Africa Tech Summit Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

Africa Tech Summit Podcast

Africa Tech Summit Podcast

by Africa Tech Summit

EP42: The Future of Crypto in Africa: Regulation, Stablecoins and Borderless Finance with VALR

Recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, this episode features Farzam Ehsani, Co-Founder and CEO of VALR. As one of Africa's leading cryptocurrency exchanges, VALR is building the infrastructure for faster, more accessible and borderless financial services across the continent. In this conversation, Farzam explores the evolution of Africa's crypto ecosystem, Kenya's emerging regulatory landscape, and how blockchain technology is enabling low-cost cross-border transactions at scale. The discussion also covers stablecoins, security, regulatory engagement, and why the next phase of financial innovation in Africa could be powered by what Farzam calls "money over IP". Hosted by Peter Nalika at TechTrends Media For more insights and upcoming events, visit africatechsummit.com.

EP41: AI, Talent and the Future of Software Development with Andela

Recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, this episode features Carrol Chang, CEO of Andela. Founded on the belief that brilliance exists everywhere but opportunity does not, Andela has evolved into a global talent marketplace connecting skilled technologists with opportunities around the world. In this conversation, Carrol explores how artificial intelligence is transforming software development, the changing role of engineers in an AI-powered world, and why continuous reskilling is becoming essential for technology professionals. The discussion also covers Andela's ambition to train 15,000 AI-fluent developers by 2026, the rise of "forward deployed engineers", and the challenges businesses face when scaling AI from pilot projects to enterprise-wide adoption. Hosted by Nixon Kanali, Founder & Tech Editor at TechTrends Media For more insights and upcoming events, visit africatechsummit.com.

EP40: From Research to Revenue: How CMU Africa is Backing the Next Generation of African Startups

Recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, this episode features Stanley Mukasa, Associate Director of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University Africa. CMU Africa is helping startups bridge the gap between innovative ideas and sustainable businesses through its incubation programmes, mentorship, funding and access to technical talent. In this conversation, Stanley shares how the university supports deep tech founders navigating long development cycles, limited access to capital and the challenge of turning research-driven innovation into market-ready products. The discussion also explores the importance of patient capital, building traction before fundraising, supporting underserved communities, and the emerging opportunities shaping Africa’s startup ecosystem - from fintech to clean energy. Hosted by Nixon Kanali, Founder & Tech Editor at TechTrends Media For more insights and upcoming events, visit africatechsummit.com.

EP39: Behind the Rails: Building Reliable Payments Across Africa with pawaPay

Recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, this episode features Jamie Steell, Chief Operating Officer at pawaPay. pawaPay is a key player in Africa’s payments ecosystem, building infrastructure designed to handle the complexity and fragmentation of payment systems across the continent. In this conversation, Jamie breaks down what it really takes to scale payments in Africa -from navigating fragmented mobile money networks to building automated systems that can handle failures in real time. The discussion also explores trust in payment systems, the role of mobile money as Africa’s financial backbone, and why consolidation across providers is likely the next phase of growth. Hosted by Nixon Kanali, Founder & Tech Editor at TechTrends Media. For more insights and upcoming events, visit africatechsummit.com.

EP38: Breaking Borders: Building Seamless Cross-Border Payments in Africa with PESA

Recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, this episode features Wale Afolabi, Co-Founder and CTO of PESA. PESA is building infrastructure to simplify cross-border payments—helping individuals and businesses move money instantly across markets including the UK, EU, US, UAE, and Nigeria, with expansion across Africa underway. In this conversation, Wale breaks down the realities behind cross-border payments—from fragmented regulations and liquidity challenges to the importance of local partnerships and reliable payment rails. The discussion also explores how digital payments are enabling African SMEs to trade globally, and what’s coming next, including the rise of stablecoins and instant payments across the continent. Hosted by Nixon Kanali, Founder & Tech Editor at TechTrends Media For more insights and upcoming events, visit africatechsummit.com.

