Welcome to Startup Leap! In this episode, we dive deep into the journeys of student founders from undergraduates to PhDs who have turned their academic projects, wild ideas at university into industry-transforming startups.

Join us as Maria and Yvonne bring real stories from founders like the co-founder of Shazam, fintech innovators, and graduates who took the bold step to build their companies even before completing their studies. Hear insights from entrepreneurs across various industries, their experiences during their MBAs, and the critical decisions they faced. Whether you're a curious student or a future founder, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice to help you take the leap.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:17 Diving into Founder Stories

01:08 Shazam: From MBA Project to Apple Acquisition

02:33 Luna: The MBA Entrepreneurship Project

03:34 Finding Your Path in Entrepreneurship

05:19 Gravity Sketch: From Academic Research to Startup

07:58 Josh Sandler: Accidental Entrepreneur to Serial Founder

09:38 Carmelle's Financial Tech Journey

11:12 Ivan Beckley: Medical Student to Health Tech Founder

12:18 Riham Satti: Neuroscientist to Tech Founder

13:12 Founder Dilemma: To Leap or Not to Leap

17:06 Benjamin Fernandez: Young FinTech Visionary

19:58 Dare Okodjou: Raising Capital from Classmates

21:30 Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Youtube: https://youtu.be/tALAnfyiZ1M

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#StartupLeap #StartupStories #Founders #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #TechStartups #StudentFounders #BusinessSuccess #Innovation #StartupMindset #FounderJourney #BuildTheFuture

In this episode of The Startup Leap, Maria and Yvonne sit down with Tessa Clarke, co-founder of Olio, the mission-driven app turning surplus food into community sharing. With over 7 million users in 60 countries, OLIO is tackling the global food waste crisis while proving that purpose-driven businesses can scale.

Tessa shares:

✅ Her journey from senior leadership at Dyson to startup founder

✅ The “light bulb” moment that sparked OLIO

✅ Navigating brutal fundraising rounds and finding conviction-based investors

✅ Building a thriving consumer marketplace

✅ Balancing profit and purpose while scaling globally

✅ Lessons from becoming a B Corp certified company

Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, building marketplaces, or scaling mission-driven startups, this conversation is packed with insights you can use.

📍 Timestamps

00:00 Fundraising Challenges in the Early Days

01:23 The Light Bulb Moment: Birth of OLIO

02:41 From Corporate Career to Startup Life

04:13 The Global Food Waste Problem

07:18 Early Market Research and Validation

10:27 Monetization Strategies and Challenges

14:36 Fundraising Journey and Investor Criteria

18:39 Personal Growth and Resilience

22:42 Building a Consumer Marketplace

34:48 Balancing Profit and Purpose

39:28 Final Reflections and Founder Advice

Youtube: https://youtu.be/nw1zCqhm9o0

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#OlioApp #TessaClarke #FoodWaste #Sustainability #Bcorp #MissionDrivenBusiness #StartupStories #Entrepreneurship #TheStartupLeap #MariaRotilu #YvonneBajela #MarketplaceStartups #ScalingStartups #ImpactBusiness

Join us in this riveting episode as we dive into the extraordinary journey of Benjamin, the founder and CEO of NALA, one of the fastest-growing fintech companies focused on building infrastructure for emerging markets. From humorous encounters with the police to the hustle of raising funds after a major co-founder setback, Benjamin's story is one of resilience, innovation, and faith.

Discover how he transitioned from being a TV host in Tanzania to creating a fintech powerhouse through sheer determination and a vision to make financial services more equitable across Africa and beyond. Don't miss Benjamin's inspiring insights on building a personal brand, navigating regulatory challenges, and the critical role of customer focus in scaling a startup. This is an episode packed with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and founders alike.

00:00 Introduction and Unexpected Encounter

00:14 Journey to YCombinator and Co-Founder Crisis

00:28 Building NALA: Overcoming Doubts and Challenges

00:38 Navigating Emerging Markets and Africa's Perception

01:08 Faith and Founding NALA

01:55 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights

05:01 Customer Stories and Early Struggles

06:48 From TV Personality to FinTech Founder

09:45 Business School Hustle and Early NALA Days

14:35 Pivots and Persistence: The Road to Success

28:02 The Turning Point: From Angel Checks to VC Rejections

28:24 Building the Dream Team: Key Hires and Strategic Moves

30:00 Navigating the Pandemic: Pivots and Challenges

32:56 Facing Doubts: Investor Skepticism and Self-Belief

34:25 Dilemmas and Decisions: Expansion vs. Depth

38:20 The Evolution of RAFIKI: From Consumer to Infrastructure

44:16 Compliance and Scaling: Navigating Global Regulations

46:48 Talent and Team Building: Finding the Right People

49:41 Positioning and Perception: Building a Global Business from Africa

56:55 Reflections and Advice: Bold Moves and Key Resources

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Youtube: https://youtu.be/b6NGIGCT-Tk

