Afropolitan

• Vusi Thembekwayo: The Truth About Money, His Traumas, and Building Africa’s Future

  Guest: Vusi Thembekwayo - Investor, Speaker, Founder of MyGrowthFund & Executive Chairman of Thembekwayo Legacy Group In this groundbreaking episode, we sit down with Vusi Thembekwayo for an unfiltered conversation about the brutal realities, psychological costs, and unparalleled opportunities of building in Africa today. Vusi dismantles controversial narratives around Elon Musk and South Africa, reveals the trauma of poverty that holds us back, and delivers the hard truth about why your success is ultimately your responsibility. This is a masterclass in mindset, money, and the future of the continent. 💡 In this episode, we uncover: → Why it's the EASIEST time in history to build in Africa (despite the struggles) → The shocking truth behind Elon Musk's "Starlink Lie" and the white genocide narrative → How the trauma of poverty creates "limiting foundational beliefs" that cost us billions → Vusi's personal cost: Losing his relationship with his mother for 10 years → The moment he saw $1M and his brain "short-circuited" → How to break through the "African pricing" ceiling and demand your worth → The real reason he believes we should build "Zebras," not just "Unicorns" → The one thing that will unlock $50 Billion in institutional capital for Africa → The intellectual dishonesty of Elon Musk and the danger of his influence → The nuanced tension between South Africans and Nigerians (and how to fix it) → Vusi's most controversial opinion: "Your success is 100% your fault." Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast for more unfiltered conversations with the world's most insightful Africans. Where to Find Vusi Thembekwayo: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vthembekwayo?si=IBbm4OY3583DHuIi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vusithembekwayo/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vusithembekwayo?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Website: https://vusithembekwayo.com 📢 Join the conversation: What was the most powerful moment for you? Was it Vusi's take on Elon Musk, the trauma of poverty, or his unwavering stance on personal responsibility? Let us know in the comments! This episode is sponsored by: Vban, is the borderless banking app built for Africa's digital workforce. Use the code AFROPOLITAN to sign up: https://vban.com Inverroche Gin, South Africa's premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche Risevest, a digital wealth-manager connecting you to global, dollar-denominated investments in US stocks, real estate & fixed income. Use this link to sign up: https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Stay connected with Afropolitan: Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website: https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State – https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter CHAPTERS: 0:00 Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa 2:28 Why It's The Easiest Time to Build in Africa 7:00 The Cost of Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship 17:00 How My Father's Business Failure Shaped Me 28:00 From $2 to Top Speaker: Breaking Into The Industry 35:00 Why Speaking Agencies Don't Add Value 43:00 Zebras vs Unicorns: What Africa Really Needs 48:00 The Truth About Elon Musk & Starlink in South Africa 59:10 Why Intellectual Dishonesty Creates Extremists 1:07:00 The South Africa-Nigeria Dynamic Explained 1:19:00 DEI, Reparations & Historical Truth 1:23:00 Building My First Venture Fund With My Own Money 1:28:00 "Simba Is Still Waiting for Mufasa to Die" 1:31:00 Why I'm Converting to Permanent Capital 1:37:00 Rapid Fire Questions 1:42:00 Africa & AI: Still On The Consumption End 1:45:00 What People Get Wrong About Me 1:49:00 Who Should Be on The Podcast Next

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• Simi Williams, Ex-Banker: How Burnout at 26 Forced Me to ALL Start Over again

