The Grinders Table

Yassine Laghzioui, CEO of UM6P Ventures and Director of Entrepreneurship at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, joins The Grinders Table to discuss building Africa's innovation ecosystem through deep tech investment.

When Yassine chose to return to Morocco while his peers stayed abroad, he embarked on a journey to transform how innovation happens in Africa. In this conversation, he shares why Africa doesn't need "savers" but rather builders and executors, how constraints drive innovation more effectively than abundance, and why he believes Africa will become a global leader in deep tech within the next decade.

We explore Yassine's philosophy that "entrepreneurship is not a job, it's a mindset," his approach to identifying promising deep tech founders in environments with limited data, and why he's particularly excited about Africa's potential in agricultural technology and green tech.

This episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in the future of innovation in emerging markets.

In this reshared episode, Uwem speaks with Massimiliano 'Massi' Spalazzi, former CEO of Jumia Nigeria and early employee who helped scale the company to become Africa's first tech IPO on the NYSE.

Key highlights:

• The origins of Jumia in Nigeria and early challenges of building an e-commerce pioneer
• How Jumia introduced cash-on-delivery to transform online shopping in a low-trust environment
• Building specialized teams when talent was scarce and the impact on Africa's tech ecosystem
• Balancing scale, growth and profitability across African markets
• Leadership lessons from managing distributed teams across the continent

Whether you're building an e-commerce business, scaling across African markets, or interested in the evolution of tech in Africa, Massi's insights remain essential listening for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

In this episode of The Grinders Table, we speak with Jelle Schuitemaker, co-founder of Goal 3, whose innovative patient monitoring system has reduced child mortality by 42% in African hospitals.

Jelle shares his journey from first encountering global inequality in the Philippines to building technology that's transforming healthcare in low-resource settings.

We explore the philosophical foundations of his work, the tension between impact and profit, and how his faith-driven purpose guides his mission to provide fair and accessible healthcare for everyone.

A must-listen for anyone interested in purpose-driven entrepreneurship, global health innovation, or the intersection of faith and business.

In this enlightening conversation, Ghita Zniber, co-founder of Kalys Ventures, shares her unique journey from rugby player to venture capitalist. Discover her "first follower" philosophy reshaping African startup investment and how a childhood conversation with her father about values became the foundation for her business approach.

Ghita reveals why she embraces being a generalist in a specialist's world, how Kalys Ventures supports African startups, and their strategic focus on the Moroccan diaspora. She offers invaluable advice on building founder-investor relationships, maintaining partnerships, and avoiding common capitalization pitfalls.

Whether you're a founder seeking investment, an aspiring investor, or simply curious about the evolving African tech ecosystem, Ghita's fresh perspective offers insights that challenge conventional venture capital wisdom.

Time Stamps:00:00 - Introduction03:42 - Rugby lessons that shaped her business approach07:14 - The childhood values conversation that changed everything13:15 - Discovering her true calling as a "first follower"24:23 - Investment philosophy at Kalys Ventures33:35 - Maintaining strong partnerships35:59 - The vision for African investment47:06 - Rapid fire advice for founders48:36 - Power, money, fame or pleasure?

From train driver's son in Austria to building Africa's pioneering Direct Air Capture company, Martin Freimüller shares his journey of building Octavia Carbon in Kenya.

In this episode, we explore why Kenya is the world's best place for DAC, the reality of building deep tech with local talent, and the true tests of entrepreneurial conviction.

Martin shares candid insights about startup crises, his contrarian views on African climate tech, and why building hardware companies matters for Africa's future. A must-listen for anyone interested in climate tech, African entrepreneurship, or building ambitious companies in emerging markets.

What happens when a Lebanese-born, Paris-educated investment banker returns to Dakar and discovers her true calling in venture capital? In this deeply personal episode, Sabrine Chahrour, Investor at Partech Africa, takes us through her remarkable journey from Googling "what is venture capital" to becoming a key player in Africa's tech ecosystem.

But this isn't just another VC story. As a mother of two young children, Sabrine offers rare insights into navigating the demanding world of venture capital while embracing parenthood. She challenges conventional wisdom, revealing how motherhood enhanced her investment approach through improved empathy, patience, and strategic thinking.

Whether you're a founder seeking to understand VC dynamics, a professional navigating work-life integration, or an investor curious about Francophone Africa's potential, this episode offers fresh perspectives on building impactful organizations in unexpected places.

Key conversations include:

In this episode of The Grinders Table, we take a journey into the transformative world of healthcare in Africa with our guest, Tobias, CEO of Viebeg. Tobias, originally from Vienna, Austria, has spent over seven years in East Africa, where he has witnessed firsthand the critical challenges faced by healthcare providers, particularly the lack of reliable medical supplies.

Tobias shares his journey, which began with a master’s thesis in Rwanda, where he became acutely aware of the inefficiencies in the healthcare supply chain. He recounts visiting numerous health facilities and discovering that many healthcare providers relied on gut feelings rather than data-driven decisions for procurement. This realization sparked the idea for Viebeg Medical, a company that now serves over 1,000 healthcare providers across five countries, utilizing artificial intelligence to optimize procurement processes and ensure that essential medical supplies are available where they are needed most.

Throughout our conversation, we explore the unique challenges of being an entrepreneur in Africa, including the cultural differences and infrastructural hurdles that Tobias has navigated. He emphasizes the importance of hiring local talent who understand the market and the value of building a community-oriented workplace culture.

We also discuss the role of technology and data in healthcare, with Tobias explaining how Viebeg leverages data to make informed decisions about medical supply needs. He discusses the challenges of data quality in Africa and the potential of AI to revolutionize healthcare delivery, while also acknowledging the need for accurate data collection in remote areas.

Join us for this enlightening conversation that not only sheds light on the healthcare landscape in Africa but also offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs everywhere about the balance between impact and profitability, the significance of community, and the transformative power of technology.

Amber Penny, co-founder of Faro, a sustainable fashion brand, joined the podcast to share her journey and insights. She discussed her background in high-performance sports, the challenges of managing a startup, and the importance of building a strong team culture.

Amber highlighted the value of vulnerability in leadership and the impact of creating a supportive work environment. She emphasized the significance of balance, pleasure, and financial motivation in her career, prioritizing these over power and fame.

Overall, the conversation provided valuable insights into building a successful business while maintaining a focus on people and culture.

In this episode, I interview Lara Dendy Young, the co-founder of Conservio. Lara shares her background as a South African with a passion for nature conservation and wildlife. She discusses her experience in water polo and how it has shaped her work ethic and teamwork skills. Lara talks about the journey of founding Conservio with her business partner, Justin, during the challenging times of COVID-19.

Throughout the conversation, Lara emphasizes the importance of impact and relevance in her work. She defines success as building a relevant platform for nature-based travel and making a meaningful impact in conservation. Lara also reflects on the balance between work and personal life, highlighting the significance of routines and maintaining a healthy mindset.

Overall, Lara's journey and insights showcase her dedication to conservation and building a successful business while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life.

In our latest podcast episode, we had an enriching conversation with Seni Sulyman. We explore Seni's journey from a hands-on operator who helps scale one of Africa's unicorns (Andela) to a visionary founder. He shares invaluable insights on problem-solving, crafting processes, and strategic execution - the backbone of any prosperous company.