The Grinders Table

May 01 2024 1
The Grinders Table Podcast artwork

The Grinders Table Podcast is your opportunity to sit at the table with entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders who are shaking things up in their industry. Each week Uwem will interview these amazing thought-leaders to uncover how they've done it and learn something new in the process. Join me on the regular to hear how they dared to defy the odds and live their own success story... or epic failure!

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Repost: Clive Butkow's guide to navigating success in Business

May 01 2024 18 mins  
This episode is a repost from Season 1 of our podcast. Clive Butkow shared his extensive journey from his early entrepreneurial ventures to his impressive tenure at Accenture, and his eventual founding of Kaylon Venture Partners after a brief retirement. This episode was not just a deep dive into the mechanics of venture capital but also a masterclass in leadership and entreprene

Investing in Africa's Future: Kola Aina's Path to Ventures Platform

Apr 15 2024 34 mins  
In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kola Aina, a Nigerian entrepreneur turned Venture Capitalist, who shared his journey from starting a technology business to becoming a key player in the African investment landscape. Kola began his career in corporate finance before venturing into entrepreneurship with his company, Emerging Platforms, which focused on ent

Building an effective company culture with Jem HR's Caroline van der Merwe

Apr 08 2024 32 mins  
Join Caroline van der Merwe, co-founder of Jem HR, in a candid conversation with Uwem on the Grinders Table Podcast. Caroline shares insights on her journey as an entrepreneur, the importance of values in leadership, and the power of having difficult conversations. Discover how Caroline navigates the challenges of startup life, the significance of building a strong support system,

The African startup landscape, a conversation with Oo Nwoye (Part 2)

Mar 25 2024 35 mins  
In the second part of my conversation with Oo Nwoye on The Grinders Table, we shift our focus to venture capital, innovation, and the global tech landscape. Oo shares his insights on how venture capital can effectively support startups, the importance of domain expertise in angel investing, and the risks of providing too much capital too early. We also discuss the evolution of st

The African startup landscape, a conversation with Oo Nwoye (Part 1)

Mar 18 2024 37 mins  
This week, I had the honour of hosting Oo Nwoye at The Grinders Table. Oo stands out as a key figure in Africa's startup ecosystem, providing advisory services to startups and serving as an exceptional source of deal flow for investors interested in the continent. He shared so much that I split the conversation into two episodes. We dive deep into his fascinating entrepreneuri

Building an Integrated Life with Kanini Mutooni

Mar 11 2024 23 mins  
Today, we're celebrating International Women's Day by revisiting one of our favourite episodes. Joining me is the remarkable Kanini Matooni, a voice that resonates with empowerment and inspiration. In this episode, we dive into Kanini's journey, her challenges, and the triumphs that define the essence of womanhood. So, whether you're a long-time listener or joining

Scaling E-Commerce in Africa: Insights from Jumia's Ex CEO - Massimiliano Spalazzi

Mar 04 2024 27 mins  
In this episode of the Grinders Table podcast, we're excited to feature Massimiliano Spalazzi, the former CEO of Jumia Nigeria and Group Executive VP Marketplace at Jumia. Join us as Massi shares his remarkable journey of being one of the first employees at Jumia and playing a pivotal role in the company's inception in Nigeria in 2012. Massi opens up about the exhilarating

Redefining Tourism Through Technology with David Gonahasa

Feb 20 2024 33 mins  
Join us on an inspiring journey as David Gonahasa, Founder of Tripessa, takes us from his early beginnings on the streets of Uganda to revolutionizing the tourism sector with RoundBob, and now Tripessa. His narrative is not just one of success, but of resilience, as he navigates the trials of pioneering internet ventures and leadership roles in a pan-African enterprise. David also

Breaking Barriers and Building Networks: A Conversation with June Angelides MBE

Feb 12 2024 36 mins  
In this episode of the Grinders Table podcast, I sit down with June Angelides MBE, a trailblazer and advocate for diversity in the startup ecosystem. June is the founding partner at Levare Ventures which backs early-stage startups across E-commerce, Fintech, Healthtech, Future of Work and B2B Saas across sub-saharan Africa. She has invested across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and

The Intersection of Tech, Policy and Entrepreneurship with Oswald Osaretin Guobadia

Feb 06 2024 28 mins  
I am delighted to have Oswald Osaritin Guobadia as our guest on the Grinders Table Podcast today. He is a prominent figure in the Nigerian Tech Ecosystem who played a key role in passing The Nigerian Startup Act. Oswald's story is a powerful narrative of transformation, resilience, and the pursuit of value. His insights on career change, the importance of impact, and the power