The BIG5D Podcast

In this episode of the BIG5D Podcast, host Charles Laughlin sits down with Jill Kerr, co-founder of Misfit Ventures, and Laura Thomas, founder of The Aligned Woman, to talk about the struggles female founders face in Africa. 

Recorded live at the 2026 BigFive Summit in Cape Town, this conversation tackles the stark reality that female-led startups in Africa receive just 2% of venture capital funding, despite often outperforming their male peers. 

Jill shares how her debt fund backs high-performing, real-economy female-led SMEs, while Laura discusses her expert-led educational platform and plans for an AI-driven women's ecosystem. The two explore navigating unconscious bias, pitching to male-dominated investors, and the gritty realities of entrepreneurship. 

This episode of the BIG5D Podcast is supported by Telkom. At Telkom, "Possible begins here". Learn more at Telkom.co.za.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the BIG5D Podcast, home to important conversations on the Business of African Tech. We recorded this interview with Zach George, the CEO and co-founder of Launch Africa Ventures, on stage at the March BigFive Summit in Cape Town.

This episode is sponsored by Telkom, also the lead sponsor of the 2026 BigFive Summit.

At Telkom, “Possible Begins Here”.

Learn more at Telkom.co.za

Sitting down for a lively fireside chat with Zach has become something of a BigFive Summit tradition. And this year Zach delivered every bit of the candor, insight…and profanity we have come to expect from him.

Launch Africa has invested in roughly 170 companies across two funds, mostly in B2B. The company has three African unicorns in its portfolio. 

Our discussion ranged from surging African M&A to the enduring dominance of fintech to the power of stablecoins to reduce cost and friction in remittances.

The BIG5D Podcast is a production of BigFive Digital. If you would like to book a guest or sponsor an episode, contact us via [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the BIG5D Podcast, where we bring you meaningful conversations on the Business of African Tech. We recorded this interview with Rahul Jain, the CEO and co-founder of Peach Payments, on stage at the recent BigFive Summit in Cape Town.

This episode is sponsored by Telkom, also the lead sponsor of the recent BigFive Summit in Cape Town. 

At Telkom, “Possible Begins Here”.

Learn more at Telkom.co.za

Peach Payments was launched in South Africa more than a decade ago and now facilitates digital commerce across nine African countries. 

Rahul Jain isn't just looking at where payments are now; he’s looking at where they’re going.

Our conversation with Rahul covers a wide array of topics, including: 

The high-stakes reality of international expansion and the painful struggle of local licensing.

Why the value of tech IP is dropping to zero while "agentic commerce" becomes the next land grab.

The controversial role of Buy Now, Pay Later in driving financial inclusion across the continent.

Rahul offers us a masterclass in scaling on the continent.

The BIG5D Podcast is a production of BigFive Digital. If you would like to book a guest or sponsor an episode, please contact us via [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 57 of the Big5D Podcast again turns to the May 2025 BigFive Summit in Cape Town for a great conversation about tech and business in Africa.

This conversation, recorded at Innovation City Cape Town on 6 May 2025, features a primer on how to choose a digital marketing agency partner led by Summit Co-host Amanda Louw-Bester (Pragmattica Consulting) and featuring Bianca Waterberg, the founder and CEO of the Cape Town digital agency Nspyre, which specializes in paid media and SEO.

Choosing the right agency all comes down to clear and effective communication. As Bianca puts it during this conversation,

"You want your agency to explain things to you clearly," Bianca says during the conversation.

The conversation also gets real about spotting red flags in a potential agency partner. And overpromising, for example, by guaranteeing immediate results that are nearly impossible to deliver, is high on the list of red flags to watch for.

This episode of the BIG5D Podcast is sponsored by Dialog (localdialog.com).

“Answering your 'local' questions with unique data & insights”

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

In Episode 56 of the BIG5D Podcast, we talk about venture building with Keshni Morar, the MD-South Africa, Founder Institute.

The conversation jumps off from a LinkedIn post Keshni wrote about #Statuptruth in which she laments how too many startup founders fail to appreciate the need to carefully manage the funds they raise from investors.

“$1M in funding doesn't make you rich,” Keshni wrote. “It makes you responsible.”

Keshni’s post goes on to recount the story of one founder who spent VC money on a “founder wellness” trip to a tropical island.

