Unlocking Africa

Episode #35 with Jakkie Cilliers who is the author of Africa First!: Igniting a Growth Revolution, and Head of African Futures and Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies. An institute that builds knowledge and skills that secure Africa’s future.

What We Discuss With Jakkie Cilliers

• What are Africa's development prospects and potential based on the data you've gathered?
• Is Africa on track to meet the objectives outlined in Agenda 2063?
• Do you believe the term "leapfrogging" is misused or misunderstood in the context of Africa?
• What will future trade relations between Africa and the rest of the world look like. What shifts or changes are you forecasting?
• 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 How to Successfully Structure and Start an Africa Focused Venture Capital Fund with Samantha Lee? 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 Jakkie on LinkedIn at JakkieCilliers, and Twitter @JakkieCilliers

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 #34 with Samantha Lee who is an angel investor, venture capitalist and the founder of StoneSoup Partners, a firm that invests in African startups.

StoneSoup Partners believe that it is possible and better to build companies that do well by doing good. They believe that financial value should be derived from social value. In the long run, they hope to reshape entrepreneurship so that it is no longer solely focused on profit maximisation but also addresses broader societal challenges.

What We Discuss With Samantha Lee

• How did you go about gaining local knowledge and expanding your network in order to invest in African startups?
• In terms of your recent and current investments, what type of startups do you prefer to invest in?
• Is your strategy for investing in African startups different from that of Southeast Asia?
• What are the challenges of establishing a fund dedicated to investing in African startups?
• 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 The Power of Media: How a Ghanaian Radio Station Transformed a Community with Phillip Nyakpo? 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 Samantha on LinkedIn at SamanthaLee

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 #33 with Phillip Nyakpo who is an author and former journalist. His most recent book, Absolute Radio, is a spellbinding true story of entrepreneurship, media, culture and tradition, all tastefully rolled into one!

Absolute Radio is an authentic story of girls and boys who became women and men – and heroes – on the wings of a radio station. Running the course of 25 years, the story comes from the culturally stylish twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana, with global footprints.

What We Discuss With Phillip Nyakpo

• In the context of African media, how significant is private ownership?
• Prior to 1990, only a few African countries permitted commercial or non-state radio. What significance did the launch of SKYY POWER FM have?
• Were there any economic benefits to the local community as a result of privatised radio, either directly or indirectly?
• What is your opinion of the current state of African media?
• 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 What Is the Future of the Creator Economy in Africa? Creating Value Through Community with Patrick Palmi? 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 Phillip on LinkedIn at PhillipNyakpo, and Twitter @Nyakpo

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 #32 with Patrick Palmi who is CEO and Founder of Palm TV,  which is Africa's first ecommerce marketplace platform for affiliate creators. If you run an online community, Palm TV Store makes it incredibly simple to open an online store with exciting affiliate products to sell to your community at the best retail price.

In the last three years, the Palm TV marketplace has generated over US$15 million in GMV for young African creators and affiliate merchandise partners.

What We Discuss With Patrick Palmi

• Can you describe the infrastructure required for a platform to ship products and process payments anywhere in Africa, as well as how you built it?
• What are some of the nuances unique to African e-commerce?
• How can African content creators effectively leverage their network and community to create commercial value?
• Can you describe the process you use to find and integrate reputable suppliers into your platform?
• 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 Impact Investing in Africa. Promoting Positive Capital for Development in Africa with Gert van Veldhuisen? 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 Patrick on LinkedIn at PatrickPalmi, and Twitter @palmtvstore

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 #31 with Gert van Veldhuisen who is Co-Founder of BiD Capital Partners and Director Africa of Unknown Group, which is an early-stage Venture Capital and business development firm with operations in 110+ countries. Unknown believe that founders turn the world’s problems into opportunities by developing solutions that go beyond what is known. Together with industry leaders, they tap in to this potential by giving them the opportunity to bring their solution to scale.

As the Director Africa, Gert is responsible for the companies activities on the African Continent. He brings together entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, public institutions, development organisations, investors, and ecosystem builders to explore opportunities, form partnerships, and transform them into scalable, impactful solutions.

What We Discuss With Gert van Veldhuisen

• What does impact investing mean to you, and how does it impact the African continent?
• What is your process and thesis for identifying startups with investment potential in Africa?
• How can startups properly position themselves for investor due diligence?
• How would someone go about getting into the African impact investment industry?
• 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 How Entrepreneurship Can Play a Critical Role in Africa’s Transformation and Future Development with York Zucchi? 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 Gert on LinkedIn at GertvanVeldhuisen

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 #30 with York Zucchi who is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of The StartUp Tribe, an initiative to support Municipalities, Governments and Corporates in helping people to start and grow their businesses. As of Feb 2022 they are active in 27 countries assisting over 312 cities & municipalities.

In a career spanning 28 years across over 11 countries, York has created projects & businesses that have impacted people's lives in over 83 countries. Starting businesses across various sectors such as healthcare, IT, tourism, academia, and  so on. Some succeeded, while others failed. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, MIT, Harvard and even the space agency NASA.

