Unlocking Africa

Episode 105 with Eugene Tawiah, who is co-founder of SecondSTAX, which is a platform and gateway to access and trade all debt and equity securities across multiple African bond and stock exchanges.

SSX facilitates transactions by securely and efficiently routing orders onto existing mature capital markets infrastructure in complete compliance with local regulations. SSX simultaneously offers B2B securities trading infrastructure as well as B2C retail customer solutions for simplified access to trading African securities.

SSX provides an easy-to-use and efficient route for wealth in Africa and global capital to fund investments in a wider range of African countries.

What We Discuss With Eugene Tawiah

• How does SecondSTAX work as a gateway to access and trade debt and equity securities across African bond and stock exchanges?
• How does SecondSTAX ensure secure and compliant transactions while operating in multiple African countries with different regulations?
• Can you share insights into the technology infrastructure behind SecondSTAX and how it ensures efficiency in processing transactions?
• What is the significance of providing both B2B and B2C solutions for trading African securities?
• What are the key factors that investors should consider when trading African securities?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Redefining African Travel Experiences Beyond Wildlife. ZaNiheza's Mission to Showcase the True Africa with Charles Shima? 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 Eugene on LinkedIn at Eugene Tawiah, and Twitter @secondSTAX

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 104 with Charles Shima, who is the founder and CEO of ZaNiheza, a booking software and afrocentric travel marketplace for immersive experiences that connect travelers with local curators.

ZaNiheza provides immersive tours and activities that enhance travelers' experiences when they visit African destinations. Their proprietary booking software makes it possible for travel suppliers to create, manage, and offer tours and activities online.

What We Discuss With Charles Shima

• What specific gap in the African travel market were you aiming to address, especially in the context of African travel experiences?
• Can you give us reasons why it is important to develop tourism in Africa?
• Africa is experiencing increased interest globally in areas such as tourism. What more can be done to sustain this tourism growth?
• Could you elaborate on how empowering local travel curators and promoting unique cultural experiences contribute to economic growth in the regions you operate? 
• How is the increasing presence of young African travel bloggers and content creators, including individuals like yourself, influencing the African travel and tourism industry?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss African Art on the Global Stage. The Growth and Evolution of African Art with Touria El Glaoui? 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 Charles on LinkedIn at Charles Shima, and Twitter @shima_charles

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 103 with Touria El Glaoui, who is the Founding Director of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which is the leading international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, has annual editions in London, New York, and Marrakech.

Founded in 2013 by Touria El Glaoui, 1-54 is the first and only international fair dedicated to contemporary African art. With three editions per year—in London, New York, and Marrakech—as well as a pop-up fair in Paris, 1-54 is the leading global art fair committed to providing visibility to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.

Striving to promote a community of diverse perspectives, including evolving interpretations of the diasporic experience, 1-54 features leading international galleries specialising in contemporary African art alongside artist talks, panel discussions, and a Special Projects programme.

What We Discuss With Touria El Glaoui

• How does 1-54 bridge the gap between African artists and the global art market?
• What are some of the challenges faced by artists from Africa and its diaspora in the contemporary art world?
• How has the perception of African art evolved in the Western world during the ten years 1-54 has been active?
• What does the growing global demand for African art currently look like?
• Does the growing global demand for African art stem from a passion for African art or the perception of it as an investable asset class?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Beyond Charity and Changing Narratives. Understanding the Layers of African Philanthropy with Dr Keratiloe Mogotsi? 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  Touria on LinkedIn at Touria El Glaoui, and Twitter @154artfair

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 102 with, Dr. Keratiloe Mogotsi, who is the former Program Director at the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), which works to bridge the gap in the study, research, and practice of philanthropy and social investment in Africa.

Global interest in the field of philanthropy and social investment in Africa and continents outside of Euro-America is growing exponentially. Recent years have seen a considerable increase in research and writings related to these topics. Despite this, the study of these fields is in a nascent stage, with very little formal academic research, teaching, and publication available in Africa.