The substance of Keshni’s post is that venture funding is runway, not revenue.

We hope you enjoy this episode, sponsored by NSPYRE (nspyre.co.za)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

In Episode 56 of the BIG5D Podcast, we talk about venture building with Keshni Morar, the MD-South Africa, Founder Institute.

The conversation jumps off from a LinkedIn post Keshni wrote about #Statuptruth in which she laments how too many startup founders fail to appreciate the need to carefully manage the funds they raise from investors.

“$1M in funding doesn't make you rich,” Keshni wrote. “It makes you responsible.”

Keshni’s post goes on to recount the story of one founder who spent VC money on a “founder wellness” trip to a tropical island.

The substance of Keshni’s post is that venture funding is runway, not revenue.

We hope you enjoy this episode, sponsored by NSPYRE (nspyre.co.za)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 55 of the Big5D Podcast once again turns to the May 2025 BigFive Summit in Cape Town for a great conversation about tech and business in Africa. 

This conversation, recorded at Innovation City Cape Town on 6 May 2025, features a panel on Go to Market Strategies for SMEs led by Summit Co-host Amanda Louw-Bester (Pragmattica Consulting). 

The panel features three entrepreneurs who have seen it all and can at the very least steer small business founders away from obvious mistakes in the early stages of their business journey. 

The panelists offer a wide array of insights for founders on everything from tactics to avoid to tactics not to overlook, especially in a business's early stages. 

The panelists joining Amanda are Bernadene Appalsamy, Ledger Leap; Tim Shoko, Umlilo Energy; and Remi du Preez, Polygon.

This episode of the Big5D Podcast is supported by the 2025 BigFive Summit sponsors.

Absa Group (absa.africa)

Dialog (localdialog.com)

Nspyre (nspyre.co.za)

Networds (networds.co.za)

AfriGIS (afrigis.co.za)

Pragmattica Consulting (pragmattica.co.za)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 54 of the BIG5D Podcast again turns to the recent BigFive Summit in Cape Town for source material.

This episode features a panel discussion of the kinds of support, in addition to capital, that African startups need to be successful -- things like best practice sharing and mentorship, among others. Sharing their views are Lucie Fink, CEO of Thinkroom Consulting; Egla Ntumba of MsFit Ventures, and Thapelo Ntite, Co-founder of Botlhale AI. This discussion originally took place on stage on 8 May at Innovation City Cape Town.

Episode 54 of the BIG5D Podcast is supported by The 2025 BigFive Summit Sponsors.

The Summit's sponsors were led by Premium Sponsor Absa Group and also included Dialog, NSPYRE, Networds, AfriGIS, and Pragmattica Digital Consulting.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 53 of the Big5D Podcast comes from the recording of an on-stage interview with Loop Co-founder Jamie Wyngaard at the 2025 BigFive Summit in Cape Town.

Loop is a South African fintech startup that has digitized payments for African minibus taxi drivers using WhatsApp. Loop's broader ambition is to become a payment solution for emerging markets.

Episode 53 of the BIG5D Podcast is supported by The 2025 BigFive Summit Sponsors.

The Summit's sponsors were led by Premium Sponsor Absa Group and also included Dialog, NSPYRE, Networds, AfriGIS, and Pragmattica Digital Consulting.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 52 of the Big5D Podcast comes from the recording of a Fireside Chat (sans fire) that we recorded with Zachariah George at the 2025 BigFive Summit in Cape Town.

Zach is Managing Partner of Launch Africa Ventures, the Cape Town venture firm that has invested in African startups including Happy Pay, Peach Payments, Kuda Bank, Moove, Gozem, and many others. Zach has a very clear perspective on Africa Tech.

Zach believes there needs to be more funding for tech startups that come from within Africa, in particular South Africa. And he also thinks founders in Africa need to take a different view on venture capital. Do not chase it before you are ready. Be ready to boostrap until you have a product with a clear path to market and improving unit economics.

Episode 52 is presented by The 2025 BigFive Summit Sponsors.

B5DS25 supporters include Premium Sponsor Absa Group, as well as Dialog, NSPYRE, Networds, AfriGIS, and Pragmattica Digital Consulting. Thanks also to Vendasta and Telkom for their support and to Realm Digital for its ticket giveaway.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ctlaughlin.substack.com/subscribe