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#StartupPodcast #FounderJourney #FintechInnovation #Nala #EmergingMarkets #AfricaTech #StartupStories #FounderInsights #ZeroToOne #MissionDriven #StartupJourney #ResilientLeadership #VentureStories #FintechForTheFuture

In this episode of The Startup Leap, we sit down with Coen, the founder of Tyme Bank, to discuss the incredible journey of building a digital bank in Africa and expanding into Southeast Asia. Coen shares the challenges of creating a bank without traditional elements like paper, cash, or ATMs, and how they achieved profitability in just five years despite raising initial capital from over 250 potential investors. We delve into the importance of partnerships, customer trust, and innovative distribution strategies that have led to serving 17 million customers and onboarding half a million new users every month. Coen also provides insights into navigating regulatory landscapes, making tough decisions in capital-constrained markets, and the role of personal growth in effective leadership.

Tune in for a deep dive into the world of digital banking, financial inclusion, and future expansion plans.

00:00 The Vision of a Paperless Bank

00:19 Overcoming Funding Challenges

00:55 Rapid Growth and Expansion

01:23 The Importance of Local Partnerships

01:51 Introduction to the Interview

02:13 Describing Coen's Leadership Style

03:28 The Story of Sisyphus and Startup Life

05:46 The Origin of Tyme Bank

07:30 Building a Digital Bank from Scratch

17:57 The Role of Humility in Customer Understanding

19:04 Challenges in Retail Partnerships

25:46 Expanding into Southeast Asia

29:06 Market Expansion Strategies

29:38 Balancing Growth and Profitability

30:33 Navigating Financial Challenges

33:36 Founder Dilemma: Push or Step Back?

37:46 Leadership and Ethical Frameworks

39:54 Evolving Business Vision

45:26 Regulatory Navigation in FinTech

49:02 Distribution vs. Product Focus

53:27 Future of Finance: Crypto and Blockchain

54:49 Time Bank's Future Plans

56:10 Quickfire Questions and Wrap-Up

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Youtube: https://youtu.be/mjJkn-1bzDk

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#DigitalBanking #Fintech #TymeBank #StartupJourney #AfricaTech #Entrepreneurship #FinancialInclusion #AfricanStartups #GlobalExpansion #SouthAfricaTech #StartupLeadership #VCFunding #ScalingStartups #CustomerCentricity #StartupStories

In this special episode we dive into the journeys of two exceptional entrepreneurs: Riham Satti, an Oxford Neuroscientist turned founder of MeVitae an AI startup bringing fairness to the workplace, and Dhiraj Mukherjee, co-founder of Shazam, one of the world's first music recognition apps, 2billion downloads, acquired by Apple for $400m+ in 2018.

Hosted by Maria and Yvonne, this episode explores the trials, triumphs, and learnings of these founders. Discover Riham's accidental plunge into entrepreneurship and the strategic decisions that fueled her company's growth. Hear Dhiraj's insights on fundraising during tumultuous times and the importance of relentless drive and vision in successful founders.

We also delve into dilemmas faced by founders, such as handling risky partnerships and co-founder challenges. Tune in for valuable advice on balancing personal and professional life, the significance of storytelling, and the power of tech for good.

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:17 Meet the Founders: Riham and Dhiraj

04:33 Riham's (MeVitae) Journey to Entrepreneurship

08:19 Dhiraj's (Shazam) Entrepreneurial Path

13:22 Fundraising Insights and Strategies

16:56 Partnerships and Business Models

20:09 Listener Dilemma: Navigating Partnerships

21:25 Shazam's Early Days and Apple's Acquisition for $400m+

22:59 Co-Founder Dilemma: Trust and Progress

24:09 Navigating Co-Founder Relationships

26:08 Lessons Learned from Entrepreneurial Journeys

29:12 Tech for Good and Identifying Potential

32:22 Lightning Round: Misconceptions and Admired Figures

34:43 Forming Early Stage Teams and Acquisition Strategies

37:41 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

40:05 Future Plans and Closing Remarks

46:25 Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs

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Youtube: https://youtu.be/PjBimaAuiEM

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#StartupLeap #Shazam #MeVittae #Entrepreneurship #TechForGood #AIStartup #FounderLessons #RihamSatti #DhirajMukherjee #StartupAdvice #CoFounderTips #FundraisingTips #StartupJourney #SiliconValley #AppleAcquisition #MariaAndYvonne

In this episode, we hear from Dare Okodjou, founder of Onafriq, Africa’s largest digital payments network, formerly MFS Africa. 500 million wallets across 42 countries, over $300m raised in funding. This episode is drenched in depth of experience. Perfect for founders whether early or later in their journey.

