#EP 17 - Paulo Araújo: Connecting the Unconnected

Today on our podcast, we're excited to welcome Paulo Araujo who’s making internet available for people and businesses in Angola.

🎬 Full video (https://youtu.be/rrzAePII-5c)

00:00 Intro
03:18 Paulo’s Personal journey
05:32 WiConnect inception
06:58 Challenges of being an African Entrepreneur
10:59 Raising Funds and Accessing Talent
21:47 Funding Timming for a Startup
27:43 WiConnect is Now Data Oriented
35:10 Digital Inclusion
44:44 Financial Inclusion and Digital Payment Systems
46:19 The New Startup Law
54:50 Attracting the Startup Ecosystem
59:18 Our Followers Questions from X
1:04:56 Closing Remarks


🗣️More about our guest:

Born and raised in Angola, Paulo Araújo pursued his higher education in England, where he studied Mathematics and Management at Loughborough University. Upon returning to his home country, he was welcomed into a thriving economy and secured a position as a Financial Analyst at Standard Bank Angola. His career trajectory within the bank propelled him to the global markets room, where he served as a money market trader. However, his entrepreneurial spirit yearned for more, and alongside his cousin, he embarked on a new venture, founding WiConnect.

Today, Paulo Araujo is the General Director of WiConnect. The challenges he faced as one of Angola's entrepreneurs instilled in him a desire to support others on similar journeys. This led him to take the role of Vice President for Economic and Financial Affairs at AASED (Angola's Startup and Digital Entrepreneurship Association), where he continues to promote and foster entrepreneurship and economic development.


Follow Paulo Araújo on social media:

www.instagram.com/pcarroloaraujo
www.linkedin.com/in/paulo-888

Links and initiatives

- "Sonhar em Grande, Começar Pequeno: O Relato de um CEO a Ascender em Angola"
https://bit.ly/4bciANE
- Fortalecimento da Soberania Energética: O Papel da Mineração de Bitcoin na Autonomia Nacional" https://bit.ly/4bvTbyu

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Victor Calhau - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitor-calhau/

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