17 MAY 2023 · Quote - “The spirit of Afropolitan, and why I'm so excited about the community that's being built, is to connect one of the most powerful forces in the world, which is human communities, to the fastest growing place in the world, which is the African continent.” The Afropolitan Podcast highlights Afropolitans who embrace the unknown and walk with purpose. Through this podcast, we aim to empower Africans in the Diaspora to maximize their potential and contribute to the development of a vibrant and progressive black community. In this episode, we chat with Daniel Yu, Founder & CEO of Wasoko, a technology company that is transforming the $600 billion market for essential goods sold through mom-and-pop stores in Africa. Wasoko provides on-demand ordering, delivery, and financing services to these small retailers. Wasoko's platform enables shop owners to place orders at any time via SMS or a mobile app, and offers free same-day delivery of goods directly to their stores. Additionally, Wasoko provides "Pay Later" financing options to support the growth of these shops. The company operates in several African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, and collaborates with major companies such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble. Wasoko has raised over $145 million in equity financing from investors like Tiger Global and Avenir Growth Capital, making it one of the largest tech companies in Africa. Daniel Yu is an entrepreneur and software developer with extensive experience working and traveling in over 65 countries, primarily in emerging economies such as Africa, the Middle East, Central America, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and China. He is skilled at exploring markets and building networks to effectively launch technology-driven businesses. Daniel is conversational or fluent in eight languages: English (native), Mandarin, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, Cantonese, Portuguese, and French. Daniel is passionate about leveraging technology and innovation to transform the retail landscape in emerging economies, empowering small businesses, and making a positive social impact across Africa. Join us as Daniel discusses his journey with Wasoko and the importance of digital technology and services to solve Africa’s supply chain problems. Daniel’s Reading List: 1. Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back by William MacAskill - https://amzn.to/41EnFJj 2. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - https://amzn.to/3IkPMq2 3. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - https://amzn.to/455COGn Show Notes 2:00 Daniel breaks down his background and what led him to Africa as an entrepreneur 3:27 Daniel, as the founder and CEO of Wasako, has been working to transform commerce in Africa and tells us the problem it aims to solve 4:49 Daniel details the monetization model of Wasoko 5:16 Daniel talks about some of the assumptions he had of this commerce model and what challenges he faced going to market 6:54 Daniel talks about the importance of startups to vertical integrate in Africa to ensure successful delivery of their chosen offerings and how the process of building in Africa differs from being in California, where certain aspects are already taken care of, and the focus is primarily on software development 8:20 Daniel explains why he started in certain African countries compared to others and the cultural differences experienced in each country 10:09 Daniel paints the customer onboarding process early on 11:16 Daniel details the early stages of a startup and the struggles you have to go through 12:37 Daniel talks about his educational background and how It informed the work he does today 13:22 Daniel explains how he learnt to be a programmer without completing formal education 14:01 Daniel gives his view on the future of commerce and supply chains evolving in Africa and the role Wasoko will play in the future 16:11 Daniel clarifies the customer acquisition of Wasoko 16:40 Daniel talks about his approach to risk taking and decision making especially in uncertain or rapidly changing environments and the most important qualities or skills that an entrepreneur should possess in order to succeed in today's competitive business landscape, especially in Africa 17:50 Books that have profoundly impacted Daniel’s life 20:17 Daniel gives advice to entrepreneurs hiring talent, especially in markets like Africa where talent may not be highly skilled as places like California and how he addressed these challenges 23:08 Daniel has worked in different industries, including finance, healthcare and technology and breaks down his approach to the process of identifying new opportunities and deciding which ventures to proceed or invest in 24:28 Hypothetical title of a book about Daniel’s life 25:35 Daniel’s perspective on what it means to be Afropolitan The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Connect with Afropolitan: Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

