Afropolitan

Quote - “The spirit of Afropolitan, and why I'm so excited about thecommunity that's being built, is to connect one of the most powerfulforces in the world, which is human communities, to the fastestgrowing place in the world, which is the African continent.”The Afropolitan Podcast highlights Afropolitans who embrace theunknown and walk with purpose. Through this podcast, we aim to empowerAfricans in the Diaspora to maximize their potential and contribute tothe development of a vibrant and progressive black community.In this episode, we chat with Daniel Yu, Founder & CEO of Wasoko, atechnology company that is transforming the $600 billion market foressential goods sold through mom-and-pop stores in Africa. Wasokoprovides on-demand ordering, delivery, and financing services to thesesmall retailers. Wasoko's platform enables shop owners to place ordersat any time via SMS or a mobile app, and offers free same-day deliveryof goods directly to their stores. Additionally, Wasoko provides "PayLater" financing options to support the growth of these shops. Thecompany operates in several African countries, including Kenya,Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, and collaborateswith major companies such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble. Wasoko hasraised over $145 million in equity financing from investors like TigerGlobal and Avenir Growth Capital, making it one of the largest techcompanies in Africa.Daniel Yu is an entrepreneur and software developer with extensiveexperience working and traveling in over 65 countries, primarily inemerging economies such as Africa, the Middle East, Central America,Brazil, Southeast Asia, and China. He is skilled at exploring marketsand building networks to effectively launch technology-drivenbusinesses. Daniel is conversational or fluent in eight languages:English (native), Mandarin, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, Cantonese,Portuguese, and French.Daniel is passionate about leveraging technology and innovation totransform the retail landscape in emerging economies, empowering smallbusinesses, and making a positive social impact across Africa. Join usas Daniel discusses his journey with Wasoko and the importance ofdigital technology and services to solve Africa's supply chainproblems.Daniel's Reading List:1. Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others,Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back byWilliam MacAskill - https://amzn.to/41EnFJj2. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - https://amzn.to/3IkPMq23. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - https://amzn.to/455COGnShow Notes2:00 Daniel breaks down his background and what led him to Africa asan entrepreneur3:27 Daniel, as the founder and CEO of Wasako, has been working totransform commerce in Africa and tells us the problem it aims to solve4:49 Daniel details the monetization model of Wasoko5:16 Daniel talks about some of the assumptions he had of thiscommerce model and what challenges he faced going to market6:54 Daniel talks about the importance of startups to verticalintegrate in Africa to ensure successful delivery of their chosenofferings and how the process of building in Africa differs from beingin California, where certain aspects are already taken care of, andthe focus is primarily on software development8:20 Daniel explains why he started in certain African countriescompared to others and the cultural differences experienced in eachcountry10:09 Daniel paints the customer onboarding process early on11:16 Daniel details the early stages of a startup and the strugglesyou have to go through12:37 Daniel talks about his educational background and how Itinformed the work he does today13:22 Daniel explains how he learnt to be a programmer withoutcompleting formal education14:01 Daniel gives his view on the future of commerce and supplychains evolving in Africa and the role Wasoko will play in the future16:11 Daniel clarifies the customer acquisition of Wasoko16:40 Daniel talks about his approach to risk taking and decisionmaking especially in uncertain or rapidly changing environments andthe most important qualities or skills that an entrepreneur shouldpossess in order to succeed in today's competitive business landscape,especially in Africa17:50 Books that have profoundly impacted Daniel's life20:17 Daniel gives advice to entrepreneurs hiring talent, especiallyin markets like Africa where talent may not be highly skilled asplaces like California and how he addressed these challenges23:08 Daniel has worked in different industries, including finance,healthcare and technology and breaks down his approach to the processof identifying new opportunities and deciding which ventures toproceed or invest in24:28 Hypothetical title of a book about Daniel's life25:35 Daniel's perspective on what it means to be AfropolitanThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Connect with Afropolitan:Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote: "Don't approach entrepreneurship from a position ofdesperation; instead, build and have leverage."The Afropolitan Podcast highlights Afropolitans who embrace theunknown and walk with purpose. Through this podcast, we aim to empowerAfricans in the Diaspora to maximize their potential and contribute tothe development of a vibrant and progressive black community.In this episode, we chat with Obinna Ukwuani, Chief Digital Officer atthe Bank of Kigali Plc, where he drives digital product development toachieve digital financial services objectives. Obinna, born in Americawith Nigerian roots, studied Economics at the Massachusetts Instituteof Technology (MIT). He founded and directed the Makers RoboticsAcademy Rwanda and NESA by Makers, and now serves as the Founder andDirector of Bruk Oil Mills in Enugu. Obinna previously worked atPaystack and shares his entrepreneurship insights in this episode.Obinna is passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and thetransformative power of Web3/Blockchain technologies for peopleworldwide. Join us as Obinna discusses his journey to the Bank ofKigali and the importance of digital technology and services insolving Africa's challenges.Obinna's Reading List:1. Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty byDaron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson - https://amzn.to/3kD1fbO2. The Biafra Story: The Making of an African Legend by FrederickForsyth - https://amzn.to/3Zt7vBN3. The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis - https://amzn.to/3ICWJlDShow Notes:1:22 Introduction to the Afropolitan Podcast1:42 Obinna's background and journey to MIT, earning a BSc inEconomics7:28 Obinna's decision to return to Nigeria and his role innation-building and creating opportunities12:09 Obinna's work with the Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda and itsimpact on the local community14:14 Obinna shares his first significant encounter with failure andthe lessons learned20:46 Obinna discusses insights from working with Paystack and Bank ofKigali on technology's potential for Africans24:19 Obinna talks about his experience raising funds for startups andoffers advice for first-time founders navigating the fundraisingprocess28:35 The importance of managing desperation and balance whendealing with investors31:20 Sam Altman's New Yorker profile and the need for Africa toleapfrog - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny38:12 Obinna shares his thoughts on Web3 and Blockchain, addressingskepticism and guiding principles42:53 Books that have profoundly impacted Obinna's life50:27 Hypothetical title of a book about Obinna's life51:35 Obinna's perspective on what it means to be AfropolitanThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder ofAfropolitan. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit,or wherever you get your podcasts.Connect with Afropolitan:Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “Founders need to realise that investors love founders thathave failed before because it is in your failings, you learn themost.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Kyle Maloney, Co-Founder of Tech Beach; astartup with an active community designed to connect the Caribbeanwith the Global Technology Ecosystem.Klye studied Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity and was exposed to entrepreneurship early on whichculminated in Co-founding Tech Beach to offer a much needed service inthe region.He is passionate about empowering people and companies in theCaribbean through technology to scale and solve pertinent issues.Listen and enjoy as Kyle talks to us about his journey with TechBeach, his background and plans for the future.Kyle's Reading ListThink and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Arthur R. Pellhttps://amzn.to/3XzOzzZThe ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About ExtraordinaryResults by Gary Keller, Jay Papasanhttps://amzn.to/3lFdS6aAtomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break BadOnes by James Clearhttps://amzn.to/2P8LAvIShow Notes2:30 Impact of covid and background of Tech Beach5:58 Context of the Caribbean for startups7:52 Expansion in the Caribbean compared to Africa9:07 Fundraising process, challenges and advice11:32 Recruiting and retaining talent13:31 Kyle's background and influences19:49 Lessons from failure24:00 Process to find the right mentor within the ecosystem28:15 Title of the book about your life30:53 Reading list32:44 Being Afropolitan35:03 Future plansThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “There is no joy to be found in playing small and dimming your lights.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Hanu Agbodje, Founder & CEO of PATRICIA; afintech company founded in 2017 using Blockchain technology to processcryptocurrency transactions in Africa and beyond.Hanu holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Statistics fromUniversity of Port Harcourt and founded PATRICIA after 13 otherunsuccessful businesses.He is passionate about crypto and how the technology can solveAfrica's biggest problems and synergise payments.Listen and enjoy as Hanu talks to us about his journey with PATRICIAand ambition to transform alternative payments solutions in Africa.Hanu's Reading ListThe Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clasonhttps://amzn.to/3E3l8iWZero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by PeterThiel and Blake Mastershttps://amzn.to/3lt34IqHow to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odellhttps://amzn.to/2VzobXMShow Notes1:23 Patricia's mission and vision for the world1:58 Recruiting and retaining talent3:30 The journey to Patricia9:39 African founders competing anywhere in the world12:25 What promise cryptocurrency holds for Africa?15:02 Advice for founders dealing with government regulation16:25 Dealing with failure and lessons learnt19:23 Balance between creativity and objectives20:38 Title of the book about your life22:07 Other passions aside from Patricia24:08 Self-care and avoiding burnout25:07 Reading list30:41 Being Afropolitan32:38 Future of PatriciaThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “This frail body will house the greatest spirit humanity willever know.