Unlocking Africa

Episode #31 with Gert van Veldhuisen who is Co-Founder of BiD Capital Partners and Director Africa of Unknown Group, which is an early-stage Venture Capital and business development firm with operations in 110+ countries. Unknown believe that founders turn the world’s problems into opportunities by developing solutions that go beyond what is known. Together with industry leaders, they tap in to this potential by giving them the opportunity to bring their solution to scale. As the Director Africa, Gert is responsible for the companies activities on the African Continent. He brings together entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, public institutions, development organisations, investors, and ecosystem builders to explore opportunities, form partnerships, and transform them into scalable, impactful solutions.What We Discuss With Gert van VeldhuisenWhat does impact investing mean to you, and how does it impact the African continent?What is your process and thesis for identifying startups with investment potential in Africa?How can startups properly position themselves for investor due diligence?How would someone go about getting into the African impact investment industry?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Entrepreneurship Can Play a Critical Role in Africa’s Transformation and Future Development with York Zucchi? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Gert on LinkedIn at GertvanVeldhuisenDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #30 with York Zucchi who is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of The StartUp Tribe, an initiative to support Municipalities, Governments and Corporates in helping people to start and grow their businesses. As of Feb 2022 they are active in 27 countries assisting over 312 cities & municipalities.In a career spanning 28 years across over 11 countries, York has created projects & businesses that have impacted people's lives in over 83 countries. Starting businesses across various sectors such as healthcare, IT, tourism, academia, and  so on. Some succeeded, while others failed. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, MIT, Harvard and even the space agency NASA. What We Discuss With York ZucchiWhat are some of the things you've noticed about African entrepreneurship that you won't find anywhere else?What are some of the real challenges that African businesses experience in scaling?What works and what doesn't in encouraging entrepreneurship on the continent?Can entrepreneurship create the jobs that are required to absorb the 20m people entering Africa's labour force each year?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Telling the African Story Can Empower and Contribute to the Economic Development of Africa with Lanre Aina? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with York on LinkedIn at YorkZucchi, and Twitter @YZPDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #29 with Lanre Aina who is Co-founder and CEO of ATHLST, a digital sports news and content studio. AHLST works closely with African athletes to transform their personal stories into immersive and impactful content that resonate with sports fans worldwide. In an era where there’s a convergence of entertainment, sports, and culture, the African athlete is 62-65% less likely than his/her American or European counterpart to have their stories told by way of op-ed, documentary or film. ATHLST intends to change that, and in the process meet the news and branding needs of African athletes ensuring that they take control of their own narrative, and by extension, expand their presence and deepen their relevance in sports. What We Discuss With Lanre AinaWhat are the risks of allowing others to tell Africa's story, and why is it important for Africa to tell its own?What is driving the rise in the number of Africans wanting to tell the African story?What are some of the challenges in licencing an African documentary to streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon?How did you go about creating a value chain and ecosystem that allows you to create high-quality African content?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Changing the Financial Landscape of Africa by Creating a New Microfinance Model for the Continent with Viola Llewellyn? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Lanre on LinkedIn at LanreAina, and Twitter @lanreainaDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #28 with Viola Llewellyn who is president and co-founder of Ovamba Solutions, which is an award winning African “TradeTech” company that creates culturally attuned technologies for Banks and Central Banks so that they can serve emerging market SMEs with innovative Sharia compliant trade finance products.Ovamba's "BankPartner Innovations" combine ERP & CRM with, eCommerce, logistics services, and proprietary algorithms and short term capital to drive financial inclusion and promote growth. What We Discuss With Viola LlewellynWhat is the importance of the TradeTech industry in Africa? What role can it play in the development of African economies?Despite a clear need, not enough businesses in Africa use banks to gain access to capital, particularly SMEs. What is the reasoning behind this?How can we remove systemic barriers for African SMEs and contribute to the creation of a wealth-creating ecosystem?How is Ovamba bridging Africa's trade finance gap?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Africa Can Leverage the Diaspora's Untapped Wealth and Power for Future Development with Charles Sekwalor? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Viola on LinkedIn at ViolaLlewellyn, and Twitter @Ovamba4SMEsDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #27 with Charles Sekwalor who is a serial entrepreneur, advisor, and investor who focuses on developing startups and private equity transactions that drive change and positively influence people's lives. Dedicated to projects that span the African continent.Charles is the CEO and Founder of Movemeback, a members community connecting talented professionals, entrepreneurs, students and influencers with exciting job and entrepreneurial opportunities in Africa. Movemeback aspires to drive positive economic and social growth in Africa by providing an international platform through which individuals, organisations and institutions across the world interact and partner with Africa. What We Discuss With Charles SekwalorHow have people's perceptions of doing business in Africa changed in the last eight years, in your opinion?What opportunities does Africa currently provide to people in the diaspora, and why should they consider returning to Africa or contributing to Africa's future?Moving back is much easier said than done, so what advice would you give to people thinking about returning or moving to Africa?How do you believe AfCFTA will affect how you do business in Africa or how people access opportunities on the continent?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Why Africa Is the Future of the Fashion Industry. Now Is the Time to Trade and Invest with Jacqueline Shaw? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Charles on LinkedIn at CharlesSekwalor, and Twitter @csekwalorDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #26 with Jacqueline Shaw who is an African fashion sourcing consultant, Director at Africa Fashion Guide which is an information based platform with the focus to promote the African fashion and textile industry and create an awareness campaign that promotes the full supply chain of the African fashion and textile industry with an ethical perspective to the greater global textile industry.It is a one stop shop for fashion professionals, students, retailers, magazines, bloggers and all those interested in African fashion and textiles as a way to promote this industry and bring links between African designers, craftspeople, manufacturers and textile designers with UK and EU fashion design companies and consumer markets, as well as with retailers worldwide.What We Discuss With Jacqueline ShawHow would you describe Africa’s fashion industry?Can you tell us about the current opportunities and challenges in Africa's fashion industry?What role do the creative industries play in the African economy?What role does the fashion industry play in promoting African regional integration and identity for a more resilient continent?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How to Win Customers in Africa’s Unstructured Market. Africa’s Goldmine with Uchenna Uzo?  Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn at JacquelineShaw, and Twitter @JacquelineMShawDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #25 with Dr. Uchenna Uzo who is the current Faculty Director at Lagos Business School, and teaches marketing management, personal selling, sales, and channel management courses. His research and consulting projects span several industries focusing mainly on indigenous sales and marketing strategies, retailing and consumer behaviour trends in Africa.He currently serves on the board of a retail marketing firm and is the author of several business case studies, blogs via Afritail, and books, the most recent of which is Africa's Goldmine: A Guide to Winning Customers in an Unstructured Market. His academic articles have been published in the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal and the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management.What We Discuss With Uchenna UzoWhat are your top tips for business owners looking to win African customers?The informal market in Africa is frequently described as chaotic and unstructured. How would you describe Africa’s informal market and why?How would you describe the interaction of economics, supply chain, consumer preferences, and local culture that drives Africa's informal market?What are some of the most notable changes in the behaviours of African customers?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Using Blockchain for Social Impact in Africa: The Good, Bad, and in Between with Pretty Kubyane?  Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Uchenna on LinkedIn at UchennaUzo, and Twitter @LBSNigeriaDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #24 with Pretty Kubyane who is Co-Founder of Coronet Blockchain, a company that provides blockchain vetted products to African markets throughout the Beauty, Fashion, and Food supply chains. Leveraging blockchain for social good. They also provide advisory insights to organisations and governments embarking on their own blockchain initiatives.Pretty's decade-long expertise in management consulting led to her co-founding of Coronet Blockchain, an innovative technological solution aimed at changing how hair swaps hands across Africa's ZAR 100 billion per year market.What We Discuss With Pretty KubyaneWhat are some of the blockchain misconceptions you'd like to dispel?Could you please explain what it means to use technology for social good?How can we use blockchain to assess and quantify social good?Can you explain to us how your work relates to projects like Agenda 2063 and the SDGs 2030, and what role blockchain can play in accomplishing such goals?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Why the Informal Business Sector Is the Next Great Frontier of Africa. Africa’s Economic Revolution with GG Alcock?  Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Pretty on LinkedIn at PrettyKubyane, and Twitter @PrettyKubyaneDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #23 with GG Alcock. GG has been at times a shebeen owner, anti-apartheid activist, community worker and African adventurer, and more recently the founder of Minanawe Marketing, a leading marketing agency in the mass market. Having realised from an early age that there is no glamour in poverty GG uses his unique skills and experience to highlight and grow informal low income mass markets in Africa.GG’s latest book KasiNomic Revolution explores the revolution taking place in the great marketplaces of the informal sector. The informal business sector is the next great frontier of Africa and it is undergoing an economic revolution – a new world of small people doing big things, transforming the continent. What We Discuss With GG AlcockWhat information do you need to know about the African informal sector as a business owner?What are some of the most popular myths and misconceptions about Africa's informal sector?How did you collaborate with Tolaram Group to launch Indomie noodles in South Africa?What recent or current trends in Africa's informal sector should we be excited about?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How the Gig Economy Is Creating Jobs and Changing Work Culture in Africa with Nicolas Goldstein? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with GG on LinkedIn at GGAlcok, and Twitter @GGAlcockDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk

Episode #22 with Nicolas Goldstein who is Co-founder of Talenteum, which is an impactful and Pan-African web platform designed to help companies recruit and employ teams working remotely or locally in Africa. Talenteum provides an easy way to find remote talent in Africa. You can gain access to the largest pool of African talent in only a few clicks. The platform handles local employment compliance, recruiting, payroll, and human resource management.What We Discuss With Nicolas GoldsteinAfrican countries are experiencing talent booms. What are some of the fascinating trends in this area, and how do they relate to the gig economy?Africa is the world's youngest continent, and will have a workforce larger than China or India by 2035. How can we invest in Africa's human capital?What is driving the increase in the number of young Africans embracing remote work and the gig economy?What are the most exciting current trends in Africa's online recruitment landscape?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss An Expert Interview About Africa’s Tech Startup Ecosystem in the Midst of an Economic Downturn with Satoshi Shinada? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Nicolas on LinkedIn at NicolasGoldstein, and Twitter @NicolaGoldsteinDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.uk