  From Burnout To Beyond: The Untold Story Of Building Africa’s Leading Wellness Brand Guest: Simi Williams, Founder of Beyond Fitness At 26, Simi Williams was hospitalised from burnout while working in high finance in London. She lost $1M in funding when investors saw she was pregnant — but that didn’t stop her from returning to Nigeria to build Beyond Fitness, now one of Africa’s most respected wellness brands. In this powerful episode, she opens up about the cost of ambition, postnatal depression, gender bias in fundraising, and the daily fight to build a global business out of Lagos. In this episode: → Burnout and the illusion of success in high finance → Motherhood, postnatal depression, and recovery → Losing $1M in funding because of pregnancy → How gender bias shapes fundraising for women → Building Beyond Fitness into a global brand → Balancing family, faith, and entrepreneurship → Why Lagos taught her control is an illusion → Redefining what success and purpose really mean Follow Afropolitan Website – https://afropolitan.io Instagram – @afropolitan Twitter – @afropolitan LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/  This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche  Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/  Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585  Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/    Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/    Timestamps 0:00 - The Gym Incident That Started Everything 0:38 - Introduction: Simi Williams - From Banking to Beyond Fitness 1:51 - Trying to Be a Global Wellness Entrepreneur 2:34 - When Success Was Breaking Me: Hospital at 26 4:40 - Childhood Connection to Fitness 6:03 - Losing My Therapy: Three Times Movement Failed Me 8:25 - Double Entrepreneur Household: Managing Two Businesses 13:06 - The Birth of Beyond Fitness 15:28 - Fundraising While Pregnant: Losing Investors 19:06 - Being a Woman in Fundraising 21:02 - Reinventing Myself: From Finance to Fitness 22:56 - Moving Back to Nigeria: The Cultural Shock 25:04 - Did I Make a Mistake Coming Back? 27:12 - Bible App Moment & Beyond Fitness Experience 31:29 - Creating a Culture of Care 33:09 - What Banking Taught Me to Unlearn 35:03 - Every Role Except Security: Building From Scratch 37:20 - Why High-Profile People Drop Their Guard at Beyond 39:20 - The Tender Parts: Bamboo Season 42:11 - What I Want My Daughter to See 43:25 - Global Vision for Beyond Fitness 44:48 - Beyond on Tour: Wellness Retreats 48:46 - When Everything Goes Wrong: The Bus Story 51:13 - What I Want to Be Remembered For 51:30 - Rapid Fire Questions 52:46 - Motherhood: What It Taught Me 54:05 - Birth Center Decision 56:00 - Who Should Be Next on the Podcast

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• Founder Who Lost $3.9M Reveals The Hard Truth About Money And Freedom

  Yele Bademosi is a founder, investor, and creative thinker at the intersection of culture, capital, and clarity. He’s the Co-creator and CEO of Onboard. He reveals the untold truth behind losing $3.9 million overnight in the FTX collapse and how that moment transformed his relationship with money, purpose, and freedom. A former medical student turned tech founder and investor, Yele has built some of Africa’s most influential startups, including Bundle (incubated within Binance). But after reaching the height of startup success, everything came crashing down. In this deeply personal conversation, Yele shares lessons on resilience, rebuilding from zero, and why he believes private credit, not crypto,  is Africa’s biggest untapped opportunity. He also discusses the future of the creator economy, the importance of financial sovereignty, and how Africa’s next billion-dollar companies will be built by creators, not corporations. He explains:  - Why he walked away from medicine to pursue freedom  - How losing everything in FTX changed his definition of wealth  - The truth about Africa’s credit gap and economic opportunity  - What “potential capital” really means  and how to find yours  - Why creators are Africa’s next economic revolution  Key Themes The Future of Credit in Africa Surviving the FTX Collapse Rebuilding Purpose & Identity The Creator Economy as Africa’s Next Wave Financial Freedom, Integrity & the Pursuit of Happiness 🔗 Follow Yele X (Twitter) – @YeleBademosi LinkedIn – Yele Bademosi OnboardGlobal – https://www.linkedin.com/company/onboardbynestcoin/   Follow Afropolitan Website – https://afropolitan.io Instagram – @afropolitan X (Twitter) – @afropolitan LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/  This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche  Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/  Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585  Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/    Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/    Stay connected with Afropolitan:  Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/  Website: https://www.afropolitan.io 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter  00:00 - The Biggest Opportunity in Africa: Private Credit 01:09 - Introduction: What's the Biggest Opportunity in Africa? 03:12 - Why Credit is Africa's Missing Infrastructure 05:06 - South Africa's Credit System vs Rest of Africa 06:28 - Who Was Yele Before Bundle & Nestcoin? 07:55 - Growing Up in Ibadan: Early Entrepreneurial Roots 10:20 - Moving to UK at 14: The Internet Opens New Worlds 12:18 - The Medical School Journey & Father's Blessing 14:12 - "Opting Out" of Medical School 16:55 - Writing the Letter to Mom: Pursuit of Freedom 18:37 - Afropolitan Toast: To African Creativity & Legacy 20:25 - Life Lessons from Parents: Excellence & Integrity 22:24 - Losing Dad: The Impact 15 Years Later 26:04 - Five Types of Wealth: Transforming Priorities 28:05 - Moving to London: Being Closer to Family 30:13 - Financial Sovereignty & Why Crypto Matters 32:38 - Building Digital Infrastructure for Africa 35:02 - The Bundle Story: Right Place, Right Time 38:15 - Leaving Binance to Build Nestcoin 40:22 - Raising the Largest African Crypto Seed Round 44:58 - The FTX Collapse: November 11, 2022 48:51 - Surviving the Crisis: Resilience & Recovery 52:13 - 18 Months of Uncertainty: Getting 95% Back 56:43 - Learning to Forgive Yourself 58:27 - Personal Funds Lost in FTX 01:01:32 - Redefining Wealth: Potential Capital 01:06:34 - Afropolitan's Journey: The Million Dollar Prophecy 01:09:28 - Why Afropolitan Will Succeed: Culture Connectors 01:16:51 - The Creator Economy Thesis: Distribution is Queen 01:19:19 - From BET for Africa to Creator Infrastructure 01:23:29 - The Cost of Creation is Dropping: Distribution Wins 01:27:47 - Leading Through Pivots: Vision Evolution 01:32:09 - African Creators to Watch 01:36:05 - Three Systems Creators Need: Banking, Credit, Management 01:40:06 - Onboard: Freedom to Transact Globally 01:42:26 - Stablecoins: The New Financial Infrastructure 01:46:53 - Rapid Fire: Lagos vs London 01:48:28 - Favorite Nigerian Food: Ofada Rice at Mega Chicken 01:51:51 - Who Should Be on Afropolitan Podcast

