Episodes

  • Alan Knott-Craig Jr On Life After Mxit's Royal Fail (2016)

    Alan Knott-Craig Jr On Life After Mxit's Royal Fail (2016)
    Jan 9 2025
    Listen in as Alan Knott-Craig Jr, son of Alan Sr, the pioneering co-founder and first CEO of Vodacom, one of South Africa's leading mobile network operators, and later the feisty CEO of challenger telco Cell C—takes us through a transformative career moment that set the stage for his future ventures. Episode overview This early 2016 conversation finds Alan Knott-Craig Jr in a moment of trademark forthrightness. Fresh from his tenure as CEO of Mxit, once Africa's largest social network with over 50 million registered users, he was already building Project Isizwe, a non-profit bringing free public Wi-Fi to South African townships, while laying the groundwork for HeroTel—reportedly the country's largest fixed wireless internet service providers. His journey would later lead to founding FiberTime, his current venture bringing pay-as-you-go fibre internet to townships through an innovative voucher-based model—an offering in a growing field of players serving underserved communities. Critical points - The fascinating disconnect between Knott-Craig Jr's prominent surname and admittedly privileged middle-class roots—his father never held Vodacom shares and put him through government schools - His journey from dutiful son following paternal direction until 25 to forging his own entrepreneurial path - The honest characterisation of Project Isizwe's non-profit work as "sincerely selfish" What we know now Viewed from 2025, this conversation foreshadowed key developments in Knott-Craig Jr's trajectory: - The evolution from running Africa's largest social network to pioneering township internet connectivity models - His transition through various ventures: from Project Isizwe's free township Wi-Fi network to HeroTel's rural broadband expansion, and now FiberTime's pay-as-you-go township fibre model - The emergence of his distinctive voice on entrepreneurship, particularly evident in his strongly-opinionated social posts and entrepreneurship books. Questions we're pondering - Could Mxit, with over 50 million registered users at its peak, have dominated African mobile social networking if it had doubled down on being a dating platform instead of taking WhatsApp head-on? - After writing several books about entrepreneurship over the last decade, has Knott-Craig Jr fully embraced vulnerability in "Life Lessons: How to fail and win" (June 2024)? - Will FiberTime's pay-as-you-go model or some derivative—no contracts, just vouchers for 24 hours of uncapped 100Mbps—prove to be the key that unlocks true digital inclusion in South African townships? Image credit: Stokoekeagan
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    52 mins
  • Building Bridges: Maya Horgan Famodu's Silicon Valley-Africa Crossing Playbook (2017)

    Building Bridges: Maya Horgan Famodu's Silicon Valley-Africa Crossing Playbook (2017)
    Dec 26 2024
    Episode overview This unfiltered 2017 archive dialogue captures Maya Horgan Famodu (Founder and Partner, Ingressive Capital) before she became known for straight-talking LinkedIn posts about founder insights and personal growth. Fresh from investment banking, she was forging new pathways between Silicon Valley capital and African startup innovation via carefully-curated investor tours—laying the groundwork for the launch of Ingressive Capital's investment months later. Listening back, you can hear how the same independence and non-traditional EQ that helped a "small girl from a trailer park" believe she could launch a VC fund was already shaping her vision. Critical points - The early signs of the independent thinking that would later become her trademark - How her unconventional background shaped her approach to investment - Why bridging Silicon Valley and African tech required a translator's insight - The unexpected ways growing up between worlds prepared her for building cross-cultural understanding What we know now Looking back from 2024, this conversation reveals both professional and personal threads that would define Horgan Famodu's impact: - The shift from understated confidence to singular public voice - How her own story of independent creativity would later resonate with investors and founders - The evolution from curating entrees to the African tech startup opportunity to foreign investors to leading investments Questions we're pondering - How has Horgan Famodu's public sharing of her personal journey influenced African tech discourse? - What role does authentic leadership play in venture capital today? - How has the relationship between personal story and professional impact evolved in African tech?
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Talent Tales: Ethiopia's Quiet Tech Rise vs Nigeria's Developer Gold Rush (2018)