Dare shares his entrepreneurial journey from working at MTN Group, leading mobile money innovations, to founding Onafriq in 2009 with the vision of making cross-border payments seamless.

The conversation delves into the challenges faced in the early days, including navigating work permits and bond loan issues, assembling a team, and raising initial funds. Dare discusses the strategic moves behind the rebranding to Onafriq, key partnerships, the role of culture and people in scaling operations across Africa, and the significance of maintaining focus. He also talks about future opportunities in the mobile money payment space, the role of stable coins, and his personal strategies for managing stress and maintaining work-life balance.

00:00 Introduction to Startup Challenges

00:40 Meet Dare Okodjou: FinTech Pioneer

01:24 The Birth of Onafriq

01:42 The Meaning Behind the Name

04:16 Early Challenges and Decisions

09:35 Building the Team and Raising Capital

15:34 Strategic Partnerships and Growth

20:46 Defining Moments and Lessons Learned

26:39 Scaling Across Diverse Markets

27:47 The Importance of Pan-African Coverage

29:52 Future of Mobile Money Payments

37:05 Acquisitions and Expansion Strategy

42:59 Managing a Diverse Team

46:25 Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs

🎧 Don’t miss this important conversation share with any early stage founder or builder

Youtube: https://youtu.be/m3fdWDT7Nxk

👉 Tell us what you think in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

#DareOkoudjou #Onafriq #FinTechAfrica #MobileMoneyInnovation #PanAfricanPayments #StartupScaling #AfricanEntrepreneurs #DigitalFinanceAfrica #FromMTNtoOnafriq #FinTechLeadership

Join us in this compelling episode as we sit down with Josh Sandler, co-founder of Lori and Founder and CEO of TruTax.

Josh shares his transformative journey from building Lori, an on-demand logistics and trucking company in East Africa, to founding TruTax, a venture leveraging AI to optimize tax compliance. Learn about his entrepreneurial lessons, personal growth, and the critical mistakes that shaped his path.

Dive into his reflections on team building, culture, and managing intense environments, and discover how meditation and self-care have become cornerstones of his strategy.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or intrigued by the challenges of scaling in emerging markets, this episode offers invaluable insights.

00:00 Introduction and Initial Struggles

00:35 Meet Josh Sandler: Entrepreneurial Journey

02:02 Founding Lori: Challenges and Lessons

04:51 Scaling and Market Dynamics

06:41 Transition to True Tax and Personal Growth

13:34 Building Effective Teams and Company Culture

15:43 Navigating Tax Compliance and Future Plans

18:06 Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs

25:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Don’t miss this important conversation share with any early stage founder or builder

Youtube - https://youtu.be/VBh5pO-Lqjw

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📩 Have questions? Drop them in the comments – we’d love to keep the conversation going!

💟 What part of this episode did you love? Tell us in the comments!

#JoshSandler #LoriSystems #TruTax #EntrepreneurshipJourney #EmergingMarketsStartup #AIinTax #StartupLessons #TeamCultureLeadership #EastAfricaTech #FoundersInsights

Join us for an insightful conversation with Victor, the founder and CEO of Raenest, as he shares his inspiring journey from a self-taught software developer in Nigeria to leading a pioneering Fintech company powering remote African workers, that recently raised a $10M Series A round led by QED.

Discover how Victor's background in engineering and his unique perspective on the challenges faced by Africa's remote workforce led to the creation of Raenest, a platform aimed at revolutionizing payments for remote workers.

Learn about his experiences in fundraising, building a global product from Africa, and navigating partnerships and compliance to bring his vision to life. Don't miss out on Victor's valuable insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts.

00:00 Introduction to Upwork's Freelancing Landscape

00:15 Building a Startup: From Idea to Execution

00:43 Fundraising and Early Challenges

01:10 Victor's Background and Early Interests

03:29 Learning and Growing in the Tech Industry

08:32 Identifying and Solving Payment Problems

13:53 Forming the Founding Team

16:39 Pivoting the Business Model

22:12 Navigating Customer Onboarding and Compliance

24:18 Strategic Partnerships with Banks

25:01 Investing in Compliance for Longevity

25:37 Fundraising Journey and Lessons Learned

28:55 Building Relationships with Investors

33:48 Future of African Remote Workforce

36:15 Challenges and Opportunities for African Founders

39:58 Reflecting on the Journey and Advice for Founders

🎧 Don’t miss this important conversation share with any early stage founder or builder

👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more real world expert startup advice!

📩 Have questions? Drop them in the comments – we’d love to keep the conversation going!

Want to suggest a topic for us to cover? Tell us in the comments!

Youtube: https://youtu.be/a3EqObwEbAU

#FinTechAfrica #VictorAlade #Raenest #StartupJourney #RemoteWorkAfrica #AfricanTechFounders #SelfTaughtDeveloper #FundraisingTips #TechEntrepreneurship #BuildInAfrica