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• From Losing $1.5M Overnight To Raising Millions The Brutal Reality Of Fundraising With Chika & Eche

  From $0 To $2.4M In 3 Weeks The Brutal Truth About Startup Fundraising Guests: Chika & Eche Founders of Afropolitan What does it really take to raise millions as an African founder In this unfiltered episode Chika & Eche break down how they raised $2.4 million in just 21 days and the painful lessons learned along the way From losing $1.5 million in commitments overnight to discovering why 98% of startups fail this is the playbook for anyone dreaming of building something big In this episode: → How Chika & Eche closed $2.4M in 3 weeks → Why $1.5M in commitments disappeared overnight → The difference between idea vs traction when pitching → Why your team matters more than your idea → The pitch deck structure that wins investors → Hard lessons from losing a $1M deal → Why 98% of startups fail but some still thrive → The 5 fundraising stages every founder must master Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo: https://convo.vip/ with leaders like Tunde Onakoya, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Book 1:1 with Eche - https://convo.vip/echeemole Book 1:1 with Chika - https://convo.vip/chikauwazie Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ 🔗 Join our community for exclusive updates: http://afropolitan.io/community Get email updates: 00:00 - Intro 01:37 - How to Fundraise & Pitch: Special Episode Introduction 02:47 - Chika's Fundraising Background: TalentBase & 500 Startups (2015-2016) 04:29 - What Investors Really Care About: Numbers & Audacity 06:09 - Eche's Community Building Journey: From Events to Investment 08:16 - The Power of Long-Term Track Records in Fundraising 10:47 - From Labor to Leverage: Naval's Framework for Building Wealth 13:47 - The Importance of Relationships: 10 Years to First Million 15:42 - The Afropolitan Pitch: 3 Minutes That Changed Everything 18:41 - Phase 1: Events & Year of Return ($2B Economic Impact) 19:17 - Phase 2: COVID Pivot to Clubhouse (200K Community) 20:02 - Phase 3: The 5AM Revelation in Nairobi 22:27 - Phase 4: The Four-Phase Roadmap to Digital Nation 25:14 - Why Team Matters: The Marriage of Co-Founders 28:07 - From Idea to Traction: What VCs Actually Want 31:17 - The Psychology of Fundraising: Creating FOMO 34:09 - When $3.5M Became $2.1M: The Bear Market Reality 37:47 - Due Diligence Goes Both Ways: Choosing Your Investors 40:24 - Creating Momentum: The 3-Week Close 42:22 - Why African Founders Undervalue Themselves 44:47 - The Pitch Deck Breakdown: What Actually Matters 48:41 - Team Dynamics: Why Most Startups Really Fail 51:58 - Chika's TalentBase Story: When Boards Betray Founders 54:27 - The Power of Failure: Your Network is Your Net Worth 56:49 - From Tech-First to Culture-First: The Afropolitan Pivot 59:34 - Building Through Bear Markets: Choosing Gratitude 01:02:11 - Co-Founder Alignment: The Conversations That Save Startups 01:04:36 - Final Thoughts: Your Failed Startups Are Tomorrow's Cap Table

