PODCAST · technology
African Tech Roundup Podcast
by African Tech Roundup
The essential guide to Africa's technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems. Since 2015, co-founders Andile Masuku and Musa Kalenga have convened the continent's most influential voices — from startup founders and investors to policymakers and tech leaders — delivering bold, pan-African insights with a global perspective. Whether you're building, investing, or leading in African tech, this is where the conversation happens.
Episodes
-
Nikolai Barnwell: Why PawaPay bet on mobile money over cards, and stayed out of the fintech boom
Episode overview: Nikolai Barnwell has been resident in Kenya since 2009, and he watched the African mobile money story arrive in real time. Fresh out of university, he joined the early Africa-focused fund 88mph as a programme manager, helping build what is now Nairobi Garage, and got a front-row...
-
Russell Southwood: An outsider's take on 25 years of Africa's digital story
Episode overview: Russell Southwood has been watching Africa's digital story unfold since 2000, when the number of people involved in the continent's internet could be counted in the hundreds. Armed with yellow pages and a willingness to show up unannounced at ISP offices across Kenya, Zimbabwe,...
-
Seyi Ebenezer of Payaza: Bookkeeping is the new black
Episode overview: Seyi Ebenezer didn't come to fintech from a hackathon or an accelerator. He came from KPMG's audit desks and Access Bank's corporate finance floors. These are environments where the numbers had to add up before anyone was allowed to dream out loud. That training shows in...
-
Natasha Blycha of Stirling & Rose / Nooriam / LexChip: Why AI without law is just code without conscience
Episode overview: Natasha Blycha's path into emerging technology law started in an unlikely place. As a gap-year volunteer teaching English and economics at a school outside Gweru, Zimbabwe, circa 2000, she was simultaneously working for a small rural law firm on constitutional questions — an...
-
Prince Nwadeyi of SAG Ventures: Building solutions corporates need but won't execute themselves
Episode overview: Prince Nwadeyi spent years providing market research that unlocked South Africa's R600 billion (~USD 34.4 billion) informal economy for blue-chip clients. The likes of Swiss Re, Liberty, NASPERS all wanted the insights. Few wanted the execution risk. In conversation with Andile...
-
April Long of Pyxis: Why serving bulk traders beats saving SMEs in Africa-China trade
Episode overview: April Long spent two years fighting reality. The co-founder and CEO of "Afro-Asia Cross-border payment infrastructure" startup Pyxis was so determined to serve Africa's small merchants - the "bottom of the pyramid" she'd read about in Harvard Business Review - that she nearly...
-
Andrew Hall of Paratus Namibia: Building Networks Serving Small Populations Across Vast Distances
Episode overview: Andrew Hall faces a unique challenge: building profitable telecommunications infrastructure across one of Africa's largest countries with one of its smallest populations. As managing director of Paratus Namibia, Hall oversees operations spanning vast distances where traditional...
-
East Meets Africa: Bernard Laurendeau on Curating African Opportunity For Japanese Investors
Episode overview: Bernard Laurendeau has a mission: to stop African business leaders from asking for "patient capital." The Ethiopian-French management consultant, now operating from Tokyo, believes this standard pitch fundamentally misunderstands how global investment works and fails African...
-
World-class Design: Guidione Machava on Why 'African Designer' Is a Limiting Label
Episode overview: Guidione Machava has a confession: he's tired of being called an "African designer." The Mozambican product designer, now based in France and fresh from stints at Shopify and Paris-based 23point5, reckons that geographic qualifiers automatically strip away a third of your...
-
Strategy Diaries: Wabo Majavu on Balancing Commercial Success with Digital Inclusion
Episode overview: In this conversation, South African strategist Wabo Majavu, executive strategy and business operations leader at Africa Data Centres, unpacks how technical expertise at organisations like MTN and Intelsat laid the foundation for her distinctive approach to strategic leadership…
more -
Ola Oyetayo of Verto: Building a Profitable Cross-Border Fintech for Emerging Markets
Episode overview: In this conversation, Verto co-founder and CEO Ola Oyetayo shares the journey of building a cross-border payments platform that tackles the unique challenges African businesses face when making international transactions. Since graduating from Y Combinator in 2019, Verto has...
-
Innovating Venture Building Support: David Ogundeko on Funema’s Vision for Backing African Ventures
Episode overview: In this conversation, David Ogundeko shares the journey of Funema, an impact-focused alternative investment firm operating for nine years across Nigeria, South Africa, and the US. He discusses his approach to venture building for early-stage founders, why Africa needs a unique...
