Founders Connect

How do you build a startup that survives over a decade in Africa's tough tech terrain? In this interview, Dennis Ondeng, the CEO of Kopo Kopo, shares his remarkable journey of building and sustaining a fintech company for over 14 years in Kenya and across Africa. This episode is more than a founder story; it's a deep dive into what it means to lead with resilience, vision, and empathy.Kopo Kopo is a fintech platform that enables small and medium-sized businesses to accept digital payments and access credit. Since launching in 2011, it has weathered some of the most difficult startup challenges—including a near-fatal funding drought, market resistance, and the ever-changing demands of scaling in emerging markets. Dennis has been at the heart of this journey, first as the company's CTO and later transitioning to CEO, where he's led the team through pivotal shifts in strategy, structure, and regional expansion.In this interview, Dennis talks openly about the struggles that tested him and the business. He recounts the dark days of 2015, when Kopo Kopo's Series B funding nearly fell apart and the company faced existential questions. Rather than give up, Dennis and the team used that moment as a turning point. It forced them to reassess how they were building, who they were building for, and how to better lead with people in mind. That period forged a deeper sense of purpose and built a foundation for longevity.Dennis also shares his perspective on scaling into new markets. Kopo Kopo experimented with expansion into Ghana, Uganda, and other African countries. What they learned was that timing and market readiness are just as important as the product itself. He discusses the value of experimentation, failing fast, and building systems that allow you to iterate without losing focus. The company's decision to work with partners instead of going in alone helped reduce risk and improve market fit. These strategies alongside a disciplined focus on the needs of merchants enabled Kopo Kopo to evolve and remain relevant in a competitive space.Beyond the business tactics, Dennis offers rare insights into leadership evolution. Moving from CTO to CEO was not just a change in title, it was a shift in mindset. As CEO, he had to balance engineering precision with people management, investor relations, long-term vision, and operational execution. He shares his greatest lesson which was to build what people truly need, not what seems impressive on paper.He also reflects on how the tech landscape in Kenya has influenced Kopo Kopo's growth. Watching the ecosystem evolve, from limited infrastructure and investor hesitancy to a vibrant, innovation-driven environment, has given him a unique vantage point. He's not just been a participant; he's been part of the story. And he believes there's still more to come.This episode is packed with value for aspiring founders, operators, and anyone interested in building for the long term in emerging markets. Dennis shares how resilience, experimentation, clarity of purpose, and a willingness to adapt have been key to Kopo Kopo's survival and growth. He also speaks on what he's most proud of after 14 years: not just the product, but the impact the company has had on merchants across Kenya and beyond.If you're looking to understand what long-term startup success really looks like in Africa, this conversation is essential. It's raw, practical, and deeply inspiring.Subscribe for more real stories from African founders and operators. Leave a comment below to let us know what part of Dennis' journey stood out to you the most. And if you found value in this conversation, don't forget to like, share, and turn on notifications.

What would you do if the most profitable part of your business was the hardest part to scale?In this exclusive Founders Connect episode, we sat down with Paul Kimani, the CEO and co-founder of Workpay, to dive into his unconventional entrepreneurial journey, the bold decisions that shaped Workpay, and the hard lessons learned along the way.From studying electrical engineering to working as a mechanical engineer, and eventually founding one of Africa's most innovative payroll and HR tech platforms based in Kenya but used across Africa. Paul's story is one of clarity, risk-taking, and strategic thinking.Paul shares how he made the difficult decision to shut down the most profitable part of his business — and how it paid off. Instead of chasing traction, he chose scalability and competitive advantage. That decision changed everything.Whether you're a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, tech enthusiast, or investor interested in African startups, Paul's journey will give you fresh insight into what it means to build and scale intentionally.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Tobi Asu-Johnson, the founder of Zap Africa, to discuss his vision for building Africa's biggest crypto wallet. With the rise of crypto adoption in Africa, Tobi shares his insights on the opportunities and challenges of creating a blockchain solution that caters to the unique needs of the African market. He also shares some valuable crypto tips and his thoughts on the future of the crypto market in Africa. Zap technology is revolutionising the way Africans interact with cryptocurrency, and Tobi's innovative approach is putting Africa on the global crypto map. If you're interested in African startups, blockchain solutions, and the growth of crypto in Africa, then this video is for you. Tune in to learn more about Zap Africa and how it's changing the game for crypto enthusiasts across the continent.