What We Discuss With Dr. Keratiloe

• What do you believe needs to happen to bridge the gap in the study and practice of philanthropy in Africa?
• What are some of the challenges faced by African philanthropies when cooperating with international initiatives?
• It could be said that philanthropy is ingrained in African culture. Why do you think this is not recognised, and philanthropy is now associated with western organisations?
• What steps can individuals and organisations take to rewrite the narrative of African philanthropy and challenge any existing stereotypes or misconceptions?
• How should philanthropies engage with local communities to ensure that philanthropic efforts are culturally sensitive and impactful?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Building Trust and Seamless Transactions. A Glimpse into the Future of Digital Payments in Africa with Omoniyi Kolade? 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  Dr. Keratiloe on LinkedIn at Dr Keratiloe Mogotsi and Twitter @BelindaMogotsi

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 101 with Omoniyi Kolade is the founder and CEO of Seerbit, a pan-African enterprise payment platform that enables fast, seamless, inclusive, and secure payments for leading local and global companies present on the African continent.

SeerBit is a platform that enables all types of businesses to process payments from their customers with the digital tools they need. In Africa, customers are often limited by circumstances or location, such as the unavailability of the internet or a lack of access to financial services. SeerBit’s mission is to help businesses circumvent these barriers that prevent them from optimally serving their customers.

What We Discuss With Omoniyi

• How does SeerBit contribute to financial inclusion in Africa, particularly for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked? 
• What role does technology play in SeerBit's approach to making payments fast and seamless?
• Africa is a diverse continent with varying levels of technological infrastructure. How does SeerBit address the challenges of operating in such a dynamic environment?
• Security is a crucial concern in online payments. How does SeerBit ensure the security of transactions on its platform?
• As you operate in multiple African countries, how do you manage the cultural and regulatory differences across these markets?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Bridging the Gap Between East and West. Tech, Investments, and Global Impact with Sherif Nessim? 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  Omoniyi on LinkedIn at Omoniyi Kolade and Twitter @kolas_way 

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 100 with Sherif Nessim who is a  technology specialist with over 24 years of experience in offering solutions and products to corporations, mobile carriers, and service providers (B2B) as well as consumer services (B2C) in Egypt and the Middle East and Africa area.

Sherif is the visionary founder of Jedar Capital, a rising venture capital firm. Jedar Capital, which specialises in assisting early-stage entrepreneurs from pre-seed to Series A, focuses its efforts on promoting innovation throughout Africa and the Middle East. The firm is crucial in establishing relationships between corporations in the United States and Europe looking to develop their presence in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa, and vice versa.

What We Discuss With Sherif

• What has been your experiences in establishing a venture capital firm that focuses specifically on supporting African startups? 
• What are some crucial considerations for businesses aiming to successfully enter the African market? 
• What are some common misconceptions or challenges you've observed when Western companies try to expand into Africa? 
• How does Jedar Capital differ from other Africa-focused VCs, and what advantages does it offer? 
• What advice would you give to African startups that are looking to raise capital or investment? 

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Smart Solutions for a Sustainable Future: Figorr's IoT Approach to Reduce Food and Vaccine Wastage in Africa with Tega Iortim? 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 Sherif on LinkedIn at Sherif Nessim and Twitter @snessim

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 99 with Tega Iortim, who is an impact-driven entrepreneur with a passion for using technology to solve major supply chain related challenges across developing countries.

Tega is the CEO and founder of Figorr, which is an IoT company that offers real-time monitoring and tracking for temperature-sensitive items.

Figorr aims to play a part in bridging the gaps in the healthcare cold chain in Sub-Saharan Africa. To this effect, Figorr was setup with primarily two (2) objectives:

1. To build innovative, affordable cold chain solutions for storage and transportation by embedding technology with already available social science solutions to enhance the efficiency of the solution.
2. To educate individuals in the relevant industries about modern and standardised cold chain practices.