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Tunde Onakoya, Founder of Chess In Slums Africa;a non-profit organisation that utilises the game of chess to educateand empower underprivileged children to achieve far more than theircircumstances.Tunde holds a National Diploma in Computer Science from Yaba Collegeof Technology and created Chess in Slums Africa to use chess as a toolto educate and propel the destiny of children out of poverty.He is passionate about equaling the playing field and has a goal toeducate 1 million children in slum communities in 5 years.Listen and enjoy as Tunde talks to us about his journey with Chess InSlums Africa and redressing the imbalance in society.Tunde's Reading ListPhilosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations: Ancient Philosophyfor Modern Problems by Jules Evanshttps://amzn.to/3DMbVLFThe Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Povertyby Clayton M. Christensen, Efosa Ojomo, Karen Dillonhttps://amzn.to/3DNoFBOSelf-Discipline through Ikigai and Kaizen (Longevity and Happiness atHand) by Mark Morimotohttps://amzn.to/3lnLVQbManifesto for a Moral Revolution Paperback – May 4, 2021 by Jacqueline Novogratzhttps://amzn.to/3RGYd2iShow Notes1:29 Background and discovery of chess4:31 Creation and mission of Chess In Slums Africa9:07 Impact on children/slums11:28 Ferdinand with cerebral palsy winning the chess tournament in Makoko14:17 Partnership with chess.com16:10 Finding purpose with Chess In Slums Africa19:42 Fulfilling potential linked to mission of Chess In Slums Africa22:43 Reading list25:24 Future plans and how to get involved/support27:28 Title of the book about your life28:13 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Yida GaoQuote - “Talent is everything for an early stage company and thepeople they hire early on define the trajectory of the company.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Yida Gao, Managing General Partner of ShimaCapital; an early stage crypto and Web3 investment firm.Yida holds a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science fromMassachusetts Institute of Technology. He previously worked in WallStreet for Morgan Stanley in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.He is passionate about investing in crypto and Web3 companies thatchart new territory.Listen and enjoy as Yida Gao talks to us about his journey with ShimaCapital and insights on the venture capitalist environment.Yida's Reading ListPlay Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and DominateMarkets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, KevinManeyhttps://amzn.to/3jfIPx0Show Notes2:02 Journey into crypto4:10 Shima's investment thesis and approach to funding startups6:09 Main criteria to invest in a founder8:34 Fundraising process for Shima Capital10:50 Misconceptions about venture capitalists12:13 VCs inspired by13:09 Recruiting and retaining talent14:48 Navigating the fundraising environment17:25 Process of capital calls20:20 Best guidance that Shima offers for portfolio companies23:47 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt26:25 Reading list28:14 Title of the book about your life29:28 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Fadekemi AbiruQuote - “Afropolitan is daring to be yourself in a rapidly changingworld and not having to ask for permission.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Fadekemi Abiru, Head Of Insights at Stears; afinancial data/intelligence company providing subscription-baseddata/insight to professionals/businesses.Fadekemi holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bristol andan MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics. Shepreviously worked as an economist for the UK government and providedanalysis on various projects.She is passionate about ensuring that decisions whether in business orgovernment in Africa are driven by real time data and insights todrive critical economic developments.Listen and enjoy as Fadekemi Abiru talks to us about her journey withStears and the importance of data-driven insights on Africa.Fadekemi's Reading ListAll About Love: New Visions by Bell Hookshttps://amzn.to/3EiIoZjHarry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) by J. K. Rowlinghttps://amzn.to/3OlqtG7Economics Rules by Dani Rodrikhttps://amzn.to/3As5j3wShow Notes1:55 Founding of Stears and its mission3:10 Plans to cover the 2023 Nigerian elections8:03 Data-driven insights/expectations on the Nigeria 2023 elections10:22 How has technology enabled the Stears Elections product11:12 Significance and likely impact of the Nigerian Electoral Act2022 on the upcoming elections12:29 Conducting polls in the future14:08 Data trends that make this upcoming election different from thelast election15:58 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt16:02 Title of the book about your life18:45 Reading list21:09 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Arese UgwuQuote - “Afropolitan means showcasing the brilliance of Africa on aglobal stage.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Arese Ugwu, Founder of Smart Money Africa; anedutainment platform providing financial literacy and education forthe African millennial.Arese is a graduate from Aston Business School and University CollegeLondon and has previous experience with leading African financialservices brands before transitioning to Smart Money Africa.She is passionate about creating content and avenues that break downfinancial barriers for African youths especially women.Listen and enjoy as Arese Ugwu talks to us about Smart Money tribe andher thoughts on financial literacy for the African millennial.Arese's Reading ListThe Smart Money Woman: An African girl's journey to financial freedomby Arese Ugwuhttps://amzn.to/3UAVTdJThe Rich Are Different: A Priceless Treasury of Quotations andAnecdotes About the Affluent, the Posh, and the Just Plain Loaded byJon Winokurhttps://amzn.to/3AbZSpdSex and Vanity: A Novel by Kevin Kwanhttps://amzn.to/3trG6lDShow Notes1:30 Upbringing and background2:59 Start of Smart Money Africa6:35 Challenges/process of self-publishing a book12:24 Netflix picking up the The Smart Money Woman series16:26 Balancing multiple roles professionally and personally17:50 Financial advice for young people19:11 Season Two of The Smart Money Woman19:57 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt20:45 Title of the book about your life21:45 Reading list23:20 What does being Afropolitan mean to you24:00 Beauty of South AfricaThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “What I like the most about building in Africa and buildingfor Africa is that everything is so greenfield.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Nadayar Enegesi, CEO and Co-Founder of Eden LifeInc.; a tech-driven home management platform in Africa providingservices such as food, laundry and cleaning.Nadayar is a graduate from University of Waterloo in Canada and hasprevious experience at Fora Inc. and Andela before transitioning toEden Life Inc..He is passionate about upgrading the home lifestyle and bridging thegap between service providers and service demanders through tech.Listen and enjoy as Nadayar Enegesi talks to us aboutentrepreneurship, Eden Life Inc. and his guiding life principles.Nadayar's Reading ListReinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspiredby the Next Stage in Human Consciousness by Frederic Lalouxhttps://amzn.to/2Jb3qMEBushido: The Way of the Samurai by Tsunetomo Yamamotohttps://amzn.to/3FSr4ggShow Notes1:32 Journey as an entrepreneur4:56 Time at Andela6:49 Transition into the role as CEO and Co-Founder of Eden life Inc.10:35 Process of assembling the founding team15:48 Fundraising process and advice19:03 Founders who have influenced you in the tech space21:42 Reading list25:12 Recruiting and maintaining talent30:27 Title of the book about your life32:49 What does being Afropolitan mean to you34:38 Impact of Covid-19The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “Afropolitan means remembering who we were in the lastthousand years at scale”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Ibi Cookey, Co-Founder of Fitted; a fashion-techcompany revolutionising scalable custom fashion.Ibi is an international business management graduate and a formerinvestment banker. He is passionate about simplifying the customfashion supply chain for all stakeholders.Listen and enjoy as Ibi Cookey talks to us about entrepreneurship,Fitted and transitioning from investment banking to tech.Show Notes1:10 Background and transition from investment banking to tech3:33 Insights gained from private equity4:46 Transition to Fitted6:22 What does Fitted solve8:18 Utilising data from Fitted to solve international measurementchallenges at scale11:11 Fitted's role in the supply chain ecosystem13:47 Fundraising challenges and insights18:11 First encounter with failure and experience learnt19:56 Title of the book about your life21:53 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “As a founder of a startup, we have to get to the end goal -to liquidity and huge wealth gains for ourselves, employees and earlyinvestors.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Morgan DeBaun, Founder/CEO of Blavity Inc.; aleading digital media company for Black culture and millennials withover 100 million readers per month.Morgan is a serial entrepreneur, executive, corporate advisor, andangel investor. She is passionate about building companies andcommunities.Listen and enjoy as Morgan DeBaun talks to us about entrepreneurshipand Blavity's incredible journey.Morgan's Websitehttps://bit.ly/3Tj1TaHMorgan's Reading ListRich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That thePoor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosakihttps://amzn.to/2NIasgGThe 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People WillFollow You by John C. Maxwellhttps://amzn.to/3VICqJbThe Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovationto Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Rieshttps://amzn.to/3CQouV0Show Notes1:17 Investing in the stock market at 13 years old2:27 Misconceptions of being a founder4:16 Advice/strategies for founders in recruiting/retaining talent7:16 Fundraising as a black woman founder10:08 Managing boundaries12:56 Impact of the pandemic professionally/personally17:40 Remote work vs office work21:25 Dealing with letting people go26:56 First encounter with failure and experience learnt30:42 Reading list31:57 Title of the book about your life33:29 Transition from Intuit to Blavity35:16 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “Technology is bringing us back all together.