In this inspiring and deeply insightful conversation, we take you on a journey through the eyes of someone who's been building in the Nigerian tech space for over a decade.Tunde Ajibawo is the current Head of Engineering at SystemSpecs Deelaa. With over a decade of experience in building software and leading teams, Tunde has contributed to the success of several tech-driven companies in Nigeria. He's a big believer in structure, learning the fundamentals, and growing people.In this video, he shares:- how he got into tech before it became mainstream in Nigeria, - what the tech landscape looked like in Nigeria in the early 2000s, - the companies he's worked with and how he's navigated roles from Junior Developer to now, Head of Engineering, - what he did to stand out and grow quickly in a fast-paced ecosystem- his take on startups, remote working and also scaling fast- and most importantly—why mastering the fundamentals has been key to his growthTunde doesn't just talk about his career growth, he shares his doubts, his unfinished ideas, and how he's grown through constant learning. This is one of those videos where you'll want to pause and take notes.For founders, it's a reminder that not everyone has to start a company to make impact.For engineers, it's a masterclass on growth and leadership.For students, it's proof that consistency and curiosity go a long way.For tech operators, it's a peek into the minds of the people building Africa's digital backbone.Whether you're a tech founder, tech professional, a student just starting out, or a career professional navigating your next role, this video is packed with real talk, practical advice, and a lot of personal stories that will leave you motivated and informed.Let's hear from you!Drop a comment to share your biggest takeaway from Tunde's story. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more tech stories from across Africa .

In this video, we dive into Antler, a global early-stage investor that's backing the world's most ambitious founders and building the fastest-growing portfolio of venture-backed startups across the globe.This video is specifically for founders looking to scale or anyone just curious about how top VCs help startups grow from idea to impact, this video breaks down how Antler supports early-stage startups with funding, resources, and expert guidance to accelerate their journey.

This episode is a must-watch for content creators, aspiring creators, and entrepreneurs looking to grow their audience and build a sustainable content business. In this episode of Creators Jam, Peace Itimi and Caleb Maru dive into the process of building a loyal audience—sharing their experiences, strategies, and insights on what really works.Don't forget to subscribe, leave a comment and share.

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong shares his journey from his love for science to founding 54gene, a company that set out to revolutionize Africa's genomics industry. He opens up about the company's mission, key milestones, impact during COVID-19, and the shocking truth behind the hostile takeover that led to its downfall. Now, he's building again with Syndicate Bio. This is a founder's story of grit, resilience,, and lessons every entrepreneur should know.

In this Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, Iyin Aboyeji takes on some of the most pressing questions from attendees at the Builders Summit in Lagos. He dives into topics like navigating government policies, balancing a 9-5 job while building a startup, key considerations when choosing a co-founder, and much more. This session is filled with valuable insights you won't want to miss. If you enjoy the video, be sure to like, leave a comment, subscribe, and share with others.

In this #FoundersConnect Live in London segment with Olugbeminiyi Idowu, Founder and Managing Director of Talking Drum Communications, talks to us about the importance of effective storytelling for your brand. Olugbeminiyi is a technology PR and comms specialist, with vast experience in leading and delivering successful media campaigns for a wide range of companies - from established global players to Africa-focused start-ups.

In this power-packed panel session, Bunmi Akinyemiju of Greenhouse Capital Africa and Lexi Novitske of Norrsken22, share insights on everything founders need to know about securing funding, pitching with confidence, and avoiding costly mistakes. They shared key factors investors look for before writing that check, the red flags that instantly turn investors away (and how to avoid them), strategies to stand out from the crowd and make investors see your potential and many more. Whether you're gearing up for a seed round, Series A, or just want to sharpen your fundraising skills, this session is packed with invaluable insights to help you secure the capital you need to grow. Knowing what to avoid can be just as powerful as knowing what to do. Listen and learn the do's AND don'ts of successful fundraising.

