Ali Talks Tech

Ali Hussein
Ali Talks Tech

Ali Talks Tech will follow the Pan African Tech Story from Silicon Savannah to Yabacon Valley, Nigeria’s answer to Silicon Valley, in Lagos' Yaba neighborhood. We will trace the birth of the African Tech Ecosystem from Nairobi’s Ngong Road in the late ‘90s, to the South African cities of Joburg and Cape Town and follow it to how it is shaping up today. Ali will also talk Fintech, his first love - from an entrepreneurial perspective, advisor to Techpreneurs, angel investor and lastly from a Policy & Regulator perspective. linkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim/ Twitter:AliHKassim

  1. 14 DEC

    From Skyscrapers to Kitchens - The Story of Asif Khan & ANDO Foods | #Alitalkstech S3 ep 14

    🌍 A Global Journey: Asif Khan, CEO and Founder of ANDO Foods, takes us on a fascinating ride through his life. Born in Kenya with Pakistani roots, Asif studied in Japan on a prestigious scholarship, immersing himself in a culture that would later influence his craftsmanship. 💼 Diverse Career Path: From organizing workshops at the Kenya Film Festival to marketing at Scan Group, Asif embraced varied roles before venturing into freelance photography—capturing daring shots from Nairobi’s rooftops. Later, he joined Java House, gaining key insights into the food industry. 🍛 The Birth of ANDO Foods: In 2020, Asif launched ANDO Foods from his mother’s kitchen with a simple WhatsApp poster and a lot of determination. Starting with his family’s legendary biryani recipe, ANDO has grown into a powerhouse of 9 food brands that redefine cloud kitchens and food delivery. 🤝 Empowering Others: Asif also discusses Oro, ANDO’s innovative food operating system that helps small food businesses scale efficiently. By leveraging technology and partnerships, ANDO is setting the stage for a culinary revolution across Africa. 💡 Key Takeaways: The power of resilience and innovation 🛠️ Crafting a legacy from humble beginnings 🏠 Building a food empire while empowering communities 🌟 🔗 Don’t miss this deep dive into Asif’s entrepreneurial journey, filled with insights, humor, and big dreams for the future of food in Africa!

    1h 26m

  2. 7 DEC

    Empowering SMEs Across Africa with Hilda Moraa | #Alitalkstech S3 Ep13

    🎙️ Ali Talks Tech: Empowering SMEs Across Africa with Hilda Moraa 🌍 🔑 What’s in this Episode? Join host Ali Hussein Kassim as he welcomes the phenomenal Hilda Moraa—founder and CEO of Pezesha—to discuss her groundbreaking work in African fintech. 🚀💡 📌 Key Highlights: 🌱 Starting Young: Hilda’s bold leap into entrepreneurship at 24 and her journey to successfully exiting her first startup, Weza Tele. 🏦 Building Pezesha: How she’s empowering 500,000+ SMEs through embedded finance and innovative partnerships. 🌟 The Ripple Effect: The inspiring story of Rose, a businesswoman in Kibera who transformed her life and community with Pezesha's support. 🤝 Collaboration is Key: Insights into working with regulators, leveraging APIs, and scaling fintech solutions for maximum impact. 🔍 Looking Ahead: Hilda’s plans for the future of Pezesha and fintech in Africa. ✨ Why Listen? This episode is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and changemakers looking to create meaningful impact in Africa and beyond. 🌟 🎧 Tune in now to hear how Pezesha is rewriting the narrative of African innovation, one SME at a time! 🎉 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review! ⭐

    46 min

  3. 30 NOV

    Kamal Budhabhatti: Transforming Tech with Craft Silicon, Little, & AI | #Alitalkstech S3 ep12

    #AliTalksTech: The Visionary Journey of Kamal Budhabhatti 🚀💡 In this electrifying episode of #AliTalksTech, we sit down with Kamal Budhabhatti, CEO of Craft Silicon, to delve into a transformative story that spans programming roots 🖥️, entrepreneurial milestones 🏆, and groundbreaking innovations 🌍. From building Craft Silicon into a fintech giant 💳, to competing with global players like Uber through Little Cabs 🚖, Kamal has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. The conversation takes an exciting turn as Kamal unveils his latest venture, Blue Beetle 🪲, and its flagship product, Smalltalk 🗨️. In his words, AI is not merely a "digital transformation"—it's a behavioral transformation 🔄. Kamal discusses how Smalltalk uses small language models to empower businesses with secure, private AI-driven insights, creating a revolution in corporate operations 📊🤖. 🎧 Tune in to discover: ✅ Kamal's philosophy of customer-centric growth and innovation 🤝. ✅ How Little became Kenya's largest corporate ride-hailing platform 🚕. ✅ Why AI represents a shift in how we behave, not just how we work 🧠. ✅ The bold vision of Smalltalk, from personalizing enterprise workflows to solving everyday challenges like seamless shopping 🛒 or visa applications 🌍. Kamal also reflects on the importance of nurturing dreamers 🌟, the challenges of talent acquisition in AI 🧑‍💻, and his intriguing new title: Head of Product Dreams and Innovation 🌌. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, or AI aficionado, this episode promises a front-row seat to the future of technology and its human touch ✨. Don’t miss it! 🚀🎙️

