The Founders Atlas with Mayuri Reddy

Mayuri Reddy
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The Founders Atlas takes you on a journey through the world’s diverse and thriving business ecosystems. Hosted by Mayuri Reddy, The Founders Atlas explores the rise of visionary entrepreneurs in cities often overlooked—like Cape Town, Bangalore, Detroit, Mexico City, and Rio. Through candid, culture-rich conversations, we uncover how identity, community, and local values shape global businesses. More than startup stories, this is your passport to the world’s most fascinating entrepreneurial ecosystems.

  1. 11/06/2025

    S1E13: How Abu Dhabi Is Redefining Innovation - and Why Every Founder Should Embrace Failure with Maryam Hassani

    What if the fastest way to succeed was to stop fearing failure? In this episode, host Mayuri Reddy speaks with Maryam A. Hassani — Head of Trends & Innovation at the Abu Dhabi Childhood Authority, co-founder of Hydro Wind Energy, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. They explore how Abu Dhabi’s growing innovation scene is redefining what it means to build and learn in public. Maryam shares lessons on AI as an equalizer, how to validate ideas before building, and why failure is just another word for data. 🎧 A must-listen for founders learning to grow through experimentation. Get in touch with Maryam Hassani here. Reach out to Mayuri here Follow the Founders Atlas On Instagram

    45 min

  2. 10/02/2025

    S1E12: Unlocking Billions - Marie-Reine Seshie on Empowering Africa’s SMEs with Kola Market

    Accra, Ghana has a population of 5.5 million — and over 2 million small and medium-sized businesses. These SMEs employ most of the workforce and generate nearly 70% of the country’s GDP, but the majority can’t access credit or reliable tools to scale. In this episode, host Mayuri Reddy speaks with Marie-Reine Seshie, founder & CEO of Kola Market, about how her platform is changing that. Marie-Reine shares her journey from banking and policy to building a tech company that de-risks lending for small businesses, supports women entrepreneurs, and empowers Ghana’s next generation of founders. Expect insights on: The realities of entrepreneurship in Accra Building trust with small shop owners and traders Why SMEs are the real engine of Africa’s economies What global investors often miss when entering Ghana Her hopes for the future of women-led business in West Africa To reach Marie-Reine, you can email her at marie.reine@kola.market, via ⁠linkedin⁠ and/or through ⁠Kola Market's website⁠. 🌍 The Founders Atlas brings you stories of entrepreneurs building in emerging ecosystems around the world. Follow along on instagram and substack.

    44 min

  3. 08/14/2025

    S1E11: Community-Based Microfinance in Nigeria: Yemisi (Trift Africa) on Funding Nano & Micro Businesses

    Trift Africa’s Yemisi Isidi explains how community-based, collateral-free microfinance helps Nigeria’s nano and micro businesses grow—without predatory rates. We cover Trift’s criteria (real cash flow over collateral, 3+ months in business), why compliance and digital skills training amplify funding impact, Yemisi's north star of job creation and practical tips for investors exploring Nigeria’s market. You’ll hear about: community-based funding and accountability, single-digit monthly rates for founders, capping active loans to monitor quality, and the cultural realities entrepreneurs navigate—from childcare to infrastructure gaps If you've been curious about the landscape of finance in Nigeria and want to learn about innovative ways to fuel collective economic growth, this is the episode for you. .Connect with Trift & Yemisi: 🌐 Website: https://www.triift.africa/ 🔗 Trift Africa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/triiftafrica 🔗 Yemisi Ajeojo (Isidi) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemisiisidi/ Follow The Founders Atlas: 🌐 Website: https://www.thefoundersatlaspodcast.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersatlas.podcast 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founders-atlas

    53 min

  4. 07/24/2025

    S1 E10: AI, Storytelling, and Building Creative Tech in Bangalore with Vivek Reddy of VIGA

    In this episode of The Founders Atlas, host Mayuri Reddy interviews Vivek Reddy, the founder of VIGA Entertainment, a Bangalore-based deep tech company revolutionizing how stories are told and produced. They explore: How Vivek’s U.S. film industry experience shaped VIGA’s mission What it takes to build bootstrapped AI-powered products in India How Bangalore became a hub for creative software What Western founders need to know before expanding into the Indian market The balance between spirituality, tech, and personal growth as a founder If you're curious about what it takes to build a great business in India and are excited to explore the opportunities the country has to to offer, you do not want to miss this episode!! 🎧 Follow The Founders Atlas to hear untold stories from emerging global startup ecosystems. 🔗 Learn more: VIGA Website | Vivek’s LinkedInThe Founders Atlas Instagram | Website | Mayuri's Linkedin

    52 min

  5. 07/03/2025

    S1E9: From Resilience to Global Reach: How TAP Careers is Changing Lives with Founder Jafar Shunnar