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Biola Alabi, Co-Founder of Atika Ventures; awomen-led venture fund providing early-stage capital to consumertechnology start-ups in West and East Africa.Biola is a Non-Executive Director at Unilever Nig. Plc. and MontyMobile, an Angel Investor at Lagos Angel Network and the ExecutiveProducer at Biola Alabi Media and Entertainment. She is passionateabout investing in startups that will solve real problems at scale.Listen and enjoy as Biola Alabi talks to us about investing instartups and how the investment landscape has changed over the lastdecade.Biola's Reading ListCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkersonhttps://amzn.to/3EXXWDEBasic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and inLife) by Cathie Blackhttps://amzn.to/3Sclh7LTrue North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership by Bill Georgehttps://amzn.to/2AkWI67Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeownhttps://amzn.to/3MH5tstShow Notes1:37 Lagos Angel Network2:43 Changes/challenges in the investment landscape over the last 10 years3:59 Advice to startups in the current regulatory environment5:37 What do you look for in investing in startups7:20 Advice/strategies for founders in recruiting/retaining talent8:54 Managing expectations of Limited Partner (LPs)11:22 First angel investment12:50 First encounter with failure and experience learnt15:44 Transparency as a founder18:09 Background and upbringing23:19 Reading list27:26 Title of the book about your life28:59 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “Think of all unfortunate experiences as learning experiences.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Zeneca, Founder/CEO of ZenAcademy; who was aprofessional poker player for 15 years and has transitioned to being awell respected NFT influencer. He created ZenAcademy to build acommunity and space to educate and help others understand the cryptoand NFT space.Listen and enjoy as Zeneca talks to us about burnout in the techecosystem and offers advice on trading crypto and NFTs.Roy's Reading ListLetters from a Stoic by Lucius Annaeus Senecahttps://amzn.to/3VkqdKAMeditations by Marcus Aureliushttps://amzn.to/2XsyOQlWhy We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walkerhttps://amzn.to/3CP6tHBMan's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Franklhttps://amzn.to/3g2BIpFShow Notes1:18 Transition from a professional poker player for 15 years to Crypto2:31 Burnout and self-care5:55 Distinction between NFTs and crypto9:01 NFT trading - highs and lows11:47 How to evaluate projects15:10 Meaning of Zeneca17:08 Favorite philosophers18:21 Reading list20:09 Start of ZenAcademy26:45 Future of online platforms in growing online communities30:23 Encounter with failure and lessons learned36:43 Navigating the crypto space and dealing with loss41:34 Title of the book about your life43:24 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “If you want something really badly, the whole universeconspires to help you get it.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid tostep into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hopeto empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potentialand contribute to the development of a bold and progressive blackcommunity.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts aboutleaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevantafterwards.This episode features Ngozi Dozie, Co-Founder of Carbon; a Pan Africandigital bank based in Nigeria and a leading digital finance platform.Carbon's mission is to empower all people with the financial accessthey need to pursue a life of dignity and prosperity. The Carbon appwas launched in April 2016 and the business has grown rapidly.A CFA charter holder, Ngozi holds an MBA from Wharton School and hasworked as a financial analyst at Deloitte & Touche and an investmentbanker at JPMorgan in New York.Listen and enjoy as Ngozi talks to us about the importance oftransparency and access to loans in the Nigerian digital financeecosystem and shares tips for new founders to navigate the regulatorylandscape.Ngozi's Reading ListThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelhohttps://amzn.to/3BSXIMuThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Coveyhttps://amzn.to/3CA05UOThe Prophet by Kahlil Gibranhttps://amzn.to/3ycbiIfShow Notes1:27 Carbon's vision and mission6:34 Nigerian ecosystem - Type of loans and access to loans5:36 Transparency and execution8:54 Advice for founders navigating the regulatory landscape in thetech ecosystem11:50 Advice for founders fundraising16:56 Impact of the pandemic on Carbon22:15 Recruiting talent and retaining talent25:08 First encounter with failure, dealing with it and lessons learnt29:50 Reading list35:01 Title of the book about your life38:16 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, orwherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote - “Great ideas happen when two old ideas meet for the first time.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Fatima Dicko, Founder & CEO at Sugar; a community management platform for apartment building. Sugar has raised over $3.5M in VC funding from some of the leading investors in the property technology sector.Fatima was on a product innovation team as a senior engineer at Procter & Gamble focused on bringing new ideas to market. She is passionate about building products people love and supporting youth to become future leaders in tech. Fatima was named as '18 Inspiring Women to Watch' by Inc and listed on the 2021 Forbes 'Next 1000' list.Listen and enjoy as Fatima talks about the COVID 19 pandemic influence on her business and shares some of her fundraising challenges.Fatima's Reading List The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho https://amzn.to/3BSXIMu The Founder's Dilemmas by Noam Wassermanhttps://amzn.to/3Siw01fThe Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitzhttps://amzn.to/3raLhVWShow Notes1:36 Impact of Covid-19 pandemic professionally and personally6:34 Fundraising challenges as a founder9:56 Background and upbringing shaping the entrepreneurial mindset17:19 Initial team recruiting process and retaining talent21:17 Reading list 22:06 Breakdown of Web3 27:54 Title of the book about Fatima's life29:12 First significant encounter with failure and lessons learnt 31:31 Importance of culture34:40 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote- “Your environment directly impacts your health and your ability to succeed.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Anthony Azekwoh, Nigerian-based digital artist and author; who has taken the NFT art scene by storm and whose art has been seen all around the world. In 2020, his painting “The Red Man” was sold as an NFT online for $25,000 and he has since captured the imagination of the global art community.He has also written five books and has worked with artists such as Adekunle Gold, Blaqbonez and many more international clients.Listen and enjoy as Anthony talks about his journey into NFT's, offers advice to upcoming digital artists and shares the inspiration behind his “The Red Man” painting. Anthony's Artworkhttps://www.anthonyazekwoh.com Anthony's Reading List The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho https://amzn.to/3BSXIMu Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwellhttps://amzn.to/3qMrpZ5Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho https://amzn.to/3Btlxc2Show Notes1:10 Discussing Afrobeats: The Backstory documentary and lessons learnt6:23 Anthony on his work being mature8:51 Anthony on his journey into the digital space11:35 Influences in storytelling and art14:20 Art ecosystem and relationship with his parents 26:17 Transition to NFT and crypto art34:13 Advice to digital artists in Africa trying to find their feet36:19 The internet enabling Africans to challenge limitations42:27 Inspiration behind “The Red Man” painting45:34 The difference between art and writing49:57 Anthony's reading list50:46 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote- “One of the things the CDC taught me back in the 90s was to collect data, understand the data, trend the data but also listen to the people.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Lyona Carter, founder clinical data geek, a clinical data management startup.Lyona assists biotech/pharmaceutical companies review their clinical data. One of her biggest influences is Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta's cells have been used in over 11,000 patents including polio vaccination and covid treatments. Nicknamed HeLa cells, they have been used to study the effect of toxins, viruses on the growth of cancer cells without experimenting on humans. Lyona is passionate about creating a framework of compensation for those who wish to benefit from the use of their DNA or vitals. She believes clinical participants or their families should get compensated should they want compensation. Listen and enjoy as Lyona talks about her journey into clinical data management, some of her influences and barriers she faces being a woman in the biotech industry. The Legacy Of Henrietta Lackshttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/Lyona's reading list Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson https://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-Mazing/dp/0091816971/ref=sr_1_1?On The Pulse Of Morning by Maya Angelouhttps://www.amazon.com/Pulse-Morning-Inaugural-Poem/dp/0679748385Show Notes1:54 Journey into clinical data management3:25 Henrietta Lacks contribution to present day clinical trial research5:33 Compensation framework for clinical trial patients and their families7:16 Journey into blockchain technology and web38:42 Influences growing up13:47 Mental and professional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic16:27 Benefits of NFT 18:29 Childhood lessons that taught the hardest lessons20:22 Barriers faced being a woman in the biotech industry.23:07 Encounter with failure and lessons learned25:13 Lyona's reading list27:00 what does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Michael UgwuQuote- “I know a lot of people don't have the luxury of knowing their roots, but I know my roots and that was super important to me.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Michael Ugwu, MD of Freeme Digital, an online digital music distribution network in Africa. Michael is a crypto enthusiast who holds a degree in Economics. In 2019, he liquidated most of his real estate investments and other assets and threw it all into bitcoin. A risk that has paid off over the years. Micheal was instrumental in helping sony music launch in the west African market. He led several projects from licensing catalogs to MTN, Jidenna tour to Nigeria, signing deals of major artists in Nigeria to Sony.Listen and enjoy as Micheal talks about his journey running a distribution company in Nigeria and how NFT can revolutionize the music industry. Michael reading list Think And Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Napoleon-Hill/dp/0785833528De Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammoushttps://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Standaard-Decentrale-Alternatief-Bankieren/dp/9916951357Snow Crash by Neal Stepheson https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Crash-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0553380958/ref=sr_1_1?Show Notes2:09 Micheal's journey into crypto.7:40 Journey to freeme digital.14:30 Challenges of being a founder in the African ecosystem. 16:27 Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on business and operational challenges experienced. 19:24 Michael's first encounter with failure as an entrepreneur.23:50 Lessons learnt at Iroking. 28:37 Approach navigating challenges with signed artists.32:07 How NFT can revolutionize the music industry. 41:36 Michael's reading list 45:17 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