    57 min

  4. 19 NOV

    Connecting the Unconnected: Building Internet Access in South African Townships | #Alitalkstech S3 ep 11

    In this episode of #Alitalkstech, host Ali Hussein Kassim speaks with Mzi Holmes, a telecom veteran and technical lead at Illitha Telecommunications. With over 26 years in the sector, Mzi shares the challenges and triumphs of expanding internet connectivity to underserved townships in South Africa. They delve into the historical and socio-economic factors behind limited access, the complexities of deploying infrastructure in cash-driven communities, and the social impact of bridging the digital divide. This conversation sheds light on the balance between social responsibility and business sustainability, the importance of patient capital, and the inspiring stories of lives transformed through connectivity. Tune in for an eye-opening look at how Elita Telecommunications is pioneering change and striving to connect half a million people within five years.

    25 min

  5. 5 NOV

    Transforming Telecom in Africa Imran Abbas on Open Access & Connectivity | #Alitalkstech S3 ep 10

    In this insightful episode of #Alitalkstech, host Ali Hussain Kassim sits down with Imran Abbas, Group CEO of Link Africa, to dive deep into the transformative journey of Africa’s telecom landscape. With over 34 years of experience, Imran shares his journey from the early days of monopolistic telcos in South Africa to leading open access infrastructure initiatives across the continent. Discover how open access is reshaping Africa's connectivity and why competing on infrastructure alone no longer serves the industry or its customers. Listen in as Imran reveals the highs and challenges of advocating for a unified approach to telecom infrastructure and the future vision he’s crafting with Link Africa.

    21 min

  6. 22 OCT

    MTN's Secret to Digital Domination: Mobile Money, AI, and More! | #Alitalkstech S3 ep 9

    In this exciting episode of #Alitalkstech host I sit down with Ashley Bruyns, Senior Manager of Software Engineering at MTN South Africa, to explore the technological evolution shaping Africa. From the rise of mobile money platforms like MTN Momo and their competition with Kenya’s M-Pesa, to the transformative potential of AI, Ashley shares valuable insights from his 20+ years in the tech industry. Tune in to hear how MTN is transitioning from a Telco to a Techco, its role in fostering financial inclusion, and the critical role of software solutions in integrating systems across Africa's diverse markets.

    15 min

  7. 9 OCT

    Unlocking Financial Inclusion: Mobile Money & Sharia in Niger #AliTalksTech S3 Ep8

    In this insightful episode recorded at the Novacom Summit in Stellenbosch, Ali Hussein Kassim welcomes Bra Amadou, Head of Airtel Money in Niger. They dive deep into the challenges and opportunities in Niger’s mobile money ecosystem, highlighting the low penetration of digital financial services in a cash-dependent culture. Bra shares his experience leading projects aimed at financial inclusion, including his role as Vice President of Niger’s National Solidarity Foundation. Together, they discuss the complexities of introducing mobile money to rural areas, the influence of Sharia law on financial services, and the importance of education campaigns to demystify digital payments. This episode provides a comprehensive look at the future of mobile money in Niger and West Africa, emphasizing collaboration between banks, mobile operators, and local agents.

    20 min

  8. 26 AUG

    Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: From Yaba Valley to Building Africa's Tech Giants | #Alitalkstech S3 EP 7

    🌟 In this new episode of #Alitalkstech, I sat down with Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, the founding CEO of Future Africa and co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave. 🌍 Aboyeji shares his journey from growing up in Yaba, often referred to as "Yaba Valley," to becoming a pivotal figure in Africa's tech ecosystem. 🚀 He reflects on the evolution of entrepreneurship in Africa, the challenges of maintaining culture and social infrastructure within tech communities, and how Future Africa is working to rebuild the pipeline for African startups. 💡 Aboyeji also discusses the impact of funding crashes on the ecosystem and the importance of creating sustainable businesses that truly impact lives. 💼 Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned investor, this conversation offers a deep dive into the past, present, and future of African tech. 🌟 👉 Make sure to subscribe for more exclusive content! 🎥🔔

    48 min
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Trailer

About

Ali Talks Tech will follow the Pan African Tech Story from Silicon Savannah to Yabacon Valley, Nigeria’s answer to Silicon Valley, in Lagos' Yaba neighborhood. We will trace the birth of the African Tech Ecosystem from Nairobi’s Ngong Road in the late ‘90s, to the South African cities of Joburg and Cape Town and follow it to how it is shaping up today. Ali will also talk Fintech, his first love - from an entrepreneurial perspective, advisor to Techpreneurs, angel investor and lastly from a Policy & Regulator perspective. linkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim/ Twitter:AliHKassim

Information

  • Creator
    Ali Hussein
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ali Hussein
  • Show Website
    Ali Talks Tech

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