    How do you build a career platform that connects job seekers in Palestine to top remote roles around the world? Meet Jafar Shunnar, CTO and Co-founder of TAP Careers - recently named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for Social Good. In this powerful episode of The Founders Atlas, host Mayuri Reddy travels to Nablus in the West Bank to explore how TAP is changing lives by helping high-potential talent across Palestine, Jordan, and Syria launch remote careers in tech - without leaving home. 🎧 In This Episode, You'll Learn: What inspired the creation of TAP, and how it evolved from a coding bootcamp into a full career platform How remote work is transforming access to economic opportunity in the Middle East Why mentorship, community, and global networks matter as much as technical skills What it takes to run a mission-driven business during extreme uncertainty What investors and hiring managers should know about talent in the MENA region How TAP uses AI and smart tools to help job seekers land meaningful work The vision for TAP 2.0, and how it's scaling impact beyond borders 🌍 Want to support TAP Careers?Looking to hire world-class remote talent? Interested in mentoring emerging professionals from Palestine, Jordan, or Syria?👉 Learn how you can contribute to TAP’s mission:🌐 https://tapcareers.io 📬 Reach out directly:✉️ talent@tapcareers.io 🧑‍💻 About Our Guest:Jafar Shunnar is the Co-founder & CTO of TAP Careers, a career acceleration platform helping young professionals in the Middle East find meaningful employment in global companies. With a background in software development and an MBA from INSEAD, Jafar brings a rare blend of technical expertise and social mission to the world of tech hiring. 🎙 About the Show:The Founders Atlas is a podcast exploring global entrepreneurship through the lens of visionary founders building from underrepresented and overlooked regions. Hosted by Mayuri Reddy, each episode offers insights into the human stories behind startups—and the cultural, personal, and economic forces that shape them.

    39 min

  6. 06/20/2025

    S1E8: Revolutionising Reproductive Health Through Real-time Data with Roswitha Verwer, Founder of YON E Global

    In this episode of The Founders Atlas, host Mayuri Reddy travels to Budapest to speak with Roswitha Verwer, award-winning founder and CEO of YON E Global—a pioneering MedFemTech startup that's reshaping how women understand and track their vaginal and reproductive health. Roswitha shares how her early experiences in women’s shelters shaped her mission to empower women through innovation, data, and education. We explore what it's like to raise capital in male-dominated spaces, how to build a startup with both purpose and scientific rigor, and why real-time vaginal health tracking could change everything from IVF outcomes to everyday wellbeing. ✨ Highlights: YON E Global’s journey toward regulatory approval and clinical testing Cultural taboos and the lack of education in women's health Building a femtech business in Central Europe Balancing masculine and feminine energy in leadership Redefining success as a founder If you're curious about the future of FemTech, want to support underserved health spaces, or just love hearing honest founder stories—this episode is for you. 🔗 Learn more at: https://yone.global🤝 Get in touch with Roswitha

    45 min

  7. 06/06/2025

    S1E7: How One Fintech App is Changing How Brazilians Think About Money with Fernanda Guilhermino, Co-Founder of Oinc

    Brazilian fintech Oinc is helping millions rethink money. Co-founder Fernanda Guilhermino shares how she's making financial wellness more accessible. In this episode of The Founders Atlas, we travel to Rio de Janeiro to meet Fernanda Guilhermino, co-founder of the Brazilian fintech app Oinc. With fewer than 4% of Brazilians investing and sky-high credit card interest rates, Fernanda shares how her personal journey inspired a product that meets people where they are. 💡 You'll hear about: The cultural roots of Brazil's financial anxiety How Oinc helps users save, invest, and manage money automatically Fernanda’s leap from law to launching a startup What it takes to build trust in a low-literacy, high-risk economy Why emotional intelligence, therapy, and co-founders matter 🌎 If you're interested in fintech, LATAM startups, or investing in emerging markets—this one's for you. 👉 Download Oinc (Brazil only), follow Fernanda on LinkedIn, or reach out if you're an angel or VC - reach out to her via email: fernanda.guilhermino@useoinc.com.br 🎙️ Hosted by Mayuri Reddy #Fintech #Brazil #Startups #LatAm #Oinc #FoundersAtlas

    43 min

  8. 05/23/2025

    S1E6: Building Aziza - How Nesma Amin Is Changing The Game For Women’s Health in Egypt

    In this episode of The Founders Atlas, Mayuri sits down with Nesma Amin, the Cairo-based founder of Aziza, a period tracking app built in Egyptian Arabic with one mission: making women’s health information accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant. Together, they unpack: Why Aziza speaks to Egyptian women in a way global apps don’t. The cultural myths Nesma is gently - but powerfully - unlearning through building Aziza. How Nesma builds trust and intimacy with users by meeting them where they are, linguistically, culturally, and emotionally. What it means to redefine success when building for impact in a fragmented healthcare system. 💡 Whether you're building a startup in an emerging market or navigating sensitive health topics, this conversation offers valuable insight on empathy-driven product design. 🎯 Want to support or connect with Nesma? Reach her at: nesma@aziza.app and learn more/download the app here. ✨ Follow and review The Founders Atlas to discover more global founders reimagining innovation on their terms. You can find us on instagram here.

    47 min
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About

The Founders Atlas takes you on a journey through the world’s diverse and thriving business ecosystems. Hosted by Mayuri Reddy, The Founders Atlas explores the rise of visionary entrepreneurs in cities often overlooked—like Cape Town, Bangalore, Detroit, Mexico City, and Rio. Through candid, culture-rich conversations, we uncover how identity, community, and local values shape global businesses. More than startup stories, this is your passport to the world’s most fascinating entrepreneurial ecosystems.

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