“This world is small, the more you pitch, the more you'll get to those with a pool of money.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Elizabeth Yin,co-founder and general partner at hustle fund, a venture firm that invests in early-stage startups. Elizabeth Yin and her co-founders created the venture capital firm hustle fund to help level the playing field at the pre-seed funding stage. After reviewing about 20,000 pitch decks while working as a partner at 500 startups, Elizabeth came up with the idea of an early stage fund to help founding teams that struggle to attract investors attention. A two time founder, Elizabeth has always had a drive for business, technology and investing. Listen and enjoy as Elizabeth talks to us about her journey to becoming a VC and advises startups entering the bear market.Elizabeth's reading listThe Lean Startup by Eric Rieshttps://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898Predictable Revenue by Aaron Rosshttps://www.amazon.com/Predictable-Revenue-Business-Practices-Salesforce-com/dp/0984380213Shoe Dog by Phil Knight https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Phil-Knight/dp/1508211809Show Notes 1:33 Journey to becoming a partner at hustle fund.4:04 Misconceptions about being a VC 5:57 Most successful exit.7:29 Different fundraising process10:26 Advice to founders on recruiting and retaining talent longterm14:11 Advice to aspiring venture capitalists 16:47 Elizabeth's fundraising experience20:57 Thoughts on sky high valuations for startups22:09 Advice to startups coming into the bear market and what the market potentially holds23:57 Vc that has had a major impact on Elizabeth's growth25:44 Most significant encounter with failure and lessons learned30:09 Elizabeths's introduction into crypto and web332:19 The hustle verse/ crypto shift initiative34:13 Downside to web335:42 Elizabeths's reading list37:49 What does being Afropolitan mean to you? The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Quote -“Trying to cater and impress social media is only going to lead to disappointments”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Denis Asamoah,Co-founder of FORVR mood, a lifestyle brand focused on selfcare. Denis Asamoah is an entrepreneur, brand development specialist, coach and former investment banker with Morgan Stanley. In 2020 during the pandemic lockdown, Denis and his fiancee Jackie Aina co-founded and launched FORVR mood.They successfully self funded and scaled DTC to 7-digits within a few weeks. Denis is passionate about the creator economy and is on a mission to empower more people of color to launch brands and flourish in their space.Listen and enjoy as Denis talks to us about the creative economy and how he has successfully built a multimillion dollar business. Denis's reading list The One Thing by Gary Kellerhttps://www.amazon.com/ONE-Thing-Surprisingly-Extraordinary-Results/dp/1885167776The 4-hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357Show Notes 2:07 Naming process for the owambe collection.4:49 Was the owambe collection a PR stunt?16:18 Cancel culture22:40 Denis's mental selfcare26:57 Transition to the creators economy33:36 Advice to creators.38:25 How creators can leverage their relevance to diversify38:40 Sephora partnership43:13 How Denis deals with negative comments on social media.48:47 Internal and external scorecards51:19 Most significant encounter with failure52:20 FORVR mood sales during the pandemic54:33 How FORVR mood manages the shipping process57:33 Denis's reading list1:01:11 What does being afropolitan mean to you?The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Quote- “You don't have to raise funds to get validation. A lot of people will raise funds just for validation.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Ray Youssef, CEO of ‘Paxful' - a peer-to-peer bitcoin marketplace used by millions worldwide. As an immigrant from Egypt raised in New York, Ray has always been passionate about helping others.Ray believes that education is important in creating equitable opportunities and through his non-profit organization, built with bitcoin he has been able to provide that for so many children in Africa.He has always dreamed of a world where finance is accessible to everyone and that idea manifested as Paxful.Listen and enjoy as Ray talks to us about the African crypto market and the exceptional human capital on the continent.Ray's reading listKing, Warrior, magician, lover : Rediscovering the Archetype of Mature Masculine by Robert Moore​​https://www.amazon.com/King-Warrior-Magician-Lover-Rediscovering/dp/0062506064The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammoushttps://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Standard-Decentralized-Alternative-Central/dp/1119473861The fiat standard by Saifedean Ammoushttps://www.amazon.com/Fiat-Standard-Slavery-Alternative-Civilization/dp/1544526474History of Money by Jack Weatherfordhttps://www.amazon.com/History-Money-Jack-Weatherford/dp/0609801724Show Notes1:02 Mission and vision of Paxful.5:19 African crypto market.8:15 Advice to founders on navigating regulatory framework.12:12 COVID-19 impact on Paxful.13:35 Paxful approach to recruiting and retaining talent.15:30 Advice to founders during fundraising process18:02 The Mission of built with bitcoin.22:51 Significant encounter with failure.27:10 Ray's reading list.34:22 What does being Afropolitan mean to you?The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linkt