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• The Business Behind Afrobeat Festivals And Why "Detty December" Became Africa's Summer Sensation

  Darey On LiveSpot, Dirty December, Cardi B, And The Business Of African Entertainment Guest: Darey Art Alade, Founder of LiveSpot 360 What if entertainment wasn’t just about the music, the lights, or the artists but about building the infrastructure of a billion dollar industry in Africa? In this powerful conversation, Darey takes us behind the scenes of Nigeria’s creative economy from pioneering LiveSpot 360 to bringing global stars like Cardi B and Kelly Rowland, and shaping the cultural movement known as Dirty December. He shares how festivals are built from scratch, the financial realities of touring in Nigeria, and the policies that could unlock Africa’s entertainment future. Darey also opens up about working with his wife, balancing creativity with business, and why cultural influence is Africa’s next global export. In this episode:  → The untold business of concerts, festivals, and shows in Nigeria  → Why Dirty December became “Africa’s summer”  → Building LiveSpot 360 out of frustration and problem solving  → Behind the scenes of Cardi B’s Lagos show and cultural impact  → How forex, inflation, and infrastructure shape African entertainment  → The future of Afrobeat, Nollywood, and experiential marketing  → What every Nigerian artist needs to break through today  → How cultural influence opens doors to politics and global power  → Lessons on marriage, business partnerships, and energy management If you’re Afropolitan, drop a YES in the comments and subscribe for more builder-level conversations. This episode is sponsored by Inverroche Gin, South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more: https://www.inverroche.com/ Want to connect 1:1 with Africa's boldest thinkers? Book a 15-minute convo on Convo (https://convo.vip/) with leaders like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Asa Asika, and more. Listen to more Afropolitan Podcast episodes: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU?si=b3a132f9afb3459f&nd=1&dlsi=32c01e3224ac4c64 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 Hosted by Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/ Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/ Stay connected with Afropolitan Twitter: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ 00:00 - Intro 02:36 - The Business Behind the Show 05:38 - The Myth vs Reality of Nigerian Entertainment Business 06:36 - Breaking Down a 30,000-Person Festival Production 13:43 - Equipment Infrastructure: Why International Artists Don't Tour Nigeria 20:02 - How LiveSpot Was Born from Problems 25:10 - From Artist to Industry Builder: The Transition 29:32 - Bringing Cardi B to Nigeria: Behind the Scenes 32:00 - Cardi B Twerking at Sanuisi Roundabout at 6 AM 34:48 - Foreign Exchange Crisis and Creative Business 39:21 - The Future of Detty December 46:46 - Growing Up in a Musical Dynasty 50:17 - Building Business with Your Spouse 57:37 - Energy Management and Setting Boundaries 01:03:09 - "Your Wife Should Be Your Guy" 01:07:23 - The Evolution of Nigerian Music Industry 01:11:45 - What It Takes to Break Into Music Today 01:16:03 - Meeting Bill Clinton: Breaking Ice with Cultural Knowledge 01:20:46 - Policy Recommendations for Nigeria's Creative Industry 01:26:26 - Rapid Fire: Favorite Artists & Nigerian Food 01:32:10 - Who Should Be on Afropolitan Next

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