-
Adapt or Be Left Behind: Marie Lora-Mungai on AI and the Future of African Filmmaking
Meet Marie Lora-Mungai, expert advisor in African creative industries and sports business and founder of Restless Global - whose 20-year journey from CNN journalist to production company founder to industry advisor gives her a unique vantage point on Africa's creative economy. In…
more -
From Policy to Independent Media: Fatu Ogwuche on Creative Storytelling in Tech
Episode overview: In this conversation, Fatu Ogwuche shares insights into her transition from working at Meta and consulting for Nigeria's Electoral Commission to launching her own media platform, Big Tech This Week. She discusses her entrepreneurial spirit, creative approach to storytelling, and...
-
Carrier Neutral: How Unicorn Factory Aims to Open Up Africa’s Internet Infrastructure
This episode features an engaging conversation with Rob Bergman, Chief Investment Officer at Unicorn Factory, exploring the nuanced intersection of digital infrastructure investment and internet connectivity ecosystem development across Africa. Episode overview: Andile Masuku engages with Bergman...
-
Inside Money & Moves: Tinashe Mukogo On Merging Corporate Expertise With Independent Media
Episode Overview: This episode features a relaxed, peer-to-peer conversation between two media entrepreneurs—African Tech Roundup co-founder and executive producer Andile Masuku, and Money & Moves founder and writer Tinashe Mukogo. They explore how Mukogo draws on his background in consulting...
-
Joshua Bicknell On How Balloon Ventures' 'Boring Business' Portfolio Drives 0.5% Of Uganda's GDP
Episode Overview: This episode features a deep conversation with Joshua Bicknell, co-founder of Balloon Ventures, exploring how the organisation evolved from a non-profit connecting young people with informal entrepreneurs to becoming a financial institution that's deployed over $14 million in...
-
Ochuko Ogra On Backbone Connectivity Network's (BCN) Nigeria Growth Strategy
This episode features a brief check-in with Ochuko Ogra, Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer at Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), sketching Nigeria's digital infrastructure landscape. Episode overview: BCN has over 1,000 km of wholly-owned fibre infrastructure, primarily in the...
-
Alan Knott-Craig Jr On Life After Mxit's Royal Fail (2016)
Listen in as Alan Knott-Craig Jr, son of Alan Sr, the pioneering co-founder and first CEO of Vodacom, one of South Africa's leading mobile network operators, and later the feisty CEO of challenger telco Cell C—takes us through a transformative career moment that set the stage for his future...
-
Building Bridges: Maya Horgan Famodu's Silicon Valley-Africa Crossing Playbook (2017)
Episode overview This unfiltered 2017 archive dialogue captures Maya Horgan Famodu (Founder and Partner, Ingressive Capital) before she became known for straight-talking LinkedIn posts about founder insights and personal growth. Fresh from investment banking, she was forging new pathways between...
-
Talent Tales: Ethiopia's Quiet Tech Rise vs Nigeria's Developer Gold Rush (2018)
As we wind down 2024, we're diving into our archives to serve up some memorable throwback conversations. Whether you're a long-time listener revisiting these gems or discovering them for the first time, these conversations capture pivotal moments in Africa's tech journey. In today's episode…
more -
Why Carbon CEO Chijioke Dozie Is Ditching Nigeria's Free Banking Playbook
Meet Chijioke Dozie, the co-founder steering Carbon through Nigeria's increasingly noisy neobank scene. In this candid chat with Andile Masuku, Dozie makes a case for zigging while others zag—specifically, charging for value while competitors burn cash on free services. It's a stance that might...
-
Ambar Van Der Wath Unpacks Baobab Network's $20K Toe-Dipping Investment Proposition
Ambar van der Wath—who leads investor relations at one of Africa's leading accelerator slash VC firms, Baobab Network—discusses with Andile Masuku how the firm is creating accessible entry points for cautious investors interested in early-stage African tech startups. Episode Overview: Picture…
more -
Koltronics Nigeria's Lanre Kolade and the inside story of Google's Equiano cable landing in Togo
This episode features an illuminating dialogue with Lanre Kolade, Chairman of ConnectedCompute, CEO of Koltronics Nigeria and former CEO of CSquared, exploring the intricate dynamics of infrastructure development and digital transformation across Africa. Episode overview: Andile Masuku engages…
more -
This Is Connectivity a la VC With Accion Venture Lab's Jasiel Martin-Odoom
This episode features a candid conversation with Jasiel Martin-Odoom, Africa Investment Officer at Accion Venture Lab, exploring the intersection of venture capital and connectivity-focused content creation and ecosystem building in African tech. Episode overview: Andile Masuku sits down with...
-
Victor Mapunga On Building From First Principles In Africa's 'Tech Graveyard'
In a landscape where African tech startups often chase buzzwords and quick wins, some founders are taking a more fundamental approach to innovation. This episode explores how one Zimbabwean entrepreneur is building sustainable tech ventures by focusing on first principles. Episode overview: In…
more -
Britam Director Shares Strategy on Modernising Insurance for Africa's Digital Age
In a rapidly evolving financial services landscape, traditional African insurers are racing to modernise their operations and product offerings to meet changing consumer needs. This episode explores how one of East Africa's largest insurance providers is navigating this transformation. Episode...
