Unlocking Africa

Episode #31 with Gert van Veldhuisen who is Co-Founder of BiD Capital Partners and Director Africa of Unknown Group , which is an early-stage Venture Capital and business development firm with operations in 110+ countries. Unknown believe that founders turn the world’s problems into opportunities by developing solutions that go beyond what is known. Together with industry leaders, they tap in to t...

Episode #30 with York Zucchi who is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of The StartUp Tribe , an initiative to support Municipalities, Governments and Corporates in helping people to start and grow their businesses. As of Feb 2022 they are active in 27 countries assisting over 312 cities & municipalities. In a career spanning 28 years across over 11 countries, York has created projects & bu...

Episode #29 with Lanre Aina who is Co-founder and CEO of ATHLST , a digital sports news and content studio. AHLST works closely with African athletes to transform their personal stories into immersive and impactful content that resonate with sports fans worldwide. In an era where there’s a convergence of entertainment, sports, and culture, the African athlete is 62-65% less likely than his/her Ame...

Episode #28 with Viola Llewellyn who is president and co-founder of Ovamba Solutions , which is an award winning African “TradeTech” company that creates culturally attuned technologies for Banks and Central Banks so that they can serve emerging market SMEs with innovative Sharia compliant trade finance products. Ovamba's "BankPartner Innovations" combine ERP & CRM with, eCommer...

Episode #27 with Charles Sekwalor who is a serial entrepreneur, advisor, and investor who focuses on developing startups and private equity transactions that drive change and positively influence people's lives. Dedicated to projects that span the African continent. Charles is the CEO and Founder of Movemeback , a members community connecting talented professionals, entrepreneurs, students an...

Episode #26 with Jacqueline Shaw who is an African fashion sourcing consultant, Director at Africa Fashion Guide which is an information based platform with the focus to promote the African fashion and textile industry and create an awareness campaign that promotes the full supply chain of the African fashion and textile industry with an ethical perspective to the greater global textile industry....

Episode #25 with Dr. Uchenna Uzo who is the current Faculty Director at Lagos Business School , and teaches marketing management, personal selling, sales, and channel management courses. His research and consulting projects span several industries focusing mainly on indigenous sales and marketing strategies, retailing and consumer behaviour trends in Africa. He currently serves on the board of a r...

Episode #24 with Pretty Kubyane who is Co-Founder of Coronet Blockchain , a company that provides blockchain vetted products to African markets throughout the Beauty, Fashion, and Food supply chains. Leveraging blockchain for social good. They also provide advisory insights to organisations and governments embarking on their own blockchain initiatives. Pretty's decade-long expertise in manage...

Episode #23 with GG Alcock . GG has been at times a shebeen owner, anti-apartheid activist, community worker and African adventurer, and more recently the founder of Minanawe Marketing, a leading marketing agency in the mass market. Having realised from an early age that there is no glamour in poverty GG uses his unique skills and experience to highlight and grow informal low income mass markets i...

Episode #22 with Nicolas Goldstein who is Co-founder of Talenteum , which is an impactful and Pan-African web platform designed to help companies recruit and employ teams working remotely or locally in Africa. Talenteum provides an easy way to find remote talent in Africa. You can gain access to the largest pool of African talent in only a few clicks. The platform handles local employment complian...

Episode #21 with Satoshi Shinada  who is a Partner at Verod Kepple Africa Ventures which is an early stage VC fund that backs exceptional founders in and from Africa who are addressing deep gaps between the status quo and the ideal. Prior to founding Kepple, Satoshi worked at Sojitz Corporation as an Investment Manager, where he was in charge of infrastructure and energy projects. From 2010 to 201...

Episode #20 with Dr. Faith Nwaobia  who is President & Founder of YouthUp Global which is a fast-growing social enterprise focused on the extrapolation and utilization of human capital deeply embedded in the world youth population toward the creation of competitive businesses connected under a universal umbrella. He also co-founded Telemigrants, a platform that connects people in emerging mark...

