Unlocking Africa

Episode 115 with Omar Shoukry Sakr, who is the CEO and Founder of Nawah-Scientific. A company on a mission to revolutionise the way people do scientific research in Egypt and beyond. Nawah-Scientific is the go-to place to outsource scientific services online.

Nawah is a core hub of high-tech research equipment that provides a multitude of services to the region through an online platform, a world-class calibre of scientists, and a strong logistic network. They serve industries in need of product development and analysis (pharmaceuticals, petroleum, chemicals, agriculture, etc.), as well as academics at universities in disciplines of life sciences (biology, chemistry, pharma, etc.).

What We Discuss With Omar

• How has being a science company based in Africa affected your ability to grow and attract new customers?
• How has Nawah Scientific contributed to the advancement of scientific research in Egypt and beyond?
• Can you discuss the key milestones or achievements that Nawah Scientific has reached since its establishment.
• What role does collaboration play in Nawah Scientific's strategy for serving its clients and advancing scientific knowledge?
• How might Nawah Scientific's business model impact the long-term sustainability and growth of scientific research in Africa?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How to Build Investment-Worthy Startups: Insights From the Godfather of Angel Investing in Africa? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Oamr on LinkedIn at Omar Shoukry Sakr, and Twitter (X) @NawahScientific

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 114 with Harry 'Tomi Davies (TD), who is a Systems Analyst turned Public Speaker and author, Tech Strategy Advisor and Angel Investor, who is also Collaborator-in-Chief at TVC Labs, co-founder of the Lagos Angel Network (LAN) and President of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN).

He is also widely regarded as the "godfather of angel investing" in Africa. TD is an active stakeholder and speaker in the African startup ecosystem, and he uses his wealth of experience and network to guide the next generation of innovative African startups that are creating economic value and social impact.

What We Discuss With Tomi Davies (TD)

• Can you give us an overview of your new book, "Investment Worthy Startup," and how it aims to assist startups in Africa?
• The POEM framework—proposition, organisation, economics, and milestones—is a central aspect of your book. Can you expand on what the POEM framework is?
• Can you share some insights into the current state of the entrepreneurial landscape in Africa as a whole?
• What are some success stories or notable achievements from your portfolio of African tech startups as an angel investor focused on economic value and social impact?
• What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs looking to embark on their startup journey in Africa?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Scaling in Africa: The Art and Science of Scaling Commercial Ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa with Scott Walker? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Tomi Davies (TD) on LinkedIn at Harry 'Tomi Davies, and Twitter (X) @TomiDee

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 113 with Scott Walker, who is CEO and Founder of Systemic Innovation, which is a systems change innovation practice solving wicked systemic challenges through a collective intelligence model that connects people, ideas, and insights.

Scott is also a co-author of the Scaling in Africa report, which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the African scaling ecosystem. Designed as an applied research study (i.e., to identify pragmatic solutions to a set of specific problems rather than a theoretical academic inquiry), the aim of the report is to see actionable results offering answers to key challenges, which can assist various actors in making better, more informed decisions about where to apply the right type of support for improved results at the macro, ecosystemic, and venture levels.

What We Discuss With Scott

• Can you elaborate on the challenges African scale-ups face in expanding across multiple countries?
• When it comes to scaling ventures, what factors should entrepreneurs consider when deciding between a global, regional, or local approach?
• What are the expansion challenges that African scale-ups face, and how can they be addressed or even prevented?
• What role do governments play in enabling or hindering the scaling of commercial ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa ?
• What do you believe are the most important success factors for scaling ventures in the African market?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Empowering Tech Talent: Accelerating the Growth of Africa’s Tech and Developer Communities with Sunkanmi Ola? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn at Scott Walker

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 112 with Sunkanmi Ola, who is Co-Founder and CEO of Propel, a platform that has built one of the largest ecosystems of tech and developer communities in Africa—over 200 diverse communities with 500,000+ members spread across 22 countries and 3 continents.

With its 'Community-as-a-Service' offering, companies can leverage this ecosystem of tech communities, on-demand, to drive a variety of their product and business goals.

Over 100 companies have engaged Propel's ecosystem for hiring top talent, beta testing, organising hackathons, user acquisition campaigns, developer relations, market research, and more.