-
Safaricom Ethiopia's Network Chief on Building Network Infrastructure From Scratch
In October 2022, Safaricom launched its telecommunications services in Ethiopia, marking a major milestone as the first private operator to enter the Ethiopian telecom market. This move broke the long-standing monopoly of state-owned Ethio Telecom and was seen by many as a significant step…
more -
Future in the Humanities EP 2/3: Everybody Gets a Conspiracy
In this episode, Wits University media researchers Samuel Olaniran and Iginio Gagliardone guide an audio tour into the complex world of conspiracy theories in the era of social media and global crises. Drawing from multiple research findings and expert dialogues, Andile Masuku (host) grapples…
more -
Future in the Humanities EP 3/3: Slave Ride
In the third and final episode of the Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series, titled "The Gig Economy's Hidden Costs", Wits social scientist and researcher Fikile Masikane guides an exploration of the complex realities facing gig workers in the Global South, particularly food courier riders...
-
Future in the Humanities EP 1/3: Touching Brains
In the opening episode of the Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series, titled "Touching Brains", Wits University research collaborators Sahba Besharati and Victoria Williams let us in on their multidisciplinary exploration of the complex impact of COVID-19 on human interaction and touch....
-
Digital Transformation Pulse Check: Undersea Cable, Remote Power Supply & Terrestrial Fibre Optic
In this special edition of the African Tech Roundup podcast, taped at the fringes of the inaugural Africa Digital Transformation Strategy Summit (convened by NOVACOM Summits), Refiloe Mpakanyane investigates the state of digital transformation in Africa through conversation with four seasoned...
-
ATRUC S2 EP4: Can AI be trusted? with Jania Okwechime & Wessel Oosthuizen
In this African Tech Conversations episode, guest host Kate Bryne chats with avid AI proponents Jania Okwechime (Partner at Deloitte - West Africa Data Analytics Leader) and Wessel Oosthuizen (AI Lead - Deloitte Analytics). Listen in for deep insights about the pros and pitfalls of AI and to…
more -
UNAJUA S13 EP3: Is the "play-to-earn" trend over-hyped? feat. Kate Byrne
In this UNAJUA episode, Kate Byrne parses through majorly-hyped trends like "play-to-earn" to pinpoint the true potential of the extraordinary new level of connectivity and engagement enabled by applied Web3 technologies. This podcast is the third and final instalment of the three-part UNAJUA...
-
UNAJUA S13 EP2: How is the world taking to the crypto meltdown? feat. Kate Byrne
In this UNAJUA episode, Kate Byrne gauges the ongoing fallout of the current global meltdown in crypto markets and speaks on the current international tenor in crypto adoption. This is the second instalment of a three-part UNAJUA Series focused on distilling a handful of global Web3 buzz trends...
-
UNAJUA S13 EP1: Are NFTs over? feat. Kate Byrne
This is the first episode of a UNAJUA Series focused on distilling a handful of global Web3 buzz trends like crypto, NFTs, the metaverse and even AI— reflecting how they are unfolding within an African context. Offering minimum viable insight in this series is the inimitable Kate Byrne. Kate has...
-
UNAJUA S12 EP3: What is 'Delegated Proof of Stake'? feat. Jordan Muthemba
This is the final episode of the three-part UNAJUA Series focused on what sets blockchains apart. Seasoned Kenyan blockchain developer and Web3 enthusiast Jordan Muthemba is on strike for this series. In this podcast, Jordan Muthemba explains how blockchain (network) users vote and elect…
more -
UNAJUA S12 EP2: What are 'Proof of Work' and 'Proof of Stake'? feat. Jordan Muthemba
This is Part 2 of a three-part UNAJUA Series focused on what sets blockchains apart from each other. Seasoned Kenyan blockchain developer and Web3 enthusiast Jordan Muthemba shares insights on this series. Jordan is a full-stack developer with over five years of experience in Kenya's buzzy IT...
-
UNAJUA S12 EP1: Are all blockchains the same? feat. Jordan Muthemba
This is Part 1 of a three-part UNAJUA Series focused on what distinguishes different types of blockchains from each other. Seasoned Kenyan blockchain developer and Web 3 venture builder Jordan Muthemba shares insights on this series. Jordan is a full-stack developer with over five years…
more -
Gqom: The Babusi Nyoni Story
This special piece of podcast storytelling offers a compelling glimpse into the heart and mind of one of Africa's most gifted multi-hyphenate technological innovators, Babusi Nyoni. Babusi is a Zimbabwean creative technologist, social entrepreneur and gqom producer with an extraordinary personal...
