Unlocking Africa

Episode 98 with Ismael Belkhayat, who is the founder and CEO of Chari, an e-commerce app that has recently been valued at $100 million. Chari helps small retailers in French-speaking Africa procure inventory for their stores and get it delivered for free while benefiting from payment facilities.It is a one-stop shop for traditional proximity stores, allowing them to order any consumer goods they sell and get them delivered for free while benefiting from financial services.Ismael is an experienced startup founder with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. A data-driven, strong business development professional who graduated from Cornell University and was a former BCG consultant.What We Discuss With IsmaelHow does Chari specifically benefit small retailers in French-speaking Africa?What are the main challenges you've faced in scaling Chari in the African market, and how have you addressed them?Chari recently secured $1.5 million in funding. Can you share how this funding will be utilised to further Chari's mission and growth?What strategies does Chari employ to ensure efficient and reliable delivery services, especially in regions with challenging logistics infrastructure?With your experience as a startup founder and two successful exits, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make an impact in the African tech ecosystem?Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Diving Into Search Funds. An Emerging Investment Vehicle That Could Deliver Higher Returns in Africa with Ibrahim Abdel Rahim? 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 Ismael on LinkedIn at Ismael Belkhayat, and Twitter @ismaelbelkhayatDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode 97 with Ibrahim Abdel Rahim, who is a managing partner at Moonbase Capital. Moonbase Capital invests in SMEs through Search Funds, an innovative new asset class that combines the stability of private equity with the agility of venture capital in order to yield more consistent returns to our investors at lower risk.Their main focus is on providing entrepreneurs with hands-on support throughout the search, acquisition, and growth phases of their journey, leveraging 40 years of combined experience as operators, consultants, CEOs, and CFOs, building and selling businesses globally.What We Discuss With IbrahimIn your consulting experience, what specific insights or skills did you gain that now contribute to your effectiveness as a managing partner at Moonbase Capital?Could you explain what search funds are and how you first came across this innovative asset class?How does Moonbase Capital's focus on investing in SMEs through Search Funds provide distinct advantages in comparison to conventional private equity or venture capital investment strategies?What role does Moonbase Capital play in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa and beyond?How does Moonbase Capital implement strategies and practices to achieve its goal of delivering consistent returns with lower risk? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Mobilising Capital, Fostering Collaboration, and Driving Change in African Tech with Anthony William Catt? 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 Ibrahim on LinkedIn at Ibrahim Abdel RahimDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode 96 with Anthony William Catt, who is the founder and director of Ventures 54. A company on a mission to build and strengthen the international investment corridors between Africa’s tech, startup, and investor ecosystems and the rest of the world by mobilising capital and facilitating investmentWorking with governments, DFIs, and other international funding agencies to provide technical assistance to founders and investors by establishing key networks, unlocking human and commercial resources, and creating access to global markets and investment opportunities.What We Discuss With AnthonyHow did your personal interest in building connections between the UK and Africa, specifically in the fields of technology and startups, develop?Could you elaborate on the role of technical assistance funding in the African startup ecosystem and how Ventures 54 facilitates its deployment?Could you highlight the common trends and preferences you've observed among investors seeking to invest in the African tech scene?In your experience, how can the UK act as a springboard for African entrepreneurs seeking global exposure and growth?What advice would you offer to UK companies looking to explore opportunities and tap into talent within African markets?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Investing in Financial Inclusion by Unlocking the Potential of Fintech Startups in Egypt and Beyond with Rana Abdel Latif? 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 Anthony  on LinkedIn at Anthony William Catt, and Twitter @AnthonyWCattDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode 95 with Rana Abdel Latif, who is an investment professional with cross-transactional expertise in M&A, financing, and restructuring deals across various industries and also a senior principal at Nclude.Nclude is an investment platform for fintech innovation. Founder-centric in design, it supports early and growth-stage entrepreneurs who are tackling financial inclusion and enables their success by offering a full-stack support ecosystem for fintech and fintech-enabled start-ups in Egypt and beyond.What We Discuss With RanaIs there a particular reason why you focus on fintech and fintech-enabled startups, particularly those addressing financial inclusion?What challenges and opportunities do you see in the fintech landscape in the regions Nclude operates in?Do you think the investment environment in Egypt and the North African region is favourable for startups, or do you believe there's room for further improvement? With your experience across different geographical regions, what insights can you share about the unique characteristics of the fintech scenes in the North Africa region? What are some key factors that you believe contribute to the success of fintech startups in today's competitive 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 The Power of Information: Revolutionising Market Intelligence in African Economies With Joseph Rutakangwa? 