What We Discuss With Sunkanmi

• How does Propel stand out in talent acquisition and pipeline building compared to its competitors?
• What impact has Propel had on connecting African tech talent with companies globally?
• Could you elaborate on the unique financial services that Propel aims to provide for tech professionals in emerging markets?
• You recently managed to successfully raise €2.5 million in seed funding. What has this enabled you to do?
• What challenges have you encountered while building multi-layered infrastructure for the tech talent economy, and how have you overcome these challenges?

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Training the Next Generation of Africa-Focused International Trade Professionals? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Sunkanmi on LinkedIn at Sunkanmi Ola

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 111 with Marco Forgione who is the Director General of The Institute of Export and International Trade, which is a professional membership body representing and supporting the interests of everyone involved in importing, exporting and international trade.

The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) recently launched its expansion into Africa with the opening of its first office in Nairobi, Kenya, in July 2023.

IOE&IT has developed and delivered training, education, and consulting services for the entire African continent. These services cover the unique and specific aspects of both Africa’s trade with the rest of the world and intra-continental commerce.

What We Discuss With Marco Forgione

• Which African markets have you identified as having huge trade opportunities?
• What strategies do you think can be used to enhance trade relationships between the UK and African nations?
• What value do you believe the Institute can provide to companies looking to engage with African markets and economies?
• How do you believe the qualifications and training that you offer prepare businesses for the changing dynamics of international trade, particularly in Africa?
• How do you believe these resources can better equip and contribute to the development of international trade professionals in Africa?

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Government and Healthtech Partnerships Are Digitally Transforming Healthcare Supply Chains in Africa? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu

Connect with Marco on LinkedIn at Marco Forgione, and Twitter (X) @marco4gione

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 110 with Yomi Kazeem, from Salient Advisory, which is a healthcare consulting firm that tracks innovations in African health tech, and Jessica Vernon, CEO and Founder of Maisha Meds, which is a company that has created the first and largest network of private pharmacies and clinics in East Africa through a mobile app that delivers subsidised care.

Salient Advisory produces comprehensive reports, delving into African health technology trends and facilitating partnerships, aiming for a future where healthcare products are more accessible. Their research has been featured by CNBC, Quartz, Bloomberg, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Devex, the Centre for Global Development, and more.

What We Discuss With Yomi Kazeem and Jessica Vernon

• What motivated Salient Advisory to focus on innovations in health product distribution in Africa, particularly concerning government partnerships with health tech innovators?
• Could you provide specific examples from your Market Intelligence Report that highlight the successful impact of government partnerships with health tech platforms in Africa?
• What were the specific challenges that African health supply chains faced before the introduction of digital solutions and partnerships?
• The report highlights that government partnerships have facilitated the democratization of digital orders. How has this democratization positively impacted healthcare accessibility in rural areas?
• The report indicates that many innovators prioritise healthcare supply chain data analytics. How do these analytics improve the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain processes in Africa?

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Insuring Africa's Future: Expanding Affordable Insurance Coverage Across Africa with Ted Pantone? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Yomi  on LinkedIn at Yomi Kazeem, and Twitter

Connect with Jessica  on LinkedIn at Jessica Vernon, and Twitter @TheYomiKazeem

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 109 with Ted Pantone, a dynamic startup leader with a relentless drive to achieve results, boasts a proven track record of guiding young businesses and entrepreneurial teams towards success. With the launch of four startups under his belt, he has secured over $20 million in funding and has actively invested in over 50 businesses.

Additionally, Ted serves as the co-founder and CEO of Turaco, a pioneering venture revolutionising healthcare financing in emerging markets. Recognising the dire need for accessible insurance products and financing options among consumers in these regions, Turaco has devised streamlined insurance solutions, distributed through mobile technology, to effectively address the healthcare financing challenges faced by customers in these markets.

What We Discuss With Ted Pantone

• How did you identify there was a gap in the market for what you wanted to offer?
• The insurance penetration rate in Africa is just 3%. What challenges and opportunities do you see for disrupting the insurance industry on the continent?
• Turaco aims to insure over 1 billion lives in Africa. What steps is the company taking to scale its operations?
• Turaco sells health insurance for as low as $0.5 per month. How do you ensure the affordability of your products while maintaining financial sustainability for the company?
• Turaco recently acquired MicroEnsure in Ghana. How does this acquisition contribute to Turaco's overall strategy, and what advantages does it bring to the company's mission?