Adeniyi AbiodunQuote- “No one says you need to be an engineer or a PA for life. Nobody said you'll have one particular role for life but you can actually be capable of a lot more.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Adeniyi Abiodun,co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Mysten labs. Mysten Labs is creating infrastructure and tools for the decentralized future.Fedup by the red tape of Big Tech, Adeniyi together with three former facebook employees created mysten lab. A startup focused on web3 and block chain infrastructure.They were instrumental in the development of the diem blockchain and move programming language. A cross-platform smart contract language that helps developers secure against exploits.Adeniyi realized programming and writing applications was something he cared about and hasn't looked back ever since. His career cuts across finance, product and blockchain technology.Adeniyi is passionate about leveraging deep tech to solve developer and consumer problems.Listen and enjoy as Adeniyi talks to us about the newly launched Sui blockchain network and his experience fundraising for Mysten labs.Adeniyi's reading listThe Bible​​https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+holy+bible&adgrpid=84105609520&gclid=CjwKCAjwi8iXBhBRadical Focus by Christina Wodtkehttps://www.amazon.com/Radical-Focus-Achieving-Important-Objectives/dp/0996006028Inspired by Marty Caganhttps://www.amazon.com/INSPIRED-Create-Tech-Products-Customers/dp/1119387507Show Notes1:20 Journey to becoming CPO of mysten lab4:19 Mysten lab's vision5:18 Sui's role in the blockchain ecosystem11:14 Decentralization VS Centralization 15:19 Advice to founders on recruiting and retaining talent17:15 Gaming sector VS other sectors in the ecosystem18:57 Advice to newcomers in the blockchain ecosystem20:39 Most significant encounter with failure and lessons learned23:50 Adeniyi's reading list25:36 Advice to founders on the fundraising processThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Naithan Jones Quote - “There's a fundamental misunderstanding of how success actually happens, how success happens is, you pick something to work on, that you don't mind working on in the wee hours of the night, for 20 plus years”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Naithan Jones, former partner at A16z and current Head of Growth at Royal. Royal enables anyone to own and earn royalties for their favorite songs. In 2011, Naithan drove out to silicon valley in his 1994 Corolla with everything he owned and went on to build Ag local, an ecommerce startup that eventually folded up.He later joined Andreessen Horowitz(A16z) where he did amazing work for seven years. Naithan is a tech executive with over 20 years background in market strategy with emphasis on entrepreneurship, startups and entertainment driven business. Listen and enjoy as Naithan talks to us about the misconceptions about being a VC and royal's mission to redistribute the ownership of digital property. Naithan's Twitter post ​​https://twitter.com/naithanjones/status/1550151720319303683?s=21Naithan's reading list Hard Things About Hard Things by Ben Horowitzhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=hard+thing+about+hard+things&adgrpid=82923967095&gclid=CjCybernetics by Nobert Weinerhttps://www.amazon.com/Cybernetics-Second-Control-Communication-Machine/dp/026273009X The Human Use Of Human Beings by Nobert Weinerhttps://www.amazon.com/Human-Use-Beings-Cybernetics-Society/dp/0306803208Inner Engineering by Sadhguruhttps://www.amazon.com/Inner-Engineering-Yogis-Guide-Joy/dp/0812997794Man's Search For Meaning https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429XThe Black Jacobins by C.L.R James https://www.amazon.com/Black-Jacobins-Toussaint-LOuverture-Revolution/dp/0679724672Power vs Force by David Hawkins https://www.amazon.com/Power-Force-David-Hawkins-M-D/dp/1401945074Psychology Of Unconsciousness by C.G Jung https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Unconscious-C-G-Jung/dp/0486424995Show Notes 5:32 What inspired the mindset behind the tweet 11:25 How serving has changed Naithans's perspective on life and humanity17:11 Journey to Tech 24:43 Misconceptions about being a VC33:15 Advice to founders40:48 The role healing/therapy plays in dealing with past trauma 46:46 Royal's mission52:33 Naithan's Reading list The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Tayo OviosuQuote- “A life of service is worth living.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Tayo Oviosu, founder and group CEO Paga,a mobile payments company focused on digitizing cash in emerging economies.The Stanford educated professional saw a huge opportunity in the financial service industry and came up with what is now paga. With over 19 million users, paga is unrelenting in bringing financial services to the unbanked. Listen and enjoy as Tayo talks to us about the impact of FinTech companies in Africa and how Paga aims to serve the unbanked. Tayo's reading list True North by Bill George https://www.amazon.com/True-North-Discover-Authentic-Leadership/dp/0787987514My American Journey by Colin Powellhttps://www.amazon.com/My-American-Journey-Colin-Powell/dp/0345466411Shoe Dog by Phil Knight https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike-ebook/dp/B0176M1A44 Show Notes 1:33 Paga Mission4:00 Has paga solved the pain point of carrying cash around in Nigeria6:26 Unique challenges faced while starting paga 8:43 Fundraising challenges founders in Africa face12:28 How paga has engaged regulatory bodies15:58 Insights on agency banking model22:01 How paga has been able to recruit and retain talent25:52 Operational challenges paga faced during covid30:01 leadership challenges31:26 Books that have impacted Tayo's life 36:05 First encounter with failure as an entrepreneur42:46 Concept of product management in the tech ecosystem. The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Deeze's Quote"Don't enjoy to the point where you're not doing hard work again and don't do hard work to the point where you don't take a moment to enjoy just a little bit."The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Today's episode features Deeze, the Director of vibes at Fractional, a decentralized protocol that enables collective ownership and governance of one or more NFTs.Deeze is most known for his outstanding work in supporting the NFT community, he hosts twitter spaces to spotlight up and coming artists with quality work in the scene. Listen and enjoy as Deeze talks to us about everything from fractional and how he got started with NFTs. Twitter thread https://twitter.com/punk6529/status/1507787390114488322? Deeze reading list https://www.amazon.com/Million-Stuffed-Shark-Economics-Contemporary/dp/0230620590 The 12 Million Stuffed Shark by Don Thompsonhttps://www.amazon.com/Pre-Suasion-Robert-Cialdini-Ph-D-audiobook/dp/B01JAYK6HI/ref=sr_1_1? Pre-suasion by Robert Cialdinihttps://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/006124189X Influence by Robert Cialdini https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-History-Will-Durant/dp/143914995X/ref=sr_1_1? Lessons of history by Will and Ariel Durant https://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Mentors-Short-Advice-World/dp/B082VM5VZN/ref=sr_1 _1? Tribe of Mentors by Will FerrissShow Notes 1:15 How did you get started with NFT7:52 What are NFTs and what can be their use in the future10:52 Journey to fractional 14:33 Owning a collectible with a group of strangers/ friends17:21 Advice to newbies joining NFT projects21:25 Pseudonymity within the NFT ecosystem 27:40 Thoughts on the Azuki scandal34:50 Favorite books39:03 Highs and lows of NFT47:32 First encounter with failure and lessons learned. The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