In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Maru, the visionary founder of Tech Safari, to uncover how he transformed his media startup into a thriving company generating $49,000 in monthly revenue in just 18months. Caleb shares some of the strategies that fueled Tech Safari's rapid growth. Don't miss this inspiring story of innovation and determination! Read more about Tech Safari here: https://www.techsafari.io/

In this episode, Oiza Sadiq shares her inspiring corporate career journey, detailing how she progressed from a local role to a regional position and ultimately a global role at Google, all within just four years. Oiza walks us through the exact steps she took, the strategies that helped her stand out, and the critical skills she had to learn to succeed at each stage. Whether you're early in your career, transitioning between roles, or aiming to go global, there's a lot to learn from her experiences. Don't forget to like this podcast, leave a comment, share and most importantly, subscribe. Follow How I on Instagram for more updates: https://www.instagram.com/howitheseries

In this latest Founders Connect episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Jessica Hope, the "Queen of African Tech." In this engaging conversation, Jessica shares her personal and professional experiences, from her upbringing in the UK to her entrepreneurial journey with Wimbart. Discover how she transitioned from a temporary role at the Natural History Museum in the UK to leading PR efforts at the Iroko and ultimately co-founding her own agency focused on African tech. Jessica reflects on the challenges of balancing family and business, the importance of celebrating team successes, and the lessons learned along the way. Whether you're interested in PR, entrepreneurship, or the vibrant African tech scene, this video is packed with valuable insights and inspiration!

In this episode, Nimmy Mathews (Head of EMEA Sales, Startups at AWS) and Yvonne Bajela (Partner at LocalGlobe and Latitude) discuss investing in African startups and supporting black female founders and underrepresented founders. They share insights on funding challenges and their vision for improving the ecosystem. Mathews has led diverse organizations at Amazon, focusing on helping startups and small businesses scale globally. Bajela, a founding member of Impact X Capital LLP, has invested in companies like Wise and Flutterwave. She's been recognized on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Europe Finance List and 25 Leading Black British People.

In this Founders Connect episode, we sit down with Tommie Edwards, the CEO and Co-founder of Tech1M, a cutting-edge tech company dedicated to bridging the gap between businesses and top-tier tech talent. Tommie shares her inspiring journey, from her early days in Nigeria to dropping out of the University of Lagos and making a bold move to the UK. Here, she shares how she navigated her early days in a new country, found her first job, and balanced multiple side hustles while working 9-5. Tommie also recounts starting a courier company, building a mobile app for event planners, and eventually founding Tech1M. Throughout the interview, she opens up about the challenges she faced, the lessons learned, and what she would do differently if given the chance. Tech1M is revolutionizing the way companies access skilled tech professionals, providing a seamless platform for connecting businesses with the right talent. This episode is packed with valuable insights and personal anecdotes that will motivate and inspire you. Enjoy!

In this Founders Connect episode, we sit down with the team behind Norrsken Foundation and Norrsken 22: Niklas Adalberth, Hans Otterling, and Lexi Novitske. Niklas opens up about his upbringing and shares why he decided to leave Klarna, offering a unique perspective on the balance between money and happiness. Hans reflects on his own early years and provides his vision for the African tech ecosystem over the next 5-10 years, including his experience investing in Spotify. Lexi gives us an inside look at the collaborative efforts of the Norrsken 22 team. We also discuss the types of companies in Africa that Norrsken 22 is keen to invest in, offering valuable insights into the future of tech and entrepreneurship on the continent. This episode is for anyone interested in the future of African tech

id you know Chowdeck, the green and yellow app everyone's using these days, started with a frustrating late-night craving? Chowdeck is an on-demand food delivery service and marketplace where people can purchase their favourite meals from a wide range of restaurants. Whether local or continental, customers can buy food in a few short steps and have it delivered to their doorstep in under 30 minutes. In this Founders Connect interview, we sat down with Femi Aluko, the CEO of Chowdeck, along with other top leaders from the company - Including his co-founders, Olumide Ojo and Lanre Yusuf - to discuss the inception, growth and challenges they've faced so far. So, if you've ever wondered how Chowdeck became a leading food delivery platform, this interview is a must-watch! Subscribe for more inspiring Founders Connect stories, and let us know what YOU think in the comments below!

In this video, Adia Sowho, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN Nigeria, delivers a keynote address titled, "So You Want to Be a Great Operator?" live at The Builders Summit by Founders Connect. With a career spanning roles at Etisalat, MTN Nigeria, Thrive Agric and more, Adia brings a wealth of experience in telecommunications, marketing, and technology. She has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation across different organizations. In her keynote, Adia shares key insights, tips, and tricks on how to excel as an operator. Her practical advice, drawn from years of leading high-performing teams and managing complex projects, is invaluable for both aspiring and seasoned operators. This is a must-watch. As always, don't forget to like, share, subscribe AND leave a comment if you found this insightful.

