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The Connecting Africa Podcast

The Connecting Africa Podcast

By Connecting Africa

This podcast tackles the biggest trends in African tech and interviews local startups disrupting their industries. The hosts are Connecting Africa Editor Paula Gilbert, Associate Editor Matshepo Sehloho and Venture for Africa Co-Founder & CEO Tobi Lafinhan who may come from different geographies and cultural backgrounds but who all have a love of tech and an interest in Africa's startup scene in common. Find the latest news at http://www.connectingafrica.com Connect on Twitter: Paula - @paulajgilbert Tobi - @TobiLafinhan Matshepo - @tsokamatshepo *Season 1 also featured Tien Fu
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S1 Ep. 1 - Creating a fintech giant

The Connecting Africa PodcastSep 30, 2021

00:00
31:35
S3 Ep. 2 - Nigeria's king of micro-payments

S3 Ep. 2 - Nigeria's king of micro-payments

On this episode we speak to Touch and Pay Technologies co-founder and chief growth officer, Michael Oluwole, about how the startup is digitizing and processing microtransactions in Nigeria's transport sector and his aspirations to grow the service across the continent. 

Apr 05, 202444:55
Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 6: Digital priorities of the C-suite

Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 6: Digital priorities of the C-suite

In the newest Cassava Tech Talks podcast we discuss the digital priorities of the C-suite especially when it comes to cybersecurity, cloud, digitization in Africa and how the introduction of AI tools is impacting the market. Guests are Liquid C2 CEO Oswald Jumira and Sabelo Dlamini director of SANReN. #sponsored


Mar 12, 202433:18
S3 Ep. 1 - Trending topics in 2024

S3 Ep. 1 - Trending topics in 2024

The Connecting Africa Podcast is back for season three. In the first episode we discuss startups and companies making their mark across emerging trends like social commerce, artificial intelligence, smartphone affordability and venture into the hot topic of climate tech.

Mar 05, 202434:51
Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 5: Harnessing the power of data centers

Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 5: Harnessing the power of data centers

In the latest Cassava Tech Talks podcast we discuss how African businesses can harness the power of data centers and the importance of data residency. Guests are Africa Data Centres CEO Tesh Durvasula and Dan Thompson, principal research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence. #sponsored  

Jan 25, 202437:01
Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 4: More than mobile money

Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 4: More than mobile money

In the latest Cassava Tech Talks podcast we discuss financial inclusion in Africa and how the ecosystem is evolving beyond just mobile money. Guests are Darlington T Mandivenga, CEO of Sasai, and Kalvin Bahai, Principal Economist at GSMA Intelligence. #sponsored  

Dec 14, 202335:33
Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 3: Connecting the next billion

Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 3: Connecting the next billion

In the latest Cassava Tech Talks podcast we discuss Africa's connectivity mix and how satellite and subsea cables factor into overcoming connectivity gaps on the continent. Guests are David Eurin, CEO of Liquid Dataport, and Dobek Pater, analyst and director at Africa Analysis. #sponsored  

Nov 09, 202335:54
 Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 2: Solving Africa's energy crisis

Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 2: Solving Africa's energy crisis

In the latest Cassava Tech Talks podcast we discuss the role of distributed energy as a solution for Africa's energy crisis. Guests are Norman Moyo, CEO of Distributed Power Africa, and Frost & Sullivan consultant Patrick Prestele. #sponsored

Oct 19, 202336:04
Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 1: Building African Intelligence

Cassava Tech Talks Ep. 1: Building African Intelligence

In the pilot episode of Cassava Tech Talks, powered by Connecting Africa, we discuss the transformative power of technology to reduce the digital divide by leveraging true African Intelligence. Guests are Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, and Hendrik Malan, Managing Partner and CEO of Frost & Sullivan Sub-Saharan Africa. #sponsored

Sep 21, 202336:33
S2 Ep. 10 – Financial inclusion reality check

S2 Ep. 10 – Financial inclusion reality check

On the final episode for season two hosts Tobi Lafinhan, Paula Gilbert and Matshepo Sehloho discuss financial inclusion in Africa and whether fintech services like mobile money are really making the impact they promise.


Aug 28, 202340:46
S2 Ep. 9 – Financial literacy & wealth creation

S2 Ep. 9 – Financial literacy & wealth creation

In this episode we speak to Bamboo co-founder and CEO Richmond Bassey about his fintech app which is giving Africans global investment opportunities and promoting financial literacy to help grow the wealth of the continent and its people.

Jul 27, 202341:22
S2 Ep. 8 – Empowering the African diaspora

S2 Ep. 8 – Empowering the African diaspora

In this episode we speak to Rahim Diallo, founder and CEO of fintech Jawudi, which is shaking up the money transfer space by using 20% of the profits from its remittance service to launch a fund which will invest directly back into startups across Africa.

Jun 30, 202349:05
S2 Ep. 7 - Gender-lens investing

S2 Ep. 7 - Gender-lens investing

In this Connecting Africa Podcast we discuss gender-lens investing in Africa and are joined by Eloho Omame who is the co-founder of FirstCheck Africa.