MERCEDES BENTQuote - “one of the biggest, most profound realization I've had is there is no life path that can be planned or followed.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Mercedes Bent, partner at Lightspeed, a venture capital firm based in the USA, with her focus on consumer investments in crypto. Born in North Carolina and raised in California, Mercedes' parents introduced her to web development at a young age and dinner table conversations were centered around the next invention. It's no surprise Mercedes found herself working at startups in her early career as a Product Manager and later as a General Manager.Mercedes' path to VC is a true convergence of her life experiences, finance roles managing P&Ls at two consumer startups (including growing one from $2 to $100M in revenue), and her long-term goal of empowering communities she cares about. A member of Lightspeed's consumer and crypto investing team, Mercedes is primarily focused on investing in crypto, fintech, and other wealth-building and consumer products. Listen and enjoy as Mercedes talks to us about venture capital. Mercedes reading listhttps://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-Complete-8-Book/dp/0553609416 Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery. https://www.amazon.com/Singularity-Nearer-Ray-Kurzweil-ebook/dp/B08Y6FYJVY The Singularity Is Nearer by Ray KurzweilShow Notes6:59 Journey to Venture Capital and Lightspeed8:41 Evaluating startups11:00 Common misconceptions about VC12:40 Why Lightspeed15:01 Covid's impact on deal flow and personally 17:41 How the barrier can be broken for women trying to raise capital21:25 First encounter with failure and lessons learned.24:17 Advice to founders struggling to recruit and retain talent 28:24 Advice to people trying to break into VC29:51 If the only thing left in the world was to read a book about your life, what will the title be33:41 What does being Afropolitan mean to youThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Atsu Davoh Quote- “Focus on the process, the destination will eventually come but the process is what gets you there.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards.This episode features Atsu Davoh, the MD of Bitsika, a payment platform that helps people send money across countries.With several startups under his belt, Atsu has always been determined to build his multi million dollar company and he seems to have achieved that with Bitsika. While in college in the United states Atsu realized school wasn't for him. Atsu was more interested in building websites, working on small projects, learning HTML and CSS.He eventually dropped out and focused on entrepreneurship full time, a move that has eventually paid off.Bitsika was a pioneer in afrobeats and fintech collaboration. In 2020, they signed renowned music giant Davido as an official brand ambassador. This partnership was a pivotal moment for the organization as it led to the acquisition of numerous customers. Listen and enjoy as Atsu talks to us about building Bitsika and future plans. Atsu reading listAntiFragile by Nicholas TalebThe Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean AmmousInventing Bitcoin by Yan PritzkerShow notes:4:55 How Atsu scales ideas as a software engineer and technical founder. 8:25 How Bitsika plans to accommodate the central bank of Nigeria's regulation on crypto companies.16:36 The process of engaging Davido as a brand ambassador and the results after the campaign was launched. 30:10 challenges with hiring and maintaining talent as a startup in Africa. 37:39 The promise of crypto and decentralization. 42:28 Atsu's entrepreneurial mind set.48:37 First experience with failure and lesson learnt. 1:02:03 What does being Afropolitan mean to Atsu1:03:45 Mission behind the social tokens and what it represents in the crypto ecosystem. The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Gossy UkanwokeQuote"Don't enjoy to the point where you're not doing hard work again and don't do hard work to the point where you don't take a moment to enjoy just a little bit."The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Today's episode features Gossy Ukanwoke, the MD of KingMakers, owners of the BetKing brand. With Gossy at the helm of affairs, the brand is evolving to encompass sports entertainment and gaming services. “It's not just a roadside gambling company, it's a proper technology business. It's a product in gaming. It can easily be a fintech company tomorrow, given the spread across the continent, the number of users, the number of transactions. It can roll it out and it can be anything.”Gossy started out reselling Internet services in his late teens to wealthy customers, at a time when wireless routers were not yet commonplace. The Internet service provider caught on to what Gossy was doing and in no time, he found himself out of business. “You know when they say, cut you at the knees, day by day, my clients were just dropping off one by one.”It was a steep learning curve for him, but the lessons he learned would serve him well in the future.Listen and find out what those lessons are.You can also fuel your mind with Gossy's impactful reading list.https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 Good To Great by Jim Collinshttps://www.amazon.com/Talent-Never-Enough-Discover-Choices/dp/0785214038 Talent is never Enough by John C Maxwellhttps://www.amazon.com/Sprint-Solve-Problems-Test-Ideas/dp/1442397683 Sprint by Jake Knapp Show Notes:11:05 Gossy mentions one of the things people don't really talk about in entrepreneurship?14:55 Gossy talks about his boat business and building confidence in a low-trust environment.19:42 First and best entrepreneurial experience ever as a reseller of Internet services and lessons learned.31:21 How he created Beni American University. Building out a school that will address the issues of access, quality and relevance.42:19 From bootstrapping to fundraising.46:10: BetKing's growth and expansion.50:50 What's important when it comes to recruiting the right talent.52:33 Gossy's biggest leadership lessons in managing peopleThe Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Eke Eleanya UrumQuote: “Start up is a Marathon. You want to make sure that the value you're creating, you're not just building for investors because you sold too much too early.”The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren't afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community.Today's episode features Eke Eleanya Urum, Founder and CEO of Rise Vest - a dollar denominated investment platform.“I've always been passionate about finance, investments. It's what I studied in school, what I worked in, it's what I did personally. And as a hobby, I just love it.”Following the peak of the Shale revolution and the subsequent crash of oil prices, Eke published a blog post in November of 2014 advising people to find ways to move their money to dollar investments. He went on to co-found BuyCoins with Timi Ajiboye. They later parted ways so that Eke could focus on building core investment products, and this eventually led to the start of Rise Vest.Having to deal with regulatory challenges from the government taught Eke a thing or two about the rules of engagement when dealing with regulators.Listen and enjoy as Eke takes us through the rise of Rise VestEke's reading listThe Biblehttps://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho-ebook/dp/B00U6SFUSS/ The Alchemist by Paul Coelhohttps://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future-ebook/dp/B00J6YBOFQ/ Zero To One by Peter ThielShow Notes:03:57 How 2021 Rise Vest's year of ascent.05:46 The idea that became Rise Vest.07:09 Starting BuyCoins with Timi Ajiboye.08:02 Parting ways with Timi and BuyCoins.08:17 The beginning of Rise Vest.10:18 Eke talks about recruiting tech talent even if you are a non-tech founder.11:06 Partnerships that work. How Eke met his co-founder Bosun Olanrewaju.11:49 Building the first products at Rise Vest12:35 Building the team at Rise Vest13:22 How equity works at Rise Vest.14:24 The process of fundraising according to Eke17:54 Dealing with regulators. The cases with CBN and EFCC.23:25 The founders who inspire Eke.26:24 Eke's thoughts on running a company in Nigeria versus going abroad.29:20 The future of Crypto in Africa and why it should be embraced34:13 Eke's multiple lens on failure.The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Quote:“I often say to people that you want to be careful how you challenge yourself. You don't want to change too many things at once when changing a job.”Today's episode features Adia Sowho, the CMO of MTN Nigeria, and also the first woman to occupy that position. “I'm not a classic CMO, but interestingly, I think I'm the CMO the tech company needs. I hope to try to, from my role, reconnect MTN to that deeper purpose and start taking the conversation forward. What happens beyond connectivity? How do we make MTN a part of the next bunch of unicorn stories?”Starting with her first degree in Electrical Engineering, Adia's career has cut across technology, telecommunications, and finance. Adia has been referred to as the Sheryl Sandberg of the startup ecosystem and later as the Olivia Pope of the Nigerian tech ecosystem. Listen and learn how Adia built her track record of creating impactful work in her positions.Adia's Reading Listhttps://www.amazon.com/Sovereign-Individual-James-Dale-Davidson-ebook/dp/B00AK9IXXM-The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogghttps://www.amazon.com/Formula-Universal-Laws-Success-ebook/dp/B07B863X6B/- The Formula by Albert-László Barabási Show Notes:03:42 Adia talks about her role as the CMO of MTN Nigeria?07:03 Adia explains MTN's position in the tech space.12:02 How digital finance services help build legacy and trust.16:32 On corporate companies versus startups.21:44 Why founders need structure in their companies.24:37 The turnaround process of Thrive Agric. 29:46 How to navigate intergenerational spaces.35:56 Building synergy between fintechs, banks and telcos.39:36 How managing her reputation and making relationship investments have paid off.The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/