Episode #19 with Brian Aoaeh who is a Cofounder and General Partner of REFASHIOND Ventures , an emerging venture capital fund manager that invests in early stage supply chain technology. He co-founded The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation , and is an Adjunct Professor of Supply Chain & Operations Management in the Department Technology Management & Innovation at the Tandon School of Engine...

Episode #18 with Feyi Olubodun who is the Founder and Managing Partner of Open Squares Africa , a marketing strategy consulting firm with the mission to “interpret Africa for businesses with an Africa focus, thereby helping them navigate businesses successfully there.” He currently consults for multi-nationals and indigenous businesses on how to win in the African marketplace, with assignments acr...

Episode #17 with Louis Yaw Afful who is Executive Director at AfCFTA Policy Network Group ,  which is a burgeoning international NGO focused on highlighting free trade and upholding the implementation of AfCFTA and Intra-Africa trade with its pillars of trade partnerships, economies of scale, linkages, food security, accelerated economic activity and infrastructural development. Louis is an intern...

Episode #16 with Daniel Bloch who is CEO at SESO Global ,  which is a Digital Lands Transactions platform that facilitates secure, trusted and risk-free Blockchain Land Transactions between, Property Owners, Land Service Agencies and Financial Institutions in Africa. What We Discuss With Daniel Bloch How can blockchain technology be effectively used in Africa's real estate market? What obstac...

Episode #15 with Dario Giuliani who is Founder and Director at Briter Bridges ,  which is is a think tank and data-driven research company focused on the role of innovation and technology, as well as private sector development across underserved markets. What We Discuss With Dario Giuliani When gathering data in Africa, what actions should you be looking to drive? How important is partnership when...

Episode #14 with Rob Withagen who is Co-Founder and CEO at Asoko Insight ,  which is Africa’s leading corporate data and engagement platform, providing global investors, multinationals and development institutions the most effective route to discover, shortlist and engage their target universe of African companies. What We Discuss With Rob Withagen Why has it been so difficult to collect data in A...

Episode #13 with Gbite Oduneye who is Founder and General Partner at ODBA ,  an early-stage venture capital firm that believes that real founders who have started, run, and scaled businesses are the best people to invest in them. What We Discuss With Gbite Oduneye Why is it critical that African founders become funders? What value do venture capitalists add to the startups they fund? What is the m...

Episode #12 with Mac Mabidilala who is Head Of Research at Trade Intelligence ,  a leading provider of retail business research, insight and capability building solutions in and across Africa. What We Discuss With Mac Mabidilala What are some of the nuances unique to African retail? What is the significance of informal retail in Africa? How should we integrate offline and online retail channels in...

Episode #11 with Ifeoma Uddoh who is the Founder of Shecluded , a fintech company that provides growth loans, business support, Asset building tools, and financial education for African women.. What We Discuss With Ifeoma Uddoh How does Shecluded assist African women in pursuing economic opportunities? How are fintechs in Africa successfully tapping into the female economy? What are some of the ob...

Episode #10 with Victoria Madedor who is a Co-Founder of Agroverified , and Head of Business Development (Agribusiness & FMCG) at the Bank of Industry Nigeria. What We Discuss With Victoria Madedor How can technology be used to help Africa's agriculture industry overcome obstacles? Are commodity platforms giving Africa's agriculture structure and stability? What type of investors are...

Episode #9 with Inez Willeboordse who is the Managing Partner of JobnetAfrica . What We Discuss With Inez Willeboordse What significant changes have occurred in African recruitment over the last decade? How has the pandemic affected the recruitment process for companies in Africa? What are some of the nuances in the recruitment process that you only encounter in Africa? How can African companies,...

Episode #8 with Michelle Chivunga who is the Founder and CEO  of Global Policy House . What We Discuss With Michello Chivunga What are the positive and negative impacts that policy is having on the African digital economy? Are African governments embracing future technology? Is the use of digital currencies the solution to Africa's payment issues? What is being done to ensure that people are...

Episode #7 with Shalom Bako who is the Managing Director of AFRIVANA . What We Discuss With Shalom Bako How do you identify the best opportunities in African agriculture for you? What steps should you take when moving back to Africa? How big are Africa's agricultural opportunities? What can you do to better educate yourself and increase your chances of success in African agriculture? And much...