22 MAR 2023 · Quote: "Don't approach entrepreneurship from a position of desperation; instead, build and have leverage." The Afropolitan Podcast highlights Afropolitans who embrace the unknown and walk with purpose. Through this podcast, we aim to empower Africans in the Diaspora to maximize their potential and contribute to the development of a vibrant and progressive black community. In this episode, we chat with Obinna Ukwuani, Chief Digital Officer at the Bank of Kigali Plc, where he drives digital product development to achieve digital financial services objectives. Obinna, born in America with Nigerian roots, studied Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He founded and directed the Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda and NESA by Makers, and now serves as the Founder and Director of Bruk Oil Mills in Enugu. Obinna previously worked at Paystack and shares his entrepreneurship insights in this episode. Obinna is passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and the transformative power of Web3/Blockchain technologies for people worldwide. Join us as Obinna discusses his journey to the Bank of Kigali and the importance of digital technology and services in solving Africa's challenges. Obinna's Reading List: 1. Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson - https://amzn.to/3kD1fbO 2. The Biafra Story: The Making of an African Legend by Frederick Forsyth - https://amzn.to/3Zt7vBN 3. The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis - https://amzn.to/3ICWJlD Show Notes: 1:22 Introduction to the Afropolitan Podcast 1:42 Obinna's background and journey to MIT, earning a BSc in Economics 7:28 Obinna's decision to return to Nigeria and his role in nation-building and creating opportunities 12:09 Obinna's work with the Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda and its impact on the local community 14:14 Obinna shares his first significant encounter with failure and the lessons learned 20:46 Obinna discusses insights from working with Paystack and Bank of Kigali on technology's potential for Africans 24:19 Obinna talks about his experience raising funds for startups and offers advice for first-time founders navigating the fundraising process 28:35 The importance of managing desperation and balance when dealing with investors 31:20 Sam Altman's New Yorker profile and the need for Africa to leapfrog - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/10/sam-altmans-manifest-destiny 38:12 Obinna shares his thoughts on Web3 and Blockchain, addressing skepticism and guiding principles 42:53 Books that have profoundly impacted Obinna's life 50:27 Hypothetical title of a book about Obinna's life 51:35 Obinna's perspective on what it means to be Afropolitan The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Connect with Afropolitan: Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

22 FEB 2023 · Quote - “Founders need to realise that investors love founders that have failed before because it is in your failings, you learn the most.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Kyle Maloney, Co-Founder of Tech Beach; a startup with an active community designed to connect the Caribbean with the Global Technology Ecosystem. Klye studied Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and was exposed to entrepreneurship early on which culminated in Co-founding Tech Beach to offer a much needed service in the region. He is passionate about empowering people and companies in the Caribbean through technology to scale and solve pertinent issues. Listen and enjoy as Kyle talks to us about his journey with Tech Beach, his background and plans for the future. Kyle’s Reading List Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Arthur R. Pell https://amzn.to/3XzOzzZ The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan https://amzn.to/3lFdS6a Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear https://amzn.to/2P8LAvI Show Notes 2:30 Impact of covid and background of Tech Beach 5:58 Context of the Caribbean for startups 7:52 Expansion in the Caribbean compared to Africa 9:07 Fundraising process, challenges and advice 11:32 Recruiting and retaining talent 13:31 Kyle’s background and influences 19:49 Lessons from failure 24:00 Process to find the right mentor within the ecosystem 28:15 Title of the book about your life 30:53 Reading list 32:44 Being Afropolitan 35:03 Future plans The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

15 FEB 2023 · Quote - “There is no joy to be found in playing small and dimming your lights.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Hanu Agbodje, Founder & CEO of PATRICIA; a fintech company founded in 2017 using Blockchain technology to process cryptocurrency transactions in Africa and beyond. Hanu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from University of Port Harcourt and founded PATRICIA after 13 other unsuccessful businesses. He is passionate about crypto and how the technology can solve Africa’s biggest problems and synergise payments. Listen and enjoy as Hanu talks to us about his journey with PATRICIA and ambition to transform alternative payments solutions in Africa. Hanu’s Reading List The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason https://amzn.to/3E3l8iW Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters https://amzn.to/3lt34Iq How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell https://amzn.to/2VzobXM Show Notes 1:23 Patricia's mission and vision for the world 1:58 Recruiting and retaining talent 3:30 The journey to Patricia 9:39 African founders competing anywhere in the world 12:25 What promise cryptocurrency holds for Africa? 15:02 Advice for founders dealing with government regulation 16:25 Dealing with failure and lessons learnt 19:23 Balance between creativity and objectives 20:38 Title of the book about your life 22:07 Other passions aside from Patricia 24:08 Self-care and avoiding burnout 25:07 Reading list 30:41 Being Afropolitan 32:38 Future of Patricia The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

