In this inspiring episode of Nairobi Gold Rush, I, Scott Noel (CTO of SafeBoda), sit down with Esther Manthi, the brilliant founder and CEO of Brains for AI — a Kenyan startup on a mission to accelerate AI adoption through education and training.Brains for AI is pioneering AI literacy in Kenya, offering specialized training for high school students and corporate teams, ensuring that the next generation — and today’s workforce — are not left behind in the global AI revolution.Esther shares how she’s creating opportunities for young Kenyans to learn cutting-edge technologies, the challenges of scaling AI education in Africa, and her vision for Kenya becoming a tech-driven economy on par with countries like the USA.This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about tech education, innovation in Africa, and the power of women-led startups changing the future of the continent.#NairobiGoldRush#BrainsForAI#EstherManthi#ScottNoel#AIinAfrica#AIinKenya#TechInAfrica#AfricanInnovation#WomenInTech#EdTechAfrica#Kenya#Safeboda

In this episode of Nairobi Gold Rush, I sit down with Geoffrey Maina, Cofounder and CEO of Lipad, to dive deep into the future of merchant services and digital payments in Kenya. We explore Geoffrey’s career journey—from corporate life to building one of the most promising fintech platforms on the continent.Lipad is reimagining how businesses in Africa operate by offering an all-in-one tool that simplifies payments, reporting, and daily business management. Whether you're a startup, SME, or licensed financial institution, Lipad is creating scalable infrastructure for the future of commerce.💡 We talk about:The motivation behind founding LipadChallenges in building digital infrastructure for African businessesThe importance of partnerships with banks and PSPsThe future of payments in Kenya and beyond#KenyaTech #FintechAfrica #NairobiStartups #DigitalPayments #MerchantTools #StartupStories #CTOChat #Lipad #AfricanInnovation #NairobiGoldRush

In this episode of The Nairobi Gold Rush Podcast, I sit down with Martin Tumusiime, the inspiring Founder and CEO of Yo-Waste — Uganda’s pioneering waste management startup using on-demand tech to transform how trash is collected in East Africa.Martin shares the gritty reality behind building a logistics startup in an industry dominated by entrenched cartels and outdated systems. From negotiating with local authorities to overcoming powerful mafias controlling waste routes, Martin walks us through the unexpected politics of garbage and how Yo-Waste is breaking through with smart scheduling, customer apps, and a mission to clean up cities sustainably.We discuss:The two core services Yo-Waste offers: scheduled pickups & on-demand recyclingThe critical need for route exclusivity and how that invites cartel interferenceThe challenges of scaling a tech company in a broken infrastructure ecosystemWhat it's like to be a founder in East Africa’s booming but tough startup sceneIf you care about urban innovation, green tech, or what it takes to build a startup in Africa, this episode is a must-listen. 👇🎧 Subscribe to the Nairobi Gold Rush Podcast for more conversations with the boldest founders reshaping Africa’s future.#YoWaste #MartinTumusiime #NairobiGoldRush #AfricanStartups #UrbanInnovation #GreenTech #WasteTech #TechForGood #EastAfrica #StartupLife #WasteRevolution #uganda #safeboda