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Empowering Africa: Saving Lives and Livelihoods by Strengthening Africa’s Public Health Systems with Julie Gichuru? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Ted on LinkedIn at Ted Pantone, and Twitter @tedpantone

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 108 with Julie Gichuru who is the Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer at the Mastercard Foundation, overseeing corporate, programmatic, policy, and thought leadership communications with a team spanning Africa and Canada.

The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organisations to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work.

Mastercard Foundation wants a world where young people are included and are thriving, and their leadership and contributions matter. A future where young people are driving transformative change and achieving their full potential.

What We Discuss With Julie Gichuru

• Elaborate on your role at Mastercard Foundation and the key areas you oversee, such as corporate, programmatic, policy, and thought leadership communications.
• Since you’ve been involved in the social development space in Africa, how have you seen it develop?
• What more can be done to further progress the development space in Africa? 
• What are the biggest challenges that the social development space currently faces in Africa, and how have you seen the Mastercard Foundation overcome these challenges?
• Can you elaborate on the goals and strategies of Saving Lives & Livelihoods, especially in terms of enabling vaccine purchases, delivery, and manufacturing across Africa?

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Exploring New African Cuisines That Focus on Traditional Ingredients and Culture with Selassie Atadika? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Julie on LinkedIn at Julie Gichuru, and Twitter @JulieGichuru

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 107 with chef Selassie Atadika who is an award-winning chef, educator, and food systems advocate. Born in Ghana, her family fled following a military coup, eventually settling in New York.  She credits her mother and travels to over 40 countries as a humanitarian aid worker for the United Nations as influences for her dishes.

In 2014, she returned home to Ghana to establish Midunu, Midunu Chocolates, and The Midunu Institute as love letters to Africa—a dedication to celebrate and preserve Africa’s rich culinary heritage.

Selassie loves playing at the crossroads where culture, community, and cuisine intersect with the environment, sustainability, and economy.

What We Discuss With Selassie Atadika 

• What inspired you to return to Ghana and establish Midunu, Midunu Chocolates, and The Midunu Institute?
• Could you elaborate on the concept of 'New African Cuisine' and how it guides your culinary creations?
• How do you balance the intersection of culture, community, and cuisine with environmental sustainability and economic factors in your work?
• What can be done to create an enabling environment for people like yourself who want to add value to local produce to sell to a global market?
• How do you believe your culinary creations, which have received acclaim from publications such as Vogue, are influencing the global perception and representation of African cuisine?

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Innovation, Collaboration, and Policy: The Long-Term Impact of the Nigeria Startup Act with Oswald Guobadia? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Selassie on LinkedIn at Chef Selassie Atadika, and Twitter @MidunuGhana

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

Episode 106 with Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, who is the former Senior Special Assistant on Digital Transformation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, spearheaded the creation and execution of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) program.

The Nigeria Startup Act project is a joint initiative by Nigeria’s tech startup ecosystem and the Presidency to harness the potential of Nigeria's digital economy through co-created regulations. The Act is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria's laws and regulations are clear, planned, and work for the tech ecosystem by creating an enabling  environment.

The Act was signed into law by H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari on the 19th of October, 2022. Over 30 leaders in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem contributed to its drafting between June and September 2021, but what impact has it had on Nigeria's tech ecosystem so far?

What We Discuss With Oswald Guobadia

• Could you elaborate on the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) program's objectives and its impact on Nigeria's tech ecosystem and digital economy?
• What were the key challenges you faced during the execution of the  Nigeria Startup Act?
• What strategies did you use to bring together diverse stakeholders and ensure their active involvement in the NSA program?
• What positive legacy do you believe the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) program has left in areas such as technology and human capital?
• What advice would you give to other countries or regions aspiring to create similar programs to boost their tech ecosystems? 

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss African Capital Markets Reimagined: Building a Platform to Trade Debt and Equity Securities Across African Markets With Eugene Tawiah? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Oswald on LinkedIn at Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, and Twitter @OsOsaGuobadia

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]