-
ATRUC S2 EP3: Journey Into The Cryptoverse With Hope Ditlhakanyane & Nzwisisa Chidembo
Standing in for Musa Kalenga on this African Tech Conversations instalment is Andile Masuku, whose day job is serving as Head of Community at Founders Factory Africa (FFA). Andile extends a recent lunch break exchange he had with his FFA colleagues Hope Ditlhakanyane (Head of Venture Sourcing)…
more -
UNAJUA S11 EP3: How do you vet the investment worthiness of blockchain startups?
This is the final episode of a three-part UNAJUA Series focused on the Blockchain Africa investment opportunity, featuring venture capitalist Hope Ditlhakanyane and venture builder Nzwisisa Chidembo. In their respective roles at hybrid investor, venture builder and accelerator company, Founders...
-
UNAJUA S11 EP2: Crypto as a personal investment opportunity? ft. Hope Ditlhakanyane & Nzwi Chidembo
This is the second episode of a three-part UNAJUA Series focused on the Blockchain Africa investment opportunity, featuring the passionate South African venture capitalist Hope Ditlhakanyane and seasoned Zimbabwean venture builder Nzwisisa Chidembo. In their respective roles at hybrid investor,...
-
UNAJUA S11 EP1: Is African VC into blockchain tech? ft. Hope Ditlhakanyane & Nzwisisa Chidembo
This is the first episode of a three-part UNAJUA Series dealing with investing in African blockchain tech. And we're stoked because it's the first to feature two voices. The first voice you'll hear is that of Hope Ditlhakanyane. Hope is a venture capital pro helping African tech founders land the...
-
BONUS: Can PAXFUL deliver on being Africa's 'Uber for money'? feat. Ray Youssef
This throwback bonus episode features a chat with Ray Youssef taped in 2019. Ray is Co-founder and CEO of Paxful, a US-headquartered peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace he dubbed at the time the "Uber for money" with a mission to “make the poor rich”. (A rambunctious ambition, to be sure.) That…
more -
ATRUC S2 EP2: Convening 'Blockchain Africa' proponents with Sonya Kuhnel
This African Tech Conversations episode features Sonya Kuhnel. In 2014, Sonya co-founded Bitcoin Events, a company that hosts some of South Africa's leading cryptocurrency and blockchain events - not least, the annual Blockchain Africa Conference. Sonya is also the Co-founder at Xago, a startup...
-
UNAJUA S10 EP3: Should you set up a DAO? feat. Justin Irabor
Thinking about starting or joining a DAO? In the last of a three-part share focusing on how DAOs work, Nigerian creator, scientist and knowledge worker Justin Irabor offers a handy take about whether or not you should. OP-ED: How African Digital Currency Innovation Found Roots in a Village by...
-
BONUS: Binance is bullish on the 'Blockchain Africa' opportunity feat. Emmanuel Babalola
Self-taught software developer and serial digital product creator Emmanuel Babalola is Director for Africa at the world's largest crypto exchange, Binance. Emmanuel is also the interim CEO of a social payments app for cash and crypto called Bundle. In this conversation with Musa Kalenga, Emmanuel...
-
UNAJUA S10 EP2: How do you set up a DAO? feat. Justin Irabor
This is the second of a three-part share explaining how DAOs work. In this episode, Nigerian creator, scientist and knowledge worker Justin Irabor offers pointers on setting up a DAO. OP-ED: How African Digital Currency Innovation Found Roots in a Village by Michael Kimani for Kenyan Wallstreet...
-
UNAJUA S10 EP1: Why DAO? feat. Justin Irabor
This is the first episode of a three-part UNAJUA series that explains how Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) work. Nigerian creator, scientist, and knowledge worker Justin Irabor presents the series. On this podcast, Justin tackles the question, Why DAO? by offering reasons why…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The essential guide to Africa's technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems. Since 2015, co-founders Andile Masuku and Musa Kalenga have convened the continent's most influential voices — from startup founders and investors to policymakers and tech leaders — delivering bold, pan-African insights with a global perspective. Whether you're building, investing, or leading in African tech, this is where the conversation happens.
HOSTED BY
African Tech Roundup
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does African Tech Roundup Podcast have?
African Tech Roundup Podcast currently has 370 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is African Tech Roundup Podcast about?
The essential guide to Africa's technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems. Since 2015, co-founders Andile Masuku and Musa Kalenga have convened the continent's most influential voices — from startup founders and investors to policymakers and tech leaders — delivering bold, pan-African...
How often does African Tech Roundup Podcast release new episodes?
African Tech Roundup Podcast publishes regularly with 370 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to African Tech Roundup Podcast?
You can listen to African Tech Roundup Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts African Tech Roundup Podcast?
African Tech Roundup Podcast is created and hosted by African Tech Roundup.
URL copied to clipboard!