The TechTrends Podcast

In this episode of The TechTrends Podcast, we explore the ongoing funding crisis affecting African startups. With venture capital funding on the decline and major players like the Mastercard Foundation pulling back, what does this mean for the future of innovation on the continent? We explore the impact of reduced investments, compare funding figures from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, and analyze the shutdo...

Join us on The TechTrends Podcast as we sit down with Samsung’s Ryan Mule for an exclusive deep dive into AI—the Samsung way. In this episode, Ryan breaks down common AI myths, separates hype from reality, and shares insights into Samsung’s vision for the future of AI. Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/@TechTrendsKE​​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/techtrendske/⁠⁠...

In this exciting episode of The TechTrends Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Fassnid ge, the Founder & Director of Africa Tech Summit. Andrew takes us behind the scenes of the Summit’s incredible journey to becoming one of Africa’s premier tech events. He also shares insights into the continent’s thriving startup ecosystem and what the future holds for African innovation. Recorded live at the A...

In this episode of the TechTrends Podcast, we speak to Victor Alade, Co-Founder & CEO at Raenest to explore how the Nigerian fintech startup is revolutionizing cross-border payments for African freelancers, remote workers, and businesses. Victor shares insights on the challenges of global transactions, how Raenest enables seamless multi-currency banking, and the future of financial inclusion a...

In this episode of TechTrends Podcast, I sit down with Sharon Tum , the Senior Regional Manager- EA at Yellow Card , to explore the future of digital assets adoption in Africa. Sharon shares insights on the evolving cryptocurrency landscape, the role of regulation, and how platforms like Yellow Card are driving financial inclusion across the continent. Join us as we discuss the challenges, opportu...

In this episode, Nixon Kanali sits down with Ed Aitken from dLocal to explore how the company is revolutionizing cross-border transactions. Ed shares insights on the challenges businesses face when expanding into emerging markets and how dLocal’s innovative payment solutions enable seamless, secure, and efficient global transactions. Tune in to learn about the future of digital payments, complianc...

Welcome to The TechTrends Podcast, where we break down the biggest issues shaping Africa’s business and tech landscape.  In today’s episode, we’re diving into a growing crisis—the impact of U.S. foreign aid [USAID] funding bans on African startups. With billions in aid at stake, many health-tech startups that once relied on grants and partnerships are now scrambling to survive. Will this funding f...

In this episode, we’re talking about DeepSeek —the Chinese AI powerhouse that’s taking the industry by storm. From mind-blowing capabilities to its potential to rival Western AI giants, DeepSeek has the world buzzing. Is this the future of AI as we know it? Or is there more to the story? Stay tuned as we break it all down, uncover the hype, and explore what this game-changing technology means for...

Could the U.S. TikTok ban influence allied nations and Africa? Newly-elected U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law mandating its sale to avoid a ban. The platform briefly went offline in the U.S. shortly before Trump took office, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the legislation against ByteDance's appeal. In th...

Alim Ladha is the founder and CEO of Instill Education, a pioneering venture that aims to transform teacher development across Africa. Inspired by his experience as a McKinsey consultant focused on education systems, Alim recognised the critical need for high-quality, scalable teacher training to improve educational outcomes on the continent. In this episode, we discuss his venture as well as him...

The Kenya Communication Authority (CA) has proposed a substantial increase in licensing fees for satellite internet service providers (ISPs) such as Starlink as it seeks to review the Satellite Landing Rights (SLR) licence it requires for satellite ISPs to obtain to operate in the country. Under the new proposal, the cost of a 15-year operating license would rise from USD 12,302 (KES 1,579,614) to...

In this engaging episode featuring Allan Niongira, we take an insightful journey through some of the most notable events, developments, and trends that shaped the Kenyan tech landscape in 2024. We delve into groundbreaking innovations, explore emerging technologies, and discuss their impact on various sectors, including fintech, policy, and more. Follow us on social media: Twitter: ⁠https://twitte...