In this episode, Sim Shagaya, one of Nigeria's leading entrepreneurs, takes us through his remarkable journey in building some of Africa's most recognized businesses across multiple industries. From his decision to leave the U.S. and move back to Nigeria, to founding groundbreaking ventures like E-Motion, Konga, uLesson and many others, Sim shares invaluable insights from each stage of his entrepreneurial career. This episode is filled with lessons on resilience, foresight, and making bold decisions that can define your legacy. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a comment and share with someone.

Adeola Ayoola is on a mission to transform healthcare in Africa. Through Famasi Africa, she's making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and efficient for Africans everywhere. In this episode, she share how Famasi Africa is simplifying how people access essential health services, from prescription refills to medical consultations. With Famasi Africa, Adeola has created a platform that brings healthcare closer to those who need it most. Patients can now access essential care without the hassle of traditional processes.

Bayo 'Lion' Adedeji is the current Group CEO of Wakanow, Africa's one-stop shop for cheap flights, hotel reservations and airport pickups. Before Wakanow, Bayo was a Senior Finance Manager at Amazon, in charge of fulfilment supporting product teams in 16 countries. During his segment at #FoundersConnect Live in London, Bayo shared his insights on the excellent execution, and doing things well. If you want to learn more about Bayo's journey, watch our interview with him here - https://youtu.be/ifbJMZiuhgI?si=3rTwAtH_jV1-kVxs --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Tosin Eniolorunda is a leading innovator in the African Fintech space. He is the founder and CEO of Moniepoint Inc, a global, all-in-one, digital financial services provider with operations in Nigeria and an ongoing expansion into other emerging markets. Since 2019, Moniepoint Inc. has powered over a million businesses, offering payment, banking, credit, and business management tools. In this episode of Founders Connect (but Live!), we spoke to Tosin about his journey so far --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

“My own rule to networking is to give. You gain when you're a giver” In this episode of Founders Connect, Damilare Ogunleye, founder of Foodlama, shared his insights during his Keynote session in London about the importance of networking for growth especially as an entrepreneur. Tune in! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

In this Founders Connect episode, our host, Peace Itimi, sits down with the incredible Femi Iromini, the brain behind the YC-backed Moni Africa. Get ready for a candid conversation that goes beyond the boardroom! What's on the agenda? - Femi's backstory - Overcoming lending challenges in Africa - From Geology to Crowdfunding: Femi's fundraising journey - Top Entrepreneurial lessons learned And much more. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Obi Emetarom is a serial tech entrepreneur who has focused his entire career on the Fintech space in Africa. For his first venture in 2004 he co-founded Parkway Projects to provide fintech solutions for commercial Banks in Nigeria. After exiting, he cofounded Appzone in 2008 and since then has created several innovative startups within Appzone. In November 2022, Appzone rebranded to Zone, a regulated blockchain payment infrastructure company. Obi and the team are now super-focused on connecting every monetary store of value using blockchain to make very simple user interactions that ordinary people can relate to. This episode of Founders Connect is supported by IRL, an original podcast from Mozilla, made for people who are into or build AI, and develop tech policies. Mozilla IRL is available wherever you listen to your podcasts. For more information, visit https://irlpodcast.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Tosin Eniolorunda is the co-founder and CEO of Moniepoint (previously TeamApt), a global, all-in-one, digital financial services provider with operations in Nigeria and an ongoing expansion into other emerging markets. Since 2019, Moniepoint Group's technology has powered over a million businesses, offering all the payment, banking, credit, and business management tools they need to succeed. In this episode of Founders Connect that was filmed live at Founders Connect: Live in London, Tosin shares his story with the world. This episode is supported by IRL, an original podcast from Mozilla, made for people who are into AI or develop tech policies. Listen to Mozilla IRL wherever you listen to your podcasts. For more information, visit https://irlpodcast.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Eloho Omame is the co-founder of First Check, a Venture Capital firm giving women-led companies their first seed investments. Before First Check, she was the MD and CEO of Endeavor, a company dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs to scale. In this Founders Connect interview, Eloho shares her unique journey and all the varied facets that have contributed to her current phase. She talks to us about growing up in a wealthy family, studying in the UK, starting her career as an investment banker, moving back to Nigeria and the reasons behind it, building her companies, and finally, the mistakes and lessons learned along the way. This episode is supported by IRL, an original podcast from Mozilla, made for people who are into AI or develop tech policies. Listen to Mozilla IRL wherever you listen to your podcasts. For more information, visit https://irlpodcast.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Born in Togo, and raised in Ireland, Joe Kinvi, the founding partner of HoaQ club, has lived a bold and audacious life. In this episode of Founders Connect, he walks us through the many changes and decisions he made that have pushed him to success. From learning english to working at E&Y, starting Touchtech (acquired by Stripe) and founding HoaQ. This episode is supported by IRL, an original podcast from Mozilla, made for people who are into AI or develop tech policies. Listen to Mozilla IRL wherever you listen to your podcasts. For more information, visit https://irlpodcast.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