    Talent Tales: Ethiopia's Quiet Tech Rise vs Nigeria's Developer Gold Rush (2018)
    Dec 12 2024
    As we wind down 2024, we're diving into our archives to serve up some memorable throwback conversations. Whether you're a long-time listener revisiting these gems or discovering them for the first time, these conversations capture pivotal moments in Africa's tech journey. In today's episode, we're rewinding to 2018... Episode overview: Join us as we eavesdrop on a fascinating corridor conversation from Afrobytes Tech Marketplace in Paris featuring Amadou Daffe, who has since transformed Gebeya from an Ethiopian tech talent marketplace into a pan-African hybrid organisation connecting African developers with global opportunities, and Adewale Yusuf, who went from leading the tech media platform Techpoint to founding AltSchool Africa, which is now expanding online tech education from Africa into Europe. What makes this chat particularly relevant today is how it foreshadowed Ethiopia's emergence as a tech talent powerhouse and Nigeria's developer compensation dynamics. Critical insights: 1. The "Andela Effect" on developer salaries in Nigeria and its impact on local startups 2. Ethiopia's unique developer culture characterised by quiet confidence and humility 3. The stark contrast between Ethiopian and Nigerian developer mindsets 4. An unexpected revelation about Paga's Ethiopian development roots Standout moments: - Daffe reveals why he chose Ethiopia over Nigeria and Kenya for his tech venture - A surprising disclosure about Ethiopian developers' role in programming Sophia the robot - The parallel drawn between Nigeria's music industry success and its tech ecosystem Market intelligence (circa 2018): - Ethiopia: 43 universities offering computer science degrees Nigeria: Developer salaries reaching $50,000, pricing out local startups - Ethiopian developers' competitive advantage: Similar quality at $10,000/year Looking back, looking forward: As we revisit this conversation in 2024, it's fascinating to see how many of these observations played out. Has Ethiopia realised its potential as a tech hub? Have Nigeria's developer salary dynamics stabilised? We're curious... - Did this episode resonate with your current experience in either market? - Should we get Daffe and Yusuf back on the show to discuss how things have evolved for them as founders? - Are you a developer from either country? We'd love to hear your perspective!
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    27 mins
  • Why Carbon CEO Chijioke Dozie Is Ditching Nigeria's Free Banking Playbook

    Why Carbon CEO Chijioke Dozie Is Ditching Nigeria's Free Banking Playbook
    Dec 5 2024
    Meet Chijioke Dozie, the co-founder steering Carbon through Nigeria's increasingly noisy neobank scene. In this candid chat with Andile Masuku, Dozie makes a case for zigging while others zag—specifically, charging for value while competitors burn cash on free services. It's a stance that might raise eyebrows in Nigeria's price-sensitive market, but as you'll hear, it's backed by 12 years of hard knocks and savvy iteration. Episode Overview: Carbon spotted a massive gap in Nigeria circa 2012 - imagine a market of 180 million people where barely 200,000 had credit cards. It's the kind of statistical disparity that makes you do a double-take. The conversation reveals how this reality shaped Carbon's contrarian approach to building a licensed digital bank in Africa's largest economy. Key topics: - The distinction between neobanks across different markets - Trust-building in digital banking through institutional frameworks - The evolution from free services to value-based pricing - The impact of founder experience on investor confidence - Market size challenges in African banking Notable points: 1) Carbon achieved profitability in 2018 and 2019, having raised only $12 million in equity 2) The company has processed loans for over 5 million Nigerians across three economic cycles 3) Nigeria's credit-to-GDP ratio was only 6% compared to South Africa's 70% when Carbon started 4) The company is shifting away from digital-only to include offline touchpoints Be sure to listen out for a particularly candid moment when Dozie reflects on two key decisions made during pivotal moments in Carbon's history—choices he admits he would reconsider if given the chance.
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    20 mins
  • Ambar Van Der Wath Unpacks Baobab Network's $20K Toe-Dipping Investment Proposition

    Ambar Van Der Wath Unpacks Baobab Network's $20K Toe-Dipping Investment Proposition
    Nov 28 2024
    Ambar van der Wath—who leads investor relations at one of Africa's leading accelerator slash VC firms, Baobab Network—discusses with Andile Masuku how the firm is creating accessible entry points for cautious investors interested in early-stage African tech startups. Episode Overview: Picture this: You're an international investor curious about African tech, but you're not quite ready to write million-dollar checks or commit to a 7-year fund lockup. That's exactly the puzzle Baobab Network is solving with their new-ish investment vehicle - allowing investors to back a batch of startups for as little as $20K. Key topics: Innovation in early-stage investment vehicles Market education and investor development Secondary markets and exit opportunities Equity considerations for early-stage founders The strategic role of venture debt Risk management across African markets Notable points: 1. Baobab Network is spreading bets across 16 markets (and counting) 2. Their portfolio has hit 60 companies, with half joining in just the last two years 3. They're actively hunting for founders who didn't go to Harvard (their words, not ours) 4. Sometimes they even manage early exits - Van der Wath shares about a secondary sale just 14 months post-investment Through their innovative batch investment approach, Baobab Network is creating what Van der Wath describes as a "trusted layer" between international capital and African startups. Listen in for her insights on secondary markets. The episode provides valuable insights for anyone interested in African tech investment, especially newcomers exploring the ecosystem for the first time. Image credit: Nerene Grobler via Unsplash
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    16 mins
  • Koltronics Nigeria's Lanre Kolade and the inside story of Google's Equiano cable landing in Togo

