Afropolitan

What does it really mean to build a legacy—from billion-dollar companies to your own home?In this episode, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji opens up like never before.We talk about:Surviving the Sosoliso crash that claimed 60 of his classmatesThe pressure and cost of building billion-dollar companiesMarriage, masculinity, and why “the feminists are shouting”Fatherhood, faith, and what legacy really means to him nowThis is the side of Iyin the internet rarely sees.Want to go deeper?You can now book a 1-on-1 video call with Iyinoluwa Aboyeji to ask your biggest questions on building, leadership, and legacy via Convo:https://convo.vip/iyinoluwaaboyeji

Subscribe to  @Afropolitan for more podcasts like thisWhat does it *really* take to reinvent your life especially when the world already thinks it knows who you are?In this raw and robust conversation, legendary Nigerian rapper and music executive M.I Abaga  sits down with us to unpack his journey of reinvention—from rap icon to record label head, husband, and purpose-driven leader.We talk about:  Walking away from fame to find freedom  Regret, controversy, and how he made peace with past decisions  The mental battles that come with being a public figure  How marriage, and turning 40 changed everything  Behind-the-scenes stories from his biggest songs and collaborations  The hardest seasons of his career—and why he didn’t quit  His vision for Africa’s creative economy and how TASCK is reshaping the gameWhether you're navigating a career pivot, healing from failure, or just trying to figure out your next chapter—this episode will shift something in you.

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/41EnFJj 2. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - https://amzn.to/3IkPMq2 3. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - https://amzn.to/455COGn Show 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 today

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:

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/