For over a decade, Fola Olatunji David has been immersed in the Tech and Business world. He has worked in so many different industries, from IT and consulting to e-commerce and education. He has also contributed immensely to the business scene in Africa through his work in VC. In this episode, Fola shares his experience working at Amazon Web Services, Google, etc. and we get to learn a little bit more about his journey and work as a founder, investor and key operator in the African Tech Ecosystem. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Damilare is a top technology and digital marketing professional who lives in the UK. He is the founder of Foodlama, a browser Extension that helps you easily find food that matches your preferences when shopping for groceries online. Before Foodlama, he co-founded Hazina, a company that delivered product samples from fast-moving consumer goods (FCMG) brands to consumers for feedback. In this episode of Founders Connect, we get to learn Damilare's life and journey. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Softcom is a thinking company that gives companies the tools to help them grow by giving them access to better banking, helping them sell and receive payments seamlessly, learn and grow. In this Tell-All interview, Yomi Adedeji, Softcom's CEO and Co-founder, shares his story. Growing up in a Nigerian family with parents who gave him a level of independence, he learned how to think, attended Covenant University and met his co-founders. His story is full of people, excitement, and passion, qualities that are present in the services provided by his companies today. He also talks about the journey so far. Building Eyowo, a rapidly rising fintech product, mistakes made along the way, and lessons for the future. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Meet Kemi Olawoye, the Founder and CEO of BabyMigo, a Nigerian femtech startup founded in 2017, which is increasing the amount of access families have to to quality information surrounding pregnancy and parenthood. They have amassed over 250,000 users on their platform, and are steadily growing. In this interview, Kemi shares her story. Growing up in a family of loving parents, studying physiotherapy, starting BabyMigo and the road to adoption. There is so much to learn from her, so sit tight and enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Erika Brodnock is an award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, angel investor, and keynote speaker. She is the founder of Kami, an app that provides support and counseling for working parents. Before Kami, she founded Karisma Kidz, a company focused on producing games and toys for kids. She is also the Co-founder and Head of Research for Extend Ventures, a company committed to reducing bias in the early stage of businesses and diversifying financial access and support for this scalable businesses. Outside of her companies, she is very passionate about inclusion, diversity and political sciences and works on several different projects along these lines. In this episode of Founders Connect, we will learn more about Erika, her interesting life journey, her companies, motivations and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Bradley Want is the VP of Growth at Kuda, a fintech company operating in Nigeria and expanding to other countries which has over 3 million customers worldwide and is valued at $500 million as at August 2021. In this episode of Founders Connect, we discuss diverse areas of mobile company growth, Bradley's experience working at Kuda, growth stacks and channels, team structure and more! To learn more about Kuda, check out their website and download the Kuda app: https://www.kuda.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Meet Kemi Olawoye, the Founder and CEO of BabyMigo, a Nigerian femtech startup founded in 2017, which is increasing the amount of access families have to to quality information surrounding pregnancy and parenthood. They have amassed over 250,000 users on their platform, and are steadily growing. In this interview, Kemi shares her story. Growing up in a family of loving parents, studying physiotherapy, starting BabyMigo and the road to adoption. There is so much to learn from her, so sit tight and enjoy! To learn more about BabyMigo, check here: https://babymigo.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Peter Bunor Jr. is the Co-founder and Growth Lead at Field Intelligence, a pharmaceutical supply chain that helps governments and businesses grant access to healthcare in the fastest-growing parts of the world. He shares his life journey with us in this episode of Founders Connect. From being born into the family of a Nollywood veteran actor to becoming a child actor himself, and gradually finding his way in life, to discovering a passion for business and helping others. Throughout the interview, his willingness to try new things and his growth mindset stand out as key takeaways. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Mariam Jimoh is the founder and CEO of Oja, a one-stop shop for cultural foods. Oja's mission is to radically reshape groceries and make foods from all cultures accessible from anywhere in the world. Mariam was recognised in the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 Technology list, and her company also recently raised 3.4 million dollars in funding. In this interview, Mariam shares her life and journey with us. From being born to Nigerian parents to learning all the useful skills that helped her in her entrepreneurship journey along to way, to founding a food startup that connects Afrocarribean people in the diaspora with ingredients to help them cook beloved meals from their home countries. