CEO Roundtable bridging Asia

In this episode, I speak to  Joseph Rehmann, Founder, and CEO at Victory Farms based in Kenya

Victory Farms is a tilapia fish farm established in 2015. VF is building its operation on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria and distribution capacity throughout Kenya. VF is rapidly expanding its farm operation, fish processing, and sales & marketing capabilities. By the end of 2017, VF is on track to be the largest aquaculture farm in East Africa. VF is employing world-class technologies, people and processes to build the leading tilapia farm globally. The Company has the highest standards for performance, execution, culture, and integrity.

Joseph and I talk about:

His background and journey to founding Victory Farms

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of farmed fish vs Chicken, pork, and beef

Problems the company is solving now and the business model

How the supply chain of VF works

How he and his cofounders met

Fundraising of the company

The long-term vision for Victory Farms and his African dream

In this episode, I speak to Diego Meneses -Co Founder and Head of Design at Diego Meneses

Diego says that good ideas are just the beginning, we help you to tailor and develop those ideas into great consumer products.

Diego Meneses Design LTD was stablished in 2018 and has been providing industrial design services to American, European and Chinese companies who want to develop products in China and South East Asia. We offer a range of services from product design, packaging and design strategy in industries such as consumer electronics, mobile accessories, bags and luggage, IOT and transportation.

Diego  and I talk about:

His background and journey to China and founding Diego Meneses

His business model to help his clients (manufacturing co) to succeed.

His company is offering more than design, working as a partner from the beginning

Shenzhen is a perfect strategic location to offer comprehensive solution to international clients

A couple of his interesting success story and designs with his clients.

Flexible and creative collaboration structure to work with his clients.

His long term vision for Diego Meneses

I had an interesting and fantastic conversation with a partner lawyer at TNP.On behalf of entrepreneurs, I asked (and successfully interrogated) her many important and practical questions that entrepreneurs should know in negotiating with VC or investors. You will find a lot of takeaways relevant to startup thanks to the full cooperation of BukolaEP34 What founders should know in negotiating VC term sheetIn this episode, I speak to Bukola Bankole, Partner, TNP law firm in NigeriaBukola and I talk about: 1.  Her background and journey to TNP2.  A couple of  terms that founders and investors usually go back and forth on·      Pro-rata rights·      Vesting and revesting imposed on founders and key members.·      Redemption Rights with Exit price·      Cap for conversion3.  How she would advise entrepreneurs if an investor says this is a standard term sheet and they have never changed it before.4.  Jurisdiction; Are foreign investors /VC comfortable with African judication, or African domicile entity. If not, which country do they usually prefer?5.  And what is the process of doing a flip into a foreign country6.  Long Term plans and Vision for the firm7. If TNP is interested in working with entrepreneurs with creative structures

In this episode, I speak to  Greg Murray, Co-Founder, and CEO of KOKO Networks based in Kenya

KOKO Networks is a venture-backed technology company operating in East Africa and India. KOKO networks build and deploy dense networks of cloud-connected "KOKO points"​ inside local corner stores, which serve as consumer access points for goods and services delivered in partnership with major suppliers. The first consumer solution is a liquid ethanol cooking fuel, which delivers significant cost savings and quality of life improvements in the multi-billion dollar market for urban cooking fuel.

Greg and I talk about:

His background and journey to founding Koko networks

Problems the company is solving now and the business model

How he and his cofounders met and interesting backstory  

How he find smart people to hire and transform them into his company culture

What he would do if he raised additional $10 million

The long-term vision for KoKo networks.

Who is the nicest person you have ever met?