Afropolitan is creating a digital nation to enable Africans and the diaspora to build abundant lives. Our history as Africans is one of abundance. Systemic oppression has limited our progress, and being Black is associated with scarcity. It is time to reclaim our abundance.Our knowledge and history have been passed down in Africa through oral tradition. That oral tradition continues till this day, but today we call it podcasting. We seek to preserve our history, achievements, and knowledge for today and the future.This episode features Eche Emole and Chika Uwazie, co-founders of Afropolitan, a digital nation that enables Africans and the diaspora to build abundant lives.Eche is the co-founder of Afropolitan, a network comprising the best that Africa and the diaspora offer across art, finance, tech, and media. Eche is a former executive at Flutterwave Inc., a payment technology company focused on helping banks and businesses provide seamless and secure payment experiences for their customers in Africa and globally. Eche has 10 years of experience building communities across the African Diaspora.Chika is co-founder of Afropolitan. A seasoned HR professional with multiple successful companies under her belt. Born and raised in America, Chika moved back to Nigeria to run Talentbase, a human resource and payroll software company. Chika is passionate about helping export exceptional African talent to the world.The Afropolitan Manifesto: https://afropolitan.mirror.xyzHow to Start a Country by Balaji Srinivasan - https://1729.com/how-to-start-a-new-countryEche's reading listAntifragile by Nassim Nicholas TalebThe Almanack of Naval Ravikan by Eric JorgensonThe Way of the Superior Man by David DeidaHow to start a new country by Balaji SrinivasanChika's reading listRich Dad Poor Dad by Robert kiyosakiThe Psychology of money by Morgan HouselThe Art of Seduction by Robert GreeneShow Notes10:15 Introduction of co founders.13:15 Birth and transition of Afropolitan.18:09 Afropolitan mission and why it's personal.36:00 How to execute the Afropolitan mission.46:41 Experience with the fundraising process.50:37 Advice to founders trying to raise capital.55:47 Most significant encounter with failure and lessons learned.1:14:48 What does being Afropolitan mean?1:18:22 Last words.The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan.Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts.Want to learn more about Afropolitan?Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitanWebsite - https://www.afropolitan.io/Afropolitan Community - https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroup

Hi I'm Eche, co-founder of Afropolitan and host of the Afropolitan Podcast, In this new season I'm excited to share what we've been up to. Afropolitan is creating a digital nation to enable Africans and the diaspora to build abundant lives. Our history as Africans is one of abundance. Systemic oppression has limited our progress and being Black is associated with scarcity. It is time to reclaim our abundance. In Africa, our knowledge and history has been passed down through oral tradition. That oral tradition continues till this day, but today we call it podcasting. We seek to preserve our history, achievements and knowledge not just for today, but for the future.Listen to season two of the Afropolitan podcast, where we extract the blueprints of fearlessness, innovation and progress from Afropolitan citizens who are building the future of a bold and progressive nation. ​​Join the network of abundance → https://linktr.ee/afropolitangroupAfropolitan Website → https://www.afropolitan.io/

Today we chat with Fola Olatunji David, the co-founder of Kickoff Africa; a startup focused on investing in startups, enabling quick turnaround time with regards to decision making for startups and connecting experts to startups and also offers training in select fields needed to grow a startup. In this episode, he shares his story about his foray into tech and how his experience and extensive knowledge of Sports bettingVenture Capitalism and Product Marketing has helped him to understand African users and become a better consultant for startups.

In this episode, our guest is Tobenna Arodiogbu. He is the Co-founder and CEO of CloudTrucks. His interest in the trucking business led him to found Scotty Labs, a startup that allows users to remotely control autonomous vehicle. He currently runs CloudTrucks a startup that enables truckers get more revenue, better cash flow and reduces their cost of operation. Listen to Tobenna as he shares his story about his formative days in the world of economics and how the knowledge helped him transition to the world of tech.

In this episode, our guest is Sadiq Onifade popularly known as Wurld. He is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who has collaborated with artists such as Akon, Mario, Timbaland; award-winning producer Sarz and electronic dance music DJ Major Lazer.Listen to Wurld as he shares his story of his early days as a singer and songwriter navigating the music industry in Atlanta and Africa; his favorite artist to record with and his plans for the future.

Episode 1 of the bonus episodes of the Afropolitan Podcast. In this episode, our guest is Odun Ewenyi. She is the Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Piggyvest and the co-founder of Wine and Whine and Feminist Coalition. Listen to Odun as she shares her story about her entrepreneurial journey into Fintech, the birth and sustenance of Piggyvest and the active role played during the October Protest.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji Today, we chat with Iyinoluwa Samuel Aboyeji, a Nigerian entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of the tech companies, Andela and Flutterwave. He is also the general partner and co-founder of Future Africa, a platform that provides capital, coaching, and community for mission-driven innovators.In this episode, Iyin demystifies the process of building a start-up, knowing when to step back, and staying driven.

Today, we chat with Affiong Williams also known as Affisuparstar, the CEO/ Founder of ReelFruit the largest fruit processing, packaging and marketing company in Nigeria. The company, founded in 2012, retails a range of dried fruit and nut snacks through a variety of channels including over 450 Supermarkets, Airlines, Schools, Hotels, and concluding export sales via Amazon.com ReelFruit is an award-winning brand, winning both an international Women In Business Competition in the Netherlands. She has also been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the most promising '30 under 30′ entrepreneurs in 2015. Affiong is passionate about agribusiness and looking at innovative, market-driven solutions to add value to local produce given Nigeria's unique agricultural landscape. In this episode, Affi tells us the story of her journey, her evolution and reinvention. Now let's head over to Affi.

Today we chat with Obi Asika a Nigerian creative industries entrepreneur. He is known for his involvement in the growth of Nigeria's music industry, as the founder and CEO of Storm 360 - an indigenous music label that spawned entertainers including Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype, L.O.S., Ms. Jaie, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix.He is a founding partner of Dragon Africa - a Strategic Communications Firm based in London, Lagos, and Accra, and is the Chairman of OutSource Media, a leading communications and content production company. Asika also sits on the board of the Collecting Society of Nigeria (COSON)., and is a prominent figure in laying the infrastructure for the growth and development of the media & entertainment industry.In this episode, Obi tells us the story of his journey, his evolution, and his reinvention. Now let's head over to Obi.

Today, we chat with Dayo Koleowo, Managing Partner at Microtraction, a venture capital firm backing the most remarkable African tech founders at their earliest stage. He oversees Investments, Portfolio Management, and Investor Relations. He manages and supports a portfolio of companies solving important local problems on the continent. These companies have gone on to raise a combined total of $33m+ and have a combined valuation of approximately $147m+In this episode, Dayo tells us the story of his journey, his evolution, and his reinvention. Now let's head over to Dayo.

Today we chat with Abiodun Osikoya, also known as Bizzle Osikoya. Bizzle is a man in constant demand. A&R, music executive, entrepreneur, renowned culture middleman, and social media influencer with his hand in many pies.Bizzle Osikoya joined the Nigerian music industry from creating MySpace pages for artists.Asa Asika & Bizzle both joined forces to create The Plug Entertainment.Under his shared guidance with Asa Asika, The Plug Entertainment has expanded, booking tours across the world, consulting for international culture-affiliated companies.In this episode, Bizzle tells us the story of his journey, his evolution and reinvention. Now let's head over to Bizzle.Now let's go chat with Bizzle

Today we chat with Mawuli Gavor a Ghanaian accountant turned actor, model, TV presenter, entrepreneur, and producer. Gavor was born in Ghana. He studied business and finance at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.Gavor started out in the entertainment industry as a model while in the US as an undergraduate of business management and finance. Upon returning to Ghana, he began his career as an accountant. He however became a brand ambassador to Martini in 2013 and changed his career path. He transitioned into acting in Nollywood movies and is known for the movie Obsession. He has gone on to act in multiple other productions.In this episode, Mawuli tells us the story of his journey, his evolution, and his reinvention. Now let's head over to Mawuli.

Today, we chat with Preston Ideh, the Co-founder and CEO of Stears, a digital information start-up based out of Lagos, Nigeria.Stears' mission is to make it possible for anyone, anywhere in the world, to access high-quality data on Africa. Stears publishes Stears Business, a subscription-driven business publication. In this episode, Preston Ideh tells us the story of his journey, his evolution and reinvention. Preston is an entrepreneur who previously worked as a corporate finance lawyer at Linklaters, one of Europe's elite Magic Circle law firms. He graduated from the London School of Economics before moving back to Nigeria to focus on building Stears, which is now tipped to become the Bloomberg of Africa.Now let's head over to Preston.

Today, we chat with Asa Asika, a Nigerian entertainment consultant. He is the manager of the popular Nigerian musician, Davido; Guinness World Record holder DJ Obi and co-founder of the artiste management company, The Plug.He founded an artiste management company called Stargaze and managed talents like Ayojay, Bojonthemicrophone.Asa Asika is the cousin of Naeto C and nephew of Nigerian Entertainment business mogul, Obi Asika. In this episode, Asa Asika tells us the story of his journey, his evolution and reinvention. Now let's head over to Asa.

Today, we chat with Yele Bademosi, CEO at Bundle Africa, the Africa-focused social payments app for cash and crypto, aiming to drive crypto adoption in Africa and bringing more economic freedom and prosperity to all Africans. Yele is focused on developing the blockchain ecosystem in Africa, accelerating Africa's transition into a sustainable and developed economy by leveraging capital, innovation, and policy.He is a Founding Partner at Microtraction, which funds Africa's most remarkable teams at early-stage startups across multiple sectors including finance and cryptocurrency... In this episode, Yele Bademosi tells us the story of his journey, his evolution, and reinvention. Now let's head over to Yele.

Today, we chat with Adenola Adepetun, known as Dénola Grey. Denola is a fashion consultant, actor, writer and on-air multimedia personality. In this episode, Denola tells us how he was able to move away from the black and white restrictions in the fashion industry and live as a successful creative in all the grey areas. Now let's head over to Denola

Today, we chat with Jude Abaga better known as M.I, one of Africa's greatest rappers. In this episode, M.I. tells us the story of his journey, his evolution, and how he continues to remain center stage.Now let's go meet M.I.