May 17, 202339:27
S2 Ep. 6 – Breaking into VC

S2 Ep. 6 – Breaking into VC

In this episode the Connecting Africa Podcast team speak to Cindy Ai, co-founder of Dream VC, about why so many young Africans aspire to get into the venture capital game and how her investor accelerator is helping them do that.

Apr 14, 202342:06
S2 Ep. 5 – Next-gen funerals

S2 Ep. 5 – Next-gen funerals

In this episode we speak to South African startup Sendoff's co-founder Zolani Matebese about how the company is digitizing funerals to become Africa's 'Uber for funerals'. 

Mar 07, 202345:51
S2 Ep. 4 – Agri-fintech, from kibbutz to Kenya

S2 Ep. 4 – Agri-fintech, from kibbutz to Kenya

In this episode the Connecting Africa Podcast team speak to Israeli-Kenyan startup Avenews's co-founder and CEO Shalom Ben-Or about his fintech super app that has been built specifically for Africa's agriculture industry.

Feb 01, 202336:34
S2 Ep. 3 – Building fintech in Ghana

S2 Ep. 3 – Building fintech in Ghana

In this episode the Connecting Africa Podcast team speak to BezoMoney co-founder and CEO Mubarak Sumaila for a deep dive into Ghana's fintech ecosystem and how it differs from its counterparts in other African countries.

Dec 15, 202250:57
S2 Ep. 2 – Remittance revolution

S2 Ep. 2 – Remittance revolution

This episode the team chatted to SendSprint founder and CEO Damisi Busari about Africa's remittance market and how she is trying to improve the experience that Africans in the diaspora have with sending money home.

Nov 30, 202243:55
S2 Ep. 1 – Talent wars

S2 Ep. 1 – Talent wars

The Connecting Africa Podcast is back with a new season. We welcome new co-host Matshepo Sehloho to the team and discuss the tech skills gap on the continent. The team chats about Africa's talent pipeline as well as the battle between startups and global giants when it comes to hiring and maintaining that talent.

Nov 03, 202238:47
S1 Ep. 9 – Tackling the digital divide

S1 Ep. 9 – Tackling the digital divide

In the season finale of the Connecting Africa Podcast, the hosts share their insights on Africa's digital divide and what needs to be done to bridge the gap.

Nov 29, 202138:33
S1 Ep. 8 – Edtech for the future of work

S1 Ep. 8 – Edtech for the future of work

In the penultimate episode of Series One, the team discusses education and particularly technology skills training for Africans and our guest is Eyitayo Ogunmola, CEO of Utiva, which is a startup offering digital courses preparing young people for the future of work.

Nov 22, 202135:42
S1 Ep. 7 – Coding for diversity

S1 Ep. 7 – Coding for diversity

This week the team chat to Baratang Miya, founder and CEO of Girlhype, who has been running a coding school for underprivileged girls in South Africa for almost 20 years. She shares her fascinating story about how as a struggling student and mother she fell in love with ICT and has now made a career out of fighting for diversity and inclusion in tech.

Nov 15, 202130:36
S1 Ep. 6 – Rise of the super app

S1 Ep. 6 – Rise of the super app

This week, the Connecting Africa team discusses the rising trend of super apps in Africa with Gozem co-founder, Raphael Dana, who gives us the backstory to the francophone Africa-focused platform that evolved from a ride-hailing service into an integrated app for on-demand transportation, delivery, and cashless payment solutions.

Nov 08, 202134:03
S1 Ep. 5 – AI vs. Humanity

S1 Ep. 5 – AI vs. Humanity

This week Tunisian startup InstaDeep's co-founder Zohra Slim joined the podcast and shared the human story behind the successful artificial intelligence and machine learning startup and how you maintain startup culture even when your company grows.

Nov 01, 202129:18
S1 Ep. 4 – Cutting out the middleman

S1 Ep. 4 – Cutting out the middleman

This week, the team caught up with Amitruck founder and CEO Mark Mwangi. The Kenyan startup has created a digital logistics marketplace and is helping Kenyans secure transport directly from truck drivers and owners by cutting out the need for brokers.

Oct 25, 202135:43
S1 Ep. 3 – Startups, funding & failing fast with Zachariah George

S1 Ep. 3 – Startups, funding & failing fast with Zachariah George

This week the team chat to Startupbootcamp AfriTech co-founder Zachariah George about venture capital and angel investing in Africa and what he is looking for in the next generation of tech startups on the continent.

Oct 19, 202127:29
S1 Ep. 2 – Life, death & affordable legal tech

S1 Ep. 2 – Life, death & affordable legal tech

In the second instalment of the new Connecting Africa Podcast the team chat to Life.file co-founders Sinal Govender and Claire Keet who are approaching legal tech in a very unique way and helping people get their ducks in a row before they die.

Oct 11, 202130:03
S1 Ep. 1 - Creating a fintech giant

S1 Ep. 1 - Creating a fintech giant

This is the pilot episode of the new Connecting Africa Podcast. In this episode the team talk about M-Pesa's origin story, the evolution of mobile money beyond just payments and how telcos are now offering financial services. We also discuss the rise of the African 'Super App' and whether the continent is embracing crypto currencies.

Sep 30, 202131:35