8 FEB 2023 · Quote - “This frail body will house the greatest spirit humanity will ever know.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Tunde Onakoya, Founder of Chess In Slums Africa; a non-profit organisation that utilises the game of chess to educate and empower underprivileged children to achieve far more than their circumstances. Tunde holds a National Diploma in Computer Science from Yaba College of Technology and created Chess in Slums Africa to use chess as a tool to educate and propel the destiny of children out of poverty. He is passionate about equaling the playing field and has a goal to educate 1 million children in slum communities in 5 years. Listen and enjoy as Tunde talks to us about his journey with Chess In Slums Africa and redressing the imbalance in society. Tunde’s Reading List Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations: Ancient Philosophy for Modern Problems by Jules Evans https://amzn.to/3DMbVLF The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty by Clayton M. Christensen, Efosa Ojomo, Karen Dillon https://amzn.to/3DNoFBO Self-Discipline through Ikigai and Kaizen (Longevity and Happiness at Hand) by Mark Morimoto https://amzn.to/3lnLVQb Manifesto for a Moral Revolution Paperback – May 4, 2021 by Jacqueline Novogratz https://amzn.to/3RGYd2i Show Notes 1:29 Background and discovery of chess 4:31 Creation and mission of Chess In Slums Africa 9:07 Impact on children/slums 11:28 Ferdinand with cerebral palsy winning the chess tournament in Makoko 14:17 Partnership with chess.com 16:10 Finding purpose with Chess In Slums Africa 19:42 Fulfilling potential linked to mission of Chess In Slums Africa 22:43 Reading list 25:24 Future plans and how to get involved/support 27:28 Title of the book about your life 28:13 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

1 FEB 2023 · Yida Gao Quote - “Talent is everything for an early stage company and the people they hire early on define the trajectory of the company.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Yida Gao, Managing General Partner of Shima Capital; an early stage crypto and Web3 investment firm. Yida holds a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He previously worked in Wall Street for Morgan Stanley in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. He is passionate about investing in crypto and Web3 companies that chart new territory. Listen and enjoy as Yida Gao talks to us about his journey with Shima Capital and insights on the venture capitalist environment. Yida’s Reading List Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, Kevin Maney https://amzn.to/3jfIPx0 Show Notes 2:02 Journey into crypto 4:10 Shima’s investment thesis and approach to funding startups 6:09 Main criteria to invest in a founder 8:34 Fundraising process for Shima Capital 10:50 Misconceptions about venture capitalists 12:13 VCs inspired by 13:09 Recruiting and retaining talent 14:48 Navigating the fundraising environment 17:25 Process of capital calls 20:20 Best guidance that Shima offers for portfolio companies 23:47 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt 26:25 Reading list 28:14 Title of the book about your life 29:28 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

24 NOV 2022 · Fadekemi Abiru Quote - “Afropolitan is daring to be yourself in a rapidly changing world and not having to ask for permission.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Fadekemi Abiru, Head Of Insights at Stears; a financial data/intelligence company providing subscription-based data/insight to professionals/businesses. Fadekemi holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics. She previously worked as an economist for the UK government and provided analysis on various projects. She is passionate about ensuring that decisions whether in business or government in Africa are driven by real time data and insights to drive critical economic developments. Listen and enjoy as Fadekemi Abiru talks to us about her journey with Stears and the importance of data-driven insights on Africa. Fadekemi’s Reading List All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks https://amzn.to/3EiIoZj Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) by J. K. Rowling https://amzn.to/3OlqtG7 Economics Rules by Dani Rodrik https://amzn.to/3As5j3w Show Notes 1:55 Founding of Stears and its mission 3:10 Plans to cover the 2023 Nigerian elections 8:03 Data-driven insights/expectations on the Nigeria 2023 elections 10:22 How has technology enabled the Stears Elections product 11:12 Significance and likely impact of the Nigerian Electoral Act 2022 on the upcoming elections 12:29 Conducting polls in the future 14:08 Data trends that make this upcoming election different from the last election 15:58 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt 16:02 Title of the book about your life 18:45 Reading list 21:09 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