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Ijeoma Akwiwu is the Chief Operations Officer and CO-Founder of Pivo, a digital bank for trade in Africa. Before Pivo, she studied law at Lagos State University, then worked for several years as a firm lawyer, before getting into corporate practice as an In-house lawyer at Gilmor Engineering. After a few years of practice, she attended the University of Glasgow to get a Master's degree in software development. In this episode of Founders Connect, we will get to know more about Ijeoma, her journey, and what she's building at Pivo. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Preston Timeyin Ideh is Co-founder and CEO of Stears, an Intelligence startup providing data and insights on local (and global) affairs for enterprises and individuals. Stears' mission is to become the world's most trusted source of African data, insight and data collection tools for businesses, financial and policy professionals. Before founding Stears, Preston worked as a corporate lawyer for several years, and co-founded LSE Africa Summit, an annual conference that highlights business developments in Africa. In this interview, Preston shares his journey, from Secondary school in Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, to building a Startup that has raised a seed investment of $600,000 and has been selected for Google's Black Founders Fund cohort II. You will love it! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Moe "Moechievous" Odele, is the Founding Partner at Vazi Legal and the founder of Scale My Hustle. Vazi Legal is a foremost tech-focused law firm with practices in Nigeria and the United States. They provide legal services to tech startups, venture capital funds, and other organisations. Scale My Hustle is a social enterprise focused on helping entrepreneurs build better-structured businesses by providing educational content and an online community for current and aspiring entrepreneurs. In this interview, Moe shares her life and her career journey. From her experience growing up in a polygamous family to studying Law, delving into tech law, and being a human rights advocate. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Tomilola Majekodunmi is the Founder and CEO of Bankly, a Nigerian fintech startup digitizing cash for the unbanked. She has over ten years of experience in the finance industry, having worked as an investment banker and analyst for the majority of her career. In this Interview, Tomilola shares her journey with us, from studying physiology at the University to closing $2 million dollar seed rounds for a product set to improve the lives of Nigerians nationwide. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Moses Enenwali is the Co-founder and CEO of Topship, a logistics service provider helping people send items to over 200 cities all over the world. Before Topship, he worked in Africa Courier Express (ACE) and Sendbox, experiences that influenced his decision to build. In this interview, Moses tells us more about his person, his career trajectory, his experience going through YCombinator and his passion for building with like-minded people, or "animal spirits" like he calls them. It's a great interview, so sit back and enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Adia Sowho is the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, a multinational mobile telecommunications company that operates in many African and Asian countries. She is a powerhouse business expert, that is full of "masterclasses" as she says in this episode. Before MTN, Adia acquired a lot of experience working in different capacities at different companies. She started her career as a Radio Frequency engineer in US Cellular, did Consulting in Deloitte, and worked at Etisalat Nigeria for nearly eight years as head of strategy, digital media and digital business. She then moved to Migo, where she was the managing director and VP of growth, then worked in Thrive Agric as the CEO, amongst other vital roles. In this episode of Founders Connect, Adia Sowho shares her inspiring and audacious story with the world. She talks about the importance of confidence and its role in her life, navigating different roles, self-care, and so much more. Her unique perspective and years of experience make her a delight to listen to and learn from. So pick up a pen, sit down, and listen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Adetola Onayemi, is the Co-Founder & CEO of Norebase, a digital infrastructure startup that helps individuals expand their businesses with ease. Before Norebase, Tola worked studied Law in the University of Lagos where he graduated with a First Class, and did his Masters in Cambridge. He then worked in an Advisory role for the Nigerian government, was one of the key players in the creation of the AFCTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) and was one of the co-founders of Future Africa. In 2020, he was instrumental to the success of the EndSars Protests that took place in Nigeria. In this interview, Tola goes into detail concerning life and the experiences he's had so far. His story carries so much grace, but also hard work, a deep appreciation for people and the experiences he's had so far. Tola gives important legal advice to founders, and insightful knowledge to everyone looking to excel in their respective career paths. This is a really amazing interview. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Olawale Adetula is a senior marketing professional with more than 12 years of experience in media and production, marketing strategy, and e-commerce. His portfolio is varied and interesting, ranging across different fields including Banking, Logistics, Ecommerce and more! He is the founder of TNC Africa, a media production company dedicated to taking African stories to the world. The company is making waves, having been nominated for three AMVCA awards in its first year alone. In this Founders Connect Episode, Wale shares his success story with me. From a background in engineering to a career in tech, then marketing, then content, it's amazing how much of life he's experienced and how delightful his stories are. He shares his background, his career trajectory, his decision to run his company while simultaneously working as an employee, Marketing lessons and many more interesting bits! Enjoy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Chimezie Emewulu, is a tech founder with over a decade of experience building tech products. He is the founder of Seamfix, a people & software development company that seamlessly automates processes for productivity and revenue for over 100 million Nigerians. In this podcast episode, Chimezie sits down with me to share his experience building Seamfix, and all the experience he has garnered from being a tech business man for years. He goes into details about the experience he has garnered through the years, and gives a lot of valuable advice to founders and potential founders seeking to build their own companies. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph's Linkedin states that his "north star is to unlock socio-economic prosperity for Africa." He is taking steps to do this through Kippa, a package deal of financial management solutions for small businesses in Africa. Kippa gives merchants easy digital tools to help them run their businesses successfully and provides various services including accounting and banking. Before Kippa, Kennedy lived a robust academic life, he was Nigeria's #1 ranked competitive debater for 2 years, and was awarded and recognized by key political leaders like Sir John Mayor, David Beckham, Theresa May and the Queen of England herself. He also won President Obama's Young African Leaders Fellowship and presented a keynote address at the United Nations Youth Assembly. In this podcast episode, Kennedy shares slices of his incredible journey with me. We discuss his very colourful background, his experience founding Kippa and a lot more! Sit back, and enjoy! Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_eSVCUTPog&t=7s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Florence Githinji is the Regional Marketing Manager of YellowCard, a crypto company in Africa that enables its users buy and sell crypto with various payment options. She has an extensive background working in Marketing and a deep understanding of the systems in the East African region. Coming from a background in Journalism, she has established herself in Marketing and has notably worked for Microsoft as a Social Media Manager. In this episode of Founders Connect, Florence shares her background with me, her career history and trajectory, insights on marketing and specifically crypto marketing in Africa, and advice for women seeking to work in the tech industry. There is so much to learn from her. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Ben Lyon is the CoFounder and CEO of Hover Developer Services, the parent company of Stax, a simple & secure way to transfer money, buy airtime, & pay bills in Africa without dialling USSD codes or relying on an internet connection. In this episode of Founders Connect, I ask Ben questions about his background, growing up in Southern America, moving to Africa and acquiring a global perspective and starting a startup that aims at Financial Inclusivity. It is a great discussion, you'll love it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

Jude Dike has gained so much experience as an engineer, programming professionally for 6 years. He has an Engineering degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and has worked on projects with companies locally and internationally revolving around Tech and Finance. He is the founder of GetEquity, a company democratizing access to Startup funding and investment, and encouraging startup founders and customers to connect, thereby building trust. In this Founders Connect interview, Jude shares his background with me, his career, GetEquity, and more! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message

In the last year, riveting news has been circulating on a 19-year old Nigerian founder who has taken the Tech-crypto world by the horns. His name is Njoku Emmanuel, CEO and CoFounder of Lazerpay, a crypto payment gateway startup with the main aim of facilitating crypto payments around the world for businesses and individuals. Lazerpay was launched in Ocotber 2021 alongside CoFounders Abdulfatai Sulaiman and Prosper Ubi. In this episode of Founders Connect, Njoku shares his background with me. His undeniable passion for coding which has stayed true despite adversity, the many places he has worked at and honed his skill, and his enthusiasm for the future of Lazerpay. I really enjoyed hearing him speak, and I hope you do too. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/founders-connect/message