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 Rana  on LinkedIn at Rana Abdel LatifDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode 94 with Joseph Rutakangwa, who is the founder and CEO of Rwazi, which is a market intelligence platform that provides multinational consumer goods companies with actionable data from developing markets on who is buying what, for how much, from where, when, and why, to help them drive revenue and expand.Rwazi combines technology and a network of 20,000+ qualified data collectors (called "mappers") spread across urban and rural areas in 40+ countries in Africa, Asia, and South America to collect data from their localities, allowing them to collect data from thousands of locations and consumers on a daily basis.What We Discuss With JosephCould you explain how Rwazi's platform gathers actionable data from emerging markets? What's the process like?Could you elaborate on how Rwazi's data helps multinational consumer goods companies drive revenue and expand in these markets?Can you discuss the challenges you've faced in building and maintaining a network of mappers in remote areas? How have you overcome these challenges?How do you ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data collected by your network of mappers?Given the diverse cultures and markets you cover, how does Rwazi navigate cultural sensitivities while collecting data?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Nurturing Innovation: Building and Scaling African Startups with Expert Support with Thabiso Foto? 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 Joseph  on LinkedIn at Joseph Rutakangwa, and Twitter @JRutakangwaDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode 93 with Thabiso Foto, the Chief Financial Officer at Founders Factory Africa.  Thabiso currently leads the finance and operations departments at Founders Factory Africa, providing invaluable strategic, technical, and operational guidance to their vibrant community of start-ups.Founders Factory Africa is a tailored, corporate-backed accelerator and incubator that builds and scales 100+ tech businesses across the African continent. FFA is based on a unique model of combining leading corporate investors and partners with a fully-fledged operational team to design, build, and grow African tech start-ups. FFA are venture builders dedicated to solving some of Africa’s biggest challenges and capitalising on its incredible potential by leveraging market and tech opportunities. At the core of Founders Factory Africa's mission is the creation of an ecosystem that fosters genuine innovation. Their objective is clear: to be the best growth engine for founders across Africa and beyond. What We Discuss With ThabisoHow do you manage the diversification of investments and navigate the various challenges and opportunities presented by different African markets?How does Founders Factory Africa promote collaboration among corporates, investors, and startup talent to foster innovation and drive growth within the African tech industry?What insights have you gained from your experiences with early-stage African entrepreneurs, and how have these insights influenced the development of your investment strategies?What are the main challenges faced by early-stage African startups, and how does Founders Factory Africa tackle these challenges through its investment and support initiatives?How does Founders Factory Africa measure the social impact of its investments?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Savings, Simplicity, Success: Transforming African Businesses Through Spend Management with Yemi Olulana? 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 Thabiso  on LinkedIn at Thabiso Foto, and Twitter @FoundersFFA Discover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode 92 with Yemi Olulana, the CEO of Flex Finance, the leading spend management and corporate card platform for African businesses. Flex Finance empowers businesses across Africa to gain control over their expenses through their user-friendly web and mobile platforms, as well as corporate cards. They have successfully assisted thousands of businesses, liberating business owners and finance teams from the stress of spend management.Flex Finance simplifies this critical aspect of business, making it not only manageable but delightful. By offering streamlined processes, they help businesses save significant amounts of money and time, ultimately contributing to their growth and success.Yemi Olulana, with over a decade of experience, has a proven track record in building startups within various sectors including e-commerce, web3, and fintech. His expertise and leadership have been instrumental in driving Flex Finance's success in empowering businesses across Africa.What We Discuss With YemiCan you explain how the spending processes in many African businesses are restricting their potential for growth and efficiency?What challenges did you face when introducing a technology-based solution, given the widespread use of traditional methods such as email and paper for spending requests in Africa?Having worked with over 2,500 businesses, can you share any trends or insights you've gathered regarding spending behaviours in African businesses?How does Flex Finance support the larger objectives of financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa?In a continent as diverse as Africa, what factors did you consider to ensure that Flex Finance is adaptable and effective across various business contexts?