In this episode, I speak to Dr. Ese Owie, a seasoned senior executive and healthcare innovator with over 24 years of experience. His personal journey, growing up with two siblings suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia, inspired his focus on healthcare infrastructure optimization. Witnessing the inadequacies of the Nigerian healthcare system, he founded the African International Kidney Care Network (AI...

I speak to Thapelo Motlogeloa - Co-Founder - Pele Energy Group in this fifth episode of this series. Thapelo's professional journey, marked by his remarkable success in building a substantial renewable energy portfolio, showcases his ability to navigate a complex and capital-intensive industry. Thapelo is among the 2024-2025 Foundry Fellows from the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurs...

In this fourth episode, I speak to Ahmed Nounou, an entrepreneur behind INDOS, a company that is revolutionizing industrial operations across Africa through digitization and AI-driven solutions. His personal inspiration stems from his background in Egypt, where he witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies in the garment manufacturing industry, a sector integral to the Egyptian economy. Ahmed is among...

More than 100 small businesses recently took part in Safaricom’s Inaugural SME Exhibition hosted in Nairobi. The Expo, under the theme, “Accelerating MSMEs Growth through Adoption of Technology and Innovation,” showcased available market solutions, fostered connections for scalable projects with a broader impact on both SMEs and the overall business ecosystem, and facilitated discussions on collab...

In this third episode, I speak to Dupe Killa-Kafidipe, one of the 2024-2025 Foundry Fellows from the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dupe is the founder of Platinum Fisheries - a Nigerian-based enterprise with a mission to produce healthy seafood using efficient and ethical methods. Platinum Fisheries’ ultimate vision is to he...

In this episode, I speak to Teniola Stuffman who is among the 2024-2025 Foundry Fellows from the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Teniola (“Teni”)  is launching a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in Nigeria under the well-known brand, Lebara. Despite progress, digital and mobile penetration in Nigeria lags behind global s...

In this episode of our TechTrends Podcast, we speak to Dina H. Sherif, Executive Director of the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Earlier this month,, the Legatum Center led its 2024-2025 Foundry Fellows on an ecosystem tour of Nairobi, Kenya. Over a three-day tour of Nairobi and a week-long experience in Kenya, the fellows eng...

In this episode, we speak to David Mwaniki, a Senior Manager at Kenya Airways on how the airline is investing in technology. This episode was recorded last month on the sidelines of the AWS Summit in Johannesburg. At the, summit, AWS c announced its ambitious plans to promote the adoption of AI in the region. The company showcased some of its Generative AI (GenAI) capabilities using Amazon Bedrock...

In this latest episode, we unpack the existing gaps in payments in Africa with Angie Jones, the Global Vice President of Developer Relations for TBD, Block’s newest business unit focused on open and decentralized technologies. We also talk about the recently announced TBD Hackathon in collaboration with the Africa Bitcoin Conference and how developers in Africa can apply to be part of the programm...

Sam Odhiambo, Head of Department, Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics East Africa Ltd, explains what the company is doing to protect its TVs and users from exploitation by hackers. This episode is also available on other podcast streaming platforms. Follow us on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/@TechTrendsKE​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/techtrendske/​​ Instagram: https://ww...

We asked Safaricom PLC CEO Peter Ndegwa about their 5G plans for Kenya during the release of the Full Year results on Thursday. ''We have now just likely below 700,000 5G devices so we need to make sure that we put the network so that as devices become more affordable, then people can experience 5G'' Follow us on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/@TechTrendsKE​​ Facebook:...

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Kwach. Managing Director - East Africa Region at Africa Data Centres to discuss connectivity in Africa. We also talk about some of the initiatives Africa Data Centres is running including its plans for the region. This podcast was recorded on the sidelines of the NOVACOM Africa Summit in Diani, Kwale County. This episode is also available on Spotify and other...

Did you know, Bolt Kenya has more than 1000 female drivers just in Nairobi? In this episode of our TechTrends Podcast, we sit down with Trinity Wangari Maina, one of Bolt's female drivers. Trinity shares her journey with Bolt including some of the challenges she faces as a female Bolt driver. This episode was also part of the International Women's Month celebration. This episode is also av...