My African Startup Story

Talking about a business with a founder is like talking about life with an old drunk.. so much wisdom and zero chills. Here is Mark high as a kite, as only a former investment banker-to-truck logistics startup founder could be. The shiny coins battle the god of regret: Time. 

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

A  5 billion Euro portfolio wasn't enough, said his 85 yr old self. So he dropped it all and started from scratch. And trucks became his new thing. Trucks. If nothing else, this man is that black monk that sold his Ferrari...

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

Audrey's entire story is just a mix of happenstance and purpose mashed up with randomness and focus. The juxtaposition is incredible. The grit, unbelievable. See how far she's come, then understand that she is just 27. Then sit back and appreciate how little age has anything to do with success. Getting things done is everything.

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

Audrey's entire story is just a mix of happenstance and purpose mashed up with randomness and focus. The juxtaposition is incredible. The grit, unbelievable. See how far she's come, then understand that she is just 27. Then sit back and appreciate how little age has anything to do with success. Getting things done is everything.

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

When we are planning for the future and you have optimism driving you, you make awesome plans. When things seem to go sideways, yeah, the only thing you really do have is your attitude. Do something with that. Because that is the only thing you can do something with... Life will go on. That's just truth.

The influence the mantra you have, while you are going through something, is often so underrated. You can be outwardly positive all you want, but if inside you do not have that same vibe, you will be in all sorts of trouble. In this CONVIB 19 planet lockdown, especially with our lives literally depending on our ability to successfully social distance from one another, here is something to build you up. YOU have this! You just do. You're a freaking beast! That's the mantra for a time like this.

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

Joram just launched the $500,000 entrepreneur all-in-one stop shop called SNDBX in Kenya. I know, we can't use it right now because we are all working from home with CONVIB 19 doing what it does, but when we leave our houses..in June..we may need a spot to go re-learn collaborative co-working spaces. So being the optimists we are, we talked about his journey to this point. Then we quickly washed our hands with soap...

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

It ends here. Well not really. Erik Hersman on what is now, and what will be the next thing he works on. And the other important conversation that will be had in time...

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

How do you sit with yourself when the product you thought about in the forest, that was coded overnight for starters, has founders that have met once in person and has a "strange name" is deployed in the largest natural disasters in the world? It's like driving in a storm, on the wrong lane, with your car on fire, a bear in the back seat and your tummy having the runs. Well...you get some more tea. And improve the code.

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)

A big part of the African tech scene was ignited by stories. Many of these stories were synonymous with ambition, adventure and the grit that led to success, when forcing your way through stereotypes, privilege and a lack of access that was technology a decade ago. For a continent in a world where was never meant to be for us, we have come a very long way. Many voices were part of the choir and few as loud and glaring as Erik Hersman's keyboard. He tells his story with as little pazazz as possible. But he knows, as do many people in the tech space, there's a lot that would not have happened if the renegades he was a big part of did not exist. 

Music: Sun El Musician: Ntaba Ezikunde (feat. Simmy)