    Koltronics Nigeria's Lanre Kolade and the inside story of Google's Equiano cable landing in Togo
    Nov 21 2024
    This episode features an illuminating dialogue with Lanre Kolade, Chairman of ConnectedCompute, CEO of Koltronics Nigeria and former CEO of CSquared, exploring the intricate dynamics of infrastructure development and digital transformation across Africa. Episode overview: Andile Masuku engages with Kolade to unpack his 26-year journey in African broadband connectivity, examining the delicate balance between commercial viability and developmental impact in major infrastructure projects. Kolade shares profound insights on building sustainable digital infrastructure in African markets as he reflects on his experience leading groundbreaking initiatives at CSquared, including the Google Equiano Cable landing in Togo in 2022. Key topics: • Blended finance models for infrastructure development • Digital colonisation and sovereignty • Public-private partnerships in African markets • Infrastructure's role in ecosystem development • Patient capital versus commercial funding • Long-term impact versus short-term returns Notable points: 1. The landmark Google Equiano Cable landing in Togo through CSquared 2. Innovation in blended finance structures combining government, development, and private funding 3. The transformative impact of strategic infrastructure investments 4. The role of patient capital in African digital development Perspectives on emerging technologies like Starlink Listen in for practical insights into infrastructure development, innovative financing, and digital transformation across Africa's evolving technology landscape. Editorial Note: This podcast conversation was recorded at the fringes of NOVACOM Africa 1-to-1 Telco Summit 2024 in Franschhoek, South Africa, where African Tech Roundup's executive producer Andile Masuku attended as an independent media guest. African Tech Roundup maintains complete editorial oversight and is not affiliated with the event organisers.
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    20 mins
  • This Is Connectivity a la VC With Accion Venture Lab's Jasiel Martin-Odoom

    This Is Connectivity a la VC With Accion Venture Lab's Jasiel Martin-Odoom
    Nov 14 2024
    This episode features a candid conversation with Jasiel Martin-Odoom, Africa Investment Officer at Accion Venture Lab, exploring the intersection of venture capital and connectivity-focused content creation and ecosystem building in African tech. Episode overview: Andile Masuku sits down with Jasiel Martin-Odoom to unpack his unique approach to ecosystem engagement, scaling personal impact through content creation and driving value for founders across Africa. Reflecting on his experience transitioning from investment banking to fintech-focused impact VC, Martin-Odoom offers actionable insights on building authentic connections in the digital age. Key topics: • Authenticity in digital ecosystem building • Content creation as deal flow mechanism • Impact investing in African markets • The evolution of venture capital engagement • Scaling personal impact through technology • Building sustainable founder relationships Notable points: 1) Martin-Odoom's consistent content creation spanning 792 days 2) His transition from 100 to 11,000 social media followers through authentic at-scale engagement 3) The development of AI-powered content scaling systems 4) Sneak-peek into Accion Venture Lab's investment thesis 5) Perspectives on democratising access to investor insights Listen in for practical insights into modern ecosystem building and venture capital engagement in Africa's dynamic tech landscape.
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    33 mins
  • Victor Mapunga On Building From First Principles In Africa's 'Tech Graveyard'

    Victor Mapunga On Building From First Principles In Africa's 'Tech Graveyard'
    Nov 7 2024
    In a landscape where African tech startups often chase buzzwords and quick wins, some founders are taking a more fundamental approach to innovation. This episode explores how one Zimbabwean entrepreneur is building sustainable tech ventures by focusing on first principles. Episode overview: In this deeply candid conversation, Andile Masuku sits down with Victor Mapunga, the widely-covered founder of blockchain-based identity startup FlexID and authorised Starlink satellite internet service provider Shona Prince Technologies, to explore the intersections of digital identity, satellite internet and the future of connectivity in Africa. Drawing from his journey building multiple ventures in Zimbabwe, Mapunga shares hard-earned insights about the realities of African tech entrepreneurship and why solving fundamental infrastructure challenges must precede sophisticated technological solutions. Key topics: • First principles thinking in African tech • The reality of fundraising in emerging markets • Infrastructure challenges and tech innovation • Building products for African contexts • The myth of the founder as hero • Digital identity solutions for emerging markets • Internet connectivity challenges and solutions • The role of stealth mode in building • Startup ecosystem development • The future of African tech infrastructure Notable points: 1. Mapunga reveals that out of 500 VC pitches, fewer than five resulted in investment 2. The discussion explores why African tech needs to solve basic infrastructure before scaling 3. Insights into building FlexID and the challenges of digital identity in Africa 4. Analysis of why many well-funded African startups fail 5. Perspectives on the role of internet connectivity in enabling digital innovation Listen in for raw, unfiltered insights into building technology companies in Africa's challenging but opportunity-rich environment. Editorial Note: This episode was recorded at the fringes of the iFHP Big Ideas Workshop 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. While supported by the International Federation of Health Plans (iFHP), African Tech Roundup maintains complete editorial independence, and the views expressed by the host and guests are entirely their own.
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    1 hr