EP37: The Digital Revolution: Enhancing Cross-Border Payments in Africa

The Digital Revolution: Enhancing Cross-Border Payments in Africa – Panel at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2025 featuring insights and views from Eric Wainaina – General Manager, Africa at Conduit, Yemi Lawani – Director of Business Development at Circle Iheakachi Nwabueze – Head of Global Marketing and Growth at Grey Dr. Collins Igwe – CFO at Budpay and moderated by Paschal Okeke – Head of Operations & Expansion at CrissCross. Panelists discuss the current state of cross-border payments on the continent, the technological advancements in financial services powered by blockchain and digital currencies and highlight the anticipated growth of the African payment market, projected to reach $40 billion with 70% being digital. The session touches on key challenges in the industry, including high transaction costs, regulatory fragmentation, compliance complexities, inefficient banking infrastructures and differing regulatory frameworks across countries present additional hurdles for cross-border transactions.

EP36: The Truth About Venture Capital; Unveiling Today’s Trend & Reality

Listen to a live panel on "The Truth About Venture Capital; Unveiling Today’s Trend & Reality" recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi. Visit our website for more details and future events: www.africatechsummit.com. With Jason Njoku – Founder at NjokuZilla Andreata Muforo – Partner at TLcom Capital Selma Farouk – Investment Analyst at DPI VC Maxime Bayen – Operating Partner at Catalyst Fund Eric Osiakwan – Founder and Managing Partner at Chanzo Capital Highlights include 🌍 Diverse Ecosystem: African investment opportunities span various sectors, with fintech and climate technology being front-runners. 📉 Current Trends: A noticeable decline in startup funding was observed, yet there’s optimism about recovery as macroeconomic conditions stabilize. 💰 Local Knowledge: The significance of local investors was emphasized for navigating Africa’s unique market complexities. 🚀 Growth Challenges: Founders need to adopt capital efficiency strategies and focus on sustainable growth amidst economic volatility.

EP35: Africa's FinTech Frontier: Payments & Growth Opportunities

Listen to a live panel on "Africa's FinTech Frontier: Payments & Growth Opportunities" recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi. Visit our website for more details and future events: www.africatechsummit.com. Featuring Didi Uwemakpan - VP at Moniepoint Adesoji Solanke - Head of FinTech & Banks, Investment Banking Origination at Absa Shay Hamilton - CEO at Tola Saruni Maina - Associate VP at Flutterwave and moderated by Nkiru Uwaje - COO at Mansa Finance Highlights from the session include: 🌍 Growth of Fintech: The African fintech industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increased mobile penetration and digital payment adoption. 💳 Mobile Money Integration: The rise of mobile money services is transforming payment systems, facilitating real-time transactions and increasing financial inclusion. 🔒 Challenges in Security: The advancement of technology also brings challenges, particularly in fraud protection and identity management for fintech companies.

EP34: Building Web3 Across The Continent

Listen to a live panel on "Building Web3 Across The Continent " recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi. Visit our website for more details and future events: www.africatechsummit.com. Featuring Chris Duffus - CEO at Fonbnk Stephen Browne - Co-Founder at Sorted Wallet Mouloukou Sanoh - Co-Founder & CEO at Mansa Finance and moderated by Jessica Hope - CEO at Wimbart Highlights from the session include: 🌍 Web3 as a Catalyst for Change: The panel emphasized that Web3 technologies could significantly reshape financial infrastructure in Africa, offering new methods for transactions and financial services. 📉 Financial Inclusion Challenges: A staggering 75% of adults in Southern Africa lack access to formal financial services, highlighting the pressing need for innovative solutions. 💰 Stablecoins’ Role: Stablecoins are viewed as a potential game-changer for financial transactions, providing stability and ease of use in volatile economies.

EP33: Stablecoins in Africa: Stability & Innovation Powering Digital Payments

Listen to a live panel on "Stablecoins in Africa: Stability & Innovation Powering Digital Payments" recorded live at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi. Visit our website for more details and future events: www.africatechsummit.com. Victoria Calmon - Head of Marketing and Communications at Mento Labs Daniel Kimotho - Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships at Celo Foundation Sebastien Piolat - Business Development Director for Web3 at Opera and moderated by Duncan Muchangi - Head of Business Development at Fonbnk. The panelists explore challenges and opportunities in the adoption of stablecoins across the continent, financial literacy, accessibility, and the current reliance on mobile money systems. Sharing insights into prevalent use cases for stablecoins — like savings, payments, and remittances— and highlight the role of emerging technologies in bridging gaps within traditional financial systems. The discussion covers the importance of partnerships and the ecosystem required for stablecoin growth, as well as exciting projections for the future where traditional banking systems may evolve into a more decentralized financial landscape.

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