What We Discuss With Tega

• Could you share some statistics or examples that highlight the scale of food and vaccine waste in sub-Saharan Africa? 
• How does Figorr's IoT technology work to monitor and prevent losses during the transportation and storage of perishable goods? 
• What challenges do businesses typically face in the transportation and storage of perishable goods in Africa? 
• Have you encountered specific cultural or social nuances that you had to take into account when implementing your solutions in different African regions?
• How can the use of IoT technology in Africa to reduce food and vaccine waste effect environmental and sustainability concerns?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Chari is Transforming Traditional Retail in French-Speaking Africa with Ismael Belkhayat? 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 Tega on LinkedIn at Tega Iortim, and Twitter @iortimtega

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 98 with Ismael Belkhayat, who is the founder and CEO of Chari, an e-commerce app that has recently been valued at $100 million. Chari helps small retailers in French-speaking Africa procure inventory for their stores and get it delivered for free while benefiting from payment facilities.

It is a one-stop shop for traditional proximity stores, allowing them to order any consumer goods they sell and get them delivered for free while benefiting from financial services.

Ismael is an experienced startup founder with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. A data-driven, strong business development professional who graduated from Cornell University and was a former BCG consultant.

What We Discuss With Ismael

• How does Chari specifically benefit small retailers in French-speaking Africa?
• What are the main challenges you've faced in scaling Chari in the African market, and how have you addressed them?
• Chari recently secured $1.5 million in funding. Can you share how this funding will be utilised to further Chari's mission and growth?
• What strategies does Chari employ to ensure efficient and reliable delivery services, especially in regions with challenging logistics infrastructure?
• With your experience as a startup founder and two successful exits, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make an impact in the African tech ecosystem?

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Diving Into Search Funds. An Emerging Investment Vehicle That Could Deliver Higher Returns in Africa with Ibrahim Abdel Rahim? 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 Ismael on LinkedIn at Ismael Belkhayat, and Twitter @ismaelbelkhayat

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 97 with Ibrahim Abdel Rahim, who is a managing partner at Moonbase Capital. Moonbase Capital invests in SMEs through Search Funds, an innovative new asset class that combines the stability of private equity with the agility of venture capital in order to yield more consistent returns to our investors at lower risk.

Their main focus is on providing entrepreneurs with hands-on support throughout the search, acquisition, and growth phases of their journey, leveraging 40 years of combined experience as operators, consultants, CEOs, and CFOs, building and selling businesses globally.

What We Discuss With Ibrahim

• In your consulting experience, what specific insights or skills did you gain that now contribute to your effectiveness as a managing partner at Moonbase Capital?
• Could you explain what search funds are and how you first came across this innovative asset class?
• How does Moonbase Capital's focus on investing in SMEs through Search Funds provide distinct advantages in comparison to conventional private equity or venture capital investment strategies?
• What role does Moonbase Capital play in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa and beyond?
• How does Moonbase Capital implement strategies and practices to achieve its goal of delivering consistent returns with lower risk? 
• And much more...

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Mobilising Capital, Fostering Collaboration, and Driving Change in African Tech with Anthony William Catt? 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 Ibrahim on LinkedIn at Ibrahim Abdel Rahim

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 96 with Anthony William Catt, who is the founder and director of Ventures 54. A company on a mission to build and strengthen the international investment corridors between Africa’s tech, startup, and investor ecosystems and the rest of the world by mobilising capital and facilitating investment

Working with governments, DFIs, and other international funding agencies to provide technical assistance to founders and investors by establishing key networks, unlocking human and commercial resources, and creating access to global markets and investment opportunities.

What We Discuss With Anthony

• How did your personal interest in building connections between the UK and Africa, specifically in the fields of technology and startups, develop?
• Could you elaborate on the role of technical assistance funding in the African startup ecosystem and how Ventures 54 facilitates its deployment?
• Could you highlight the common trends and preferences you've observed among investors seeking to invest in the African tech scene?
• In your experience, how can the UK act as a springboard for African entrepreneurs seeking global exposure and growth?
• What advice would you offer to UK companies looking to explore opportunities and tap into talent within African markets?
• And much more...

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

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Investing in Financial Inclusion by Unlocking the Potential of Fintech Startups in Egypt and Beyond with Rana Abdel Latif? 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 Anthony  on LinkedIn at Anthony William Catt, and Twitter @AnthonyWCatt

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]