In this episode, I speak to Jake Muhleman, Co-Founder, and President of VooDoo Spirits, Inc. in Benin Sodabi, a palm spirit that is made from the fermented sap of palm trees, plays a central part in voodoo ceremonies in Benin. As part of the ritual, it is poured over celebrants to flush out bad spirits and offered to ancestors to keep them comfortably tipsy in the afterlife. Jake Muhleman and his partners are hoping to bring that superior spirit of Benin to a larger audience by producing, marketing, selling and exporting Tambour Original, a small-batch, premium palm liquor. Jake talks about: 1) His journey to co-founding VooDoo Spirits. 2) How he came up with the business idea when one of his now-business partners, who was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin 3) What is Sodabi, traditional liquor in Benin and his brand, Tambour Original 4) How he makes Tambour adding African flavor 5) What is the biggest challenges in scaling his business. 6) His long term vision for Tambour

In this episode, I speak to Dr. Jan-Marc Lischka, Founder, and CEO of Manuyoo, E Commerce platform for African products in Europe.

Manuyoo brings exciting African brands to Europe and present them in an attractive marketplace. Manuyoo tells the stories of the people behind the products. Trade not aid, that‘s our motto.

Jan and I talk about 1) His journey to founding Manuyoo, social venture.

2) What problems he is solving now

3) How he found his co-founders  

4) About six African products he introduced and is selling on Manuyoo platform

5) How his supply chain works. 

6) The expansion and growth plan 

7) His long term vision for Manuyoo

In this episode, I speak to Larry Birnbaum, Founder, and CEO of ShopWorn. 

ShopWorn’s authentic accessories are never pre-owned, only gently handled in-store, without compromising quality, condition, or style. This unique concept grants insider access to an online trunk show of fine Swiss watches, jewelry, writing instruments, and other luxury accessories at a discounted price. ShopWorn unlocks a box of rare treasures and lets its guests curate their own luxury style.

Larry talks about: 1) His journey to founding and introducing the ShopWorn concept to the market. 

2) How he compares the value propositioning of ShopWorn goods to Pre-owned, 2nd hand or brand-new luxury goods.  

3) Price competitiveness of ShopWorn to pre-owned

4) His online distribution channel and supply chain

5) The expansion and growth plan in Asia 

6) His long term vision for ShopWorn

In this episode, I speak to Riccardo Ridolfi, Founder, and CEO of Equatorial Power. Riccardo also serves on the board of Umeme Ltd., a leading electricity Corp in Uganda.

Its areas of focus are 1. Beyond the grid holistic rural service delivery starting from productive power 2. Grid-connected renewable energy 3. Industrial captive power. 

Riccardo talks about:

1) What is the biggest challenges and barriers in building renewable energy infrastructure in Uganda and Africa

2) Challenges in fundraising and scaling the business. 

3)  Equatorial Power's business model 

4)  How he dealt with mistakes and pivot the business 

5) His long term vision for Equatorial Power

In this episode, I speak to Gerry McCollum, Founder, and CEO of Chicoa Fish Farm & Aquafeeds. 

Chicoa Fish Farm  offers a vertically integrated solution to kick-start the freshwater aquaculture industry.

Chicoa Fish Farm was founded by Gerard McCollum and Damien Legros in 2015 with the vision to provide a blueprint for a sustainable aquaculture industry across Africa. Since its inception, Chicoa has focused on securing its supply chain through primary production of tilapia, establishing a breeding program, and developing sales and distribution channels in Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia.   

Gerry talks about: 1) What is the biggest challenges and barriers in aquaculture in Africa

2) Protein supply deficit in Africa. Chicken and fish can be a good solution in terms of cost-efficiency 

3) Chicoá's business model (value chain in vertical) and how its supply chain work? 

4)  Annual production and sales

5) His priorities in the expansion and growth with new investment

6) His long term vision for Chicoa

In this episode, I speak to Samir Ibrahim, Founder and CEO of SunCulture. SunCulture wants to turn Africa into the world’s next bread basket, one solar water pump at a time. SunCulture's vision is to build a world where people take control of their environment in rewarding, sustainable ways. SunCulture does this by developing and commercializing life-changing technology that solves the biggest daily challenges for the world’s 570 million smallholder farming households. Samir talks about: 1) His solar pump and other solar-based products 2) Business model; pay as grow/ rent to own 3) What problems he is solving now. 4) How he came up with an idea to start a business 5) How he found co-founders in the beginning and the backstory 6) What is the biggest challenge in taking the business to the next level. 7) His fundraising experience and challenges 8) His long term vision and African dream with SunCulture