16 NOV 2022 · Arese Ugwu Quote - “Afropolitan means showcasing the brilliance of Africa on a global stage.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Arese Ugwu, Founder of Smart Money Africa; an edutainment platform providing financial literacy and education for the African millennial. Arese is a graduate from Aston Business School and University College London and has previous experience with leading African financial services brands before transitioning to Smart Money Africa. She is passionate about creating content and avenues that break down financial barriers for African youths especially women. Listen and enjoy as Arese Ugwu talks to us about Smart Money tribe and her thoughts on financial literacy for the African millennial. Arese’s Reading List The Smart Money Woman: An African girl's journey to financial freedom by Arese Ugwu https://amzn.to/3UAVTdJ The Rich Are Different: A Priceless Treasury of Quotations and Anecdotes About the Affluent, the Posh, and the Just Plain Loaded by Jon Winokur https://amzn.to/3AbZSpd Sex and Vanity: A Novel by Kevin Kwan https://amzn.to/3trG6lD Show Notes 1:30 Upbringing and background 2:59 Start of Smart Money Africa 6:35 Challenges/process of self-publishing a book 12:24 Netflix picking up the The Smart Money Woman series 16:26 Balancing multiple roles professionally and personally 17:50 Financial advice for young people 19:11 Season Two of The Smart Money Woman 19:57 First encounter with failure and lesson learnt 20:45 Title of the book about your life 21:45 Reading list 23:20 What does being Afropolitan mean to you 24:00 Beauty of South Africa The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

9 NOV 2022 · Quote - “What I like the most about building in Africa and building for Africa is that everything is so greenfield.” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Nadayar Enegesi, CEO and Co-Founder of Eden Life Inc.; a tech-driven home management platform in Africa providing services such as food, laundry and cleaning. Nadayar is a graduate from University of Waterloo in Canada and has previous experience at Fora Inc. and Andela before transitioning to Eden Life Inc.. He is passionate about upgrading the home lifestyle and bridging the gap between service providers and service demanders through tech. Listen and enjoy as Nadayar Enegesi talks to us about entrepreneurship, Eden Life Inc. and his guiding life principles. Nadayar’s Reading List Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness by Frederic Laloux https://amzn.to/2Jb3qME Bushido: The Way of the Samurai by Tsunetomo Yamamoto https://amzn.to/3FSr4gg Show Notes 1:32 Journey as an entrepreneur 4:56 Time at Andela 6:49 Transition into the role as CEO and Co-Founder of Eden life Inc. 10:35 Process of assembling the founding team 15:48 Fundraising process and advice 19:03 Founders who have influenced you in the tech space 21:42 Reading list 25:12 Recruiting and maintaining talent 30:27 Title of the book about your life 32:49 What does being Afropolitan mean to you 34:38 Impact of Covid-19 The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/

2 NOV 2022 · Quote - “Afropolitan means remembering who we were in the last thousand years at scale” The Afropolitan Podcast spotlights Afropolitans who aren’t afraid to step into the unknown and walk in purpose. With this podcast we hope to empower Africans in the Diaspora to harness their full potential and contribute to the development of a bold and progressive black community. Our guests will share their working formulas, the hard facts about leaving familiar terrain, embracing the unknown, and staying relevant afterwards. This episode features Ibi Cookey, Co-Founder of Fitted; a fashion-tech company revolutionising scalable custom fashion. Ibi is an international business management graduate and a former investment banker. He is passionate about simplifying the custom fashion supply chain for all stakeholders. Listen and enjoy as Ibi Cookey talks to us about entrepreneurship, Fitted and transitioning from investment banking to tech. Show Notes 1:10 Background and transition from investment banking to tech 3:33 Insights gained from private equity 4:46 Transition to Fitted 6:22 What does Fitted solve 8:18 Utilising data from Fitted to solve international measurement challenges at scale 11:11 Fitted’s role in the supply chain ecosystem 13:47 Fundraising challenges and insights 18:11 First encounter with failure and experience learnt 19:56 Title of the book about your life 21:53 What does being Afropolitan mean to you The Afropolitan Podcast is hosted by Eche Emole, co-founder of Afropolitan. Listen and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jamit, or wherever you get your podcasts. Want to learn more about Afropolitan? Twitter - https://twitter.com/afropolitan Website - https://www.afropolitan.io/