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’s Biggest Mini-Grid Owner is Creating Economic Growth by Providing Electricity to Rural Communities with William Brent? 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 Yemi  on LinkedIn at Yemi Olulana, and Twitter @coderwaDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode #91 is with William Brent, the Chief Marketing Officer of Husk Power Systems, a global leader in distributed utilities. Since its establishment in 2008, Husk Power Systems has been at the forefront of providing dependable electricity to rural communities and businesses, all powered by renewable energy sources. Their commitment is unwavering—delivering uninterrupted power, 24/7, at a price they can afford.What sets Husk Power Systems apart is its innovative approach. Through a user-friendly, mobile-enabled smart metering system, they offer a flexible “pay-as-you-go” energy service using a mobile-enabled smart metering system. It provides low-cost energy that matches the growing needs of our customers, for households, community services, and productive uses. Its grid-compatible solution can be rolled out quickly and cost-effectively to support national electrification plans. What We Discuss With WilliamHow does Husk Power Systems help provide steady electricity to rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa?Are mini-grids a more suitable option for connecting unelectrified rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, considering factors like cost-effectiveness and scalability?How does Husk Power Systems maintain a balance between offering low-cost energy and ensuring the long-term sustainability of its operations?What challenges has Husk faced in finding suitable places for deploying mini-grids, and how do they solve these challenges?In Nigeria, where Husk operates, do the policy and regulatory frameworks support or stop the expansion of mini-grids and renewable energy projects?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Bamboo's Journey to Revolutionise Investment for Africans in the Face of Economic Challenges with Richmond Bassey? 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 William  on LinkedIn at William Brent, and Twitter @HuskPowerSystemDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode #90 is with Richmond Bassey, who is the CEO and founder of Bamboo, which is an investment platform that gives Africans the tools to build wealth from the ground up through real-time access to global markets.In countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, individuals often witness their hard-earned savings dwindle away due to weakening currencies and soaring inflation rates. In fact, the Naira and Cedi were among the worst-performing currencies globally last year. Bamboo, however, stands as a beacon of hope in these challenging financial times.Bamboo has raised a total of $18.3 million in investment and is backed by prominent US investors Tiger Global and Greycroft. Bamboo has 633k users, is present in Nigeria and Ghana, and is looking to launch in South Africa and Kenya this year. What We Discuss With RichmondHow does Bamboo aim to help Africans build long-term wealth through investing in US stocks?Could you elaborate on how wealthtech has opened US capital markets to Africans?What challenges did you face in the early stages of establishing the platform and opening US capital markets to Africans?What learnings and insights did you gain from the experience of the Central Bank of Nigeria freezing Bamboo's bank accounts in 2021?Can you elaborate on Bamboo's approach to building a B2B and B2C sales channel strategy and how this approach benefits the company, considering the complexity involved in this approach?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 Effective PR Can Transform African Companies and Nations: PR, Perception, and Progress with Bemi Idowu? 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 Richmond  on LinkedIn at Richmond Bassey, and Twitter @RichmonbDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here

Episode #89 is with Bemi Idowu, who is a PR and communications 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.Bemi is also the founder and managing director of Talking Drum Communications, which is a public relations and communications consultancy that supports companies innovating in Africa to shape perceptions and get more effective publicity for the work they are doing.They work with technology companies, manufacturers, and other innovators that are enabling new opportunities to drive economic growth on the continent, delivering successful media campaigns that align with their business goals.What We Discuss With Bemi What inspired you to start a public relations and communications consultancy focusing on Africa's innovators? How important are effective publicity and perception-shaping for companies innovating in Africa?How can PR and communications be utilised as tools to leverage economic growth in Africa?Is there a correlation between positive PR and communications and investment flows into Africa or into specific companies?What are some common misconceptions or stereotypes about doing PR and communications in Africa, and how do you address them?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Growing Together. The Future of Medicine in Africa. Data, Tech, and Remedial Health with Samuel Okwuada? 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 Bemi  on LinkedIn at Bemi Idowu, and Twitter @mr_bemiDiscover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here