What We Discuss With York Zucchi

• What are some of the things you've noticed about African entrepreneurship that you won't find anywhere else?
• What are some of the real challenges that African businesses experience in scaling?
• What works and what doesn't in encouraging entrepreneurship on the continent?
• Can entrepreneurship create the jobs that are required to absorb the 20m people entering Africa's labour force each year?
• 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 How Telling the African Story Can Empower and Contribute to the Economic Development of Africa with Lanre Aina? 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 York on LinkedIn at YorkZucchi, and Twitter @YZP

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 #29 with Lanre Aina who is Co-founder and CEO of ATHLST, a digital sports news and content studio. AHLST works closely with African athletes to transform their personal stories into immersive and impactful content that resonate with sports fans worldwide.

In an era where there’s a convergence of entertainment, sports, and culture, the African athlete is 62-65% less likely than his/her American or European counterpart to have their stories told by way of op-ed, documentary or film. ATHLST intends to change that, and in the process meet the news and branding needs of African athletes ensuring that they take control of their own narrative, and by extension, expand their presence and deepen their relevance in sports.

What We Discuss With Lanre Aina

• What are the risks of allowing others to tell Africa's story, and why is it important for Africa to tell its own?
• What is driving the rise in the number of Africans wanting to tell the African story?
• What are some of the challenges in licencing an African documentary to streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon?
• How did you go about creating a value chain and ecosystem that allows you to create high-quality African content?
• 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 Changing the Financial Landscape of Africa by Creating a New Microfinance Model for the Continent with Viola Llewellyn? 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 Lanre on LinkedIn at LanreAina, and Twitter @lanreaina

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 #28 with Viola Llewellyn who is president and co-founder of Ovamba Solutions, which is an award winning African “TradeTech” company that creates culturally attuned technologies for Banks and Central Banks so that they can serve emerging market SMEs with innovative Sharia compliant trade finance products.

Ovamba's "BankPartner Innovations" combine ERP & CRM with, eCommerce, logistics services, and proprietary algorithms and short term capital to drive financial inclusion and promote growth.

What We Discuss With Viola Llewellyn

• What is the importance of the TradeTech industry in Africa? What role can it play in the development of African economies?
• Despite a clear need, not enough businesses in Africa use banks to gain access to capital, particularly SMEs. What is the reasoning behind this?
• How can we remove systemic barriers for African SMEs and contribute to the creation of a wealth-creating ecosystem?
• How is Ovamba bridging Africa's trade finance gap?
• 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 How Africa Can Leverage the Diaspora's Untapped Wealth and Power for Future Development with Charles Sekwalor? 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 Viola on LinkedIn at ViolaLlewellyn, and Twitter @Ovamba4SMEs

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 #27 with Charles Sekwalor who is a serial entrepreneur, advisor, and investor who focuses on developing startups and private equity transactions that drive change and positively influence people's lives. Dedicated to projects that span the African continent.

Charles is the CEO and Founder of Movemeback, a members community connecting talented professionals, entrepreneurs, students and influencers with exciting job and entrepreneurial opportunities in Africa. Movemeback aspires to drive positive economic and social growth in Africa by providing an international platform through which individuals, organisations and institutions across the world interact and partner with Africa.

What We Discuss With Charles Sekwalor

• How have people's perceptions of doing business in Africa changed in the last eight years, in your opinion?
• What opportunities does Africa currently provide to people in the diaspora, and why should they consider returning to Africa or contributing to Africa's future?
• Moving back is much easier said than done, so what advice would you give to people thinking about returning or moving to Africa?
• How do you believe AfCFTA will affect how you do business in Africa or how people access opportunities on the continent?
• 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 Why Africa Is the Future of the Fashion Industry. Now Is the Time to Trade and Invest with Jacqueline Shaw? 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 CharlesSekwalor, and Twitter @csekwalor

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 #26 with Jacqueline Shaw who is an African fashion sourcing consultant, Director at Africa Fashion Guide which is an information based platform with the focus to promote the African fashion and textile industry and create an awareness campaign that promotes the full supply chain of the African fashion and textile industry with an ethical perspective to the greater global textile industry.

It is a one stop shop for fashion professionals, students, retailers, magazines, bloggers and all those interested in African fashion and textiles as a way to promote this industry and bring links between African designers, craftspeople, manufacturers and textile designers with UK and EU fashion design companies and consumer markets, as well as with retailers worldwide.

What We Discuss With Jacqueline Shaw

• How would you describe Africa’s fashion industry?
• Can you tell us about the current opportunities and challenges in Africa's fashion industry?
• What role do the creative industries play in the African economy?
• What role does the fashion industry play in promoting African regional integration and identity for a more resilient continent?
• 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 How to Win Customers in Africa’s Unstructured Market. Africa’s Goldmine with Uchenna Uzo?  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 Jacqueline on LinkedIn at JacquelineShaw, and Twitter @JacquelineMShaw

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]