership in Refugee Economic Inclusion." Andrew isn't just a leader in refugee economic inclusion; he's also a jazz enthusiast who is currently learning to play the base gui...

Mary is not just a tech entrepreneur; she has a passion for reading romance novels and finds joy in spending time with children, which gives her an excuse to bring the child out in her! She inherited her beloved companion dog, April, when her daughter went off to college. Mary’s company is unique in that it operates as two companies in one—Data Integrated and MobiTill. Remarkably, for most of her...

The advent of mobile money disrupted the company Eric worked for, leaving him stranded in Uganda. Despite his efforts to find employment, it was feedback from a failed interview that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit. Drawing on his deep understanding of the Ugandan agriculture system, mobile money, and humanitarian work, he built a business from scratch - all from his sitting room to holding his...

Isaac's story began with a burst of creativity when he wrote a 200-page novel at just 18 years old. His favorite artist, Kendrick Lamar, has been a source of inspiration, and this creative spirit shines through in everything he does. As the host of the Change Africa Podcast, one of the biggest thought leadership podcasts in Africa, Isaac has been at the forefront of driving impactful conversations...

Akosua became an award-winning journalist in her early 20s, interviewing iconic figures like Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Boris Johnson, and Craig David. Her career took her to Hollywood, where she worked with BET and was a part of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s entourage during Jay-Z's first performance in Ghana nearly 20 years ago. Despite having no tech experience, she started Tech in Ghana eight years ago,...