GEOHABARI

Geohabari Pod
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Amplifying African Tech Stories and Elevating Technical Brilliance. This is a podcast for the geospatial community. 

  1. 9h ago

    Part II: How We Built a Tech Powerhouse: The Road to Operational Spatial AI (OSAI).

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari On Part II of **The Making Of Penta-B**, Haitham Harras takes us through the company's growth journey — from a small team of two, with three cofounders who refused to join them, to a team of 120 engineers, a headquarters in the Netherlands, a dedicated GeoAI lab and a growing presence across multiple markets. From being broke to reaching a business valuation of over **US$10 million**, this journey was about more than growth. It took strategic shifts, persistence, taking risks and rethinking what kind of company they wanted to become. We get into what it took to build and scale the business, Haitham's perspective on AI and what geospatial professionals should be paying attention to. And there's one development you definitely want to watch: **Operational Spatial AI (OSAI)** — a new frontier that Penta-B is building from the ground up. This is Part II of The Making Of Penta-B.

  2. Oct 27

    Part I: Proving Our Business Model Works | Building Penta-b

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What does it take to turn a technical idea into a technology business serving Africa and the Middle East? A graduation project was the starting point. Twenty-two years later, Haitham Harras is the Founder and CEO of Penta-b. In Part I of The Making Of we sit down with Haitham Harras, Founder & CEO of Penta-b, for the story of how a university project, a life-changing trip to Esri Redlands, and a growing conviction that there was a gap in the market eventually led him to build his own company. From joining Esri's JavaScript API team to learning the business beyond technology, Haitham takes us through the decisions behind Penta-b's early days — building the first product, assembling the team, making the leap from employment, and navigating the moments when everything seemed to fall apart. It's a story about spotting an opportunity, betting on yourself, and learning the hard way what it really takes to build a technology business. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 - Where It All Began 00:02:42 - Meet Haitham Harras, Founder & CEO of Penta-b 00:07:24 - The Graduation Project That Started It All 00:08:57 - Building a Navigation System on ArcPad 00:10:07- From Graduation Project to Esri Middle East 00:10:42 - Inside Esri's JavaScript API Team 00:15:16 - Learning More Than Tech: Product, Sales & Business 00:18:50 - Spotting the Gap in the Market 00:20:14 - Leaving Esri to Build Penta-b 00:24:01 - Building the First Penta-b Team 00:28:07 - Penta-B's first product and first pitch 00:36:36 - The Blind Spot That Nearly Broke the Business 38:00: When $20K/Month Was on the Table

  3. Oct 12

    From Reselling Software to In-House Solutions Development Across Eastern Africa | Eric Nyadimo

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari In the first episode of  **The Making Of**, we sit down with Eric Nyadimo, CEO of Oakar Services Limited, a regional geospatial consulting firm delivering solutions and training across Eastern Africa. Eric takes us back to his early career, the beginnings of Oakar, and stepping into the role of CEO at just 31. We explore how the business has evolved from reselling software from international brands to expanding into surveying and mapping and developing its own in-house software solutions used across the region. Beyond the business, we get into some of the conversations shaping Kenya's geospatial landscape, including the Kenya National Spatial Data Infrastructure (KNSDI) and Ardhi Sasa. Eric also shares perspectives from his wider industry leadership as President of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) and Chair of the Land and Physical Planning Board at KEPSA. - What does it take to grow a geospatial business, navigate change, and help shape an evolving industry? We get into all this and more in this episode of *The Making Of*. 00:00:00 – Meet Eric Nyadimo 00:05:40 – Early career and the road to Oakar 00:06:50 – Introducing Oakar Services 00:09:46 – The early days of geospatial companies in Kenya 00:12:32 – The services Oakar started with 00:13:10 – Taking over as CEO 00:16:03 – What does it really mean to be a CEO? 00:20:16 – The key roles in building a company 00:22:35 – Understanding Oakar's business model 00:25:00 – The strategic decision to have two separate companies 00:26:00 – Oakar Services Limited and Esri Eastern Africa 00:28:28 – Expanding Oakar's business portfolio 00:31:14 – Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software 00:33:38 – The project that put Oakar on the map 00:35:27 – The tough decisions behind building a business 00:37:42 – Leadership beyond Oakar: ISK and KEPSA 00:44:00 – ISK (Institution of Surveyors Kenya) as a professional body 00:52:00 – Digitizing land in Kenya with Ardhi Sasa 00:58:55 – Advice for young professionals 01:03:41 – Kenya National Spatial Data Infrastructure (KNSDI)

  4. Trailer

    The Making Of | Premieres 12th October.

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari The official trailer for The Making Of. The series premieres on 12th October.

  5. Aug 17

    S3 E14: From Open Geospatial to NASA Lifelines & Authoring Astral Abyss

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari In this episode of the GeoHabari Young Professionals Segment, I sat down with Nelson, a recent geospatial graduate, for one of those conversations that starts in geospatial and somehow ends up elsewhere. We got into the world of Open Geospatial data and tools, his experience with OpenStreetMap (OSM) and what it has taught him about building communities around open data. Nelson also shared his experience as a microgrant juror, giving us a glimpse into the kinds of ideas and projects that are emerging from the open mapping ecosystem. We then took things a little further out. Nelson talked about his role as an advisor for NASA Lifelines, the thinking behind building systems that can support communities through some of the world's biggest challenges, and where geospatial data fits into that picture. And because apparently maps and space weren't enough, we also got into his new book, Astral Abyss, exploring another side of Nelson's work, hobbies and imagination. It's a conversation about open data, mapping, community, space, technology, creativity and the strange paths a career can take when you don't put yourself in one box. Because sometimes the most interesting geospatial careers aren't the ones that follow a straight line. Watch. Listen. And maybe rethink what you think "Geospatial" can actually become. The book Astral Abyss is available on Amazon; https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9914509312?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SH2SERCMR79GR3K8N32D&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SH2SERCMR79GR3K8N32D&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SH2SERCMR79GR3K8N32D&bestFormat=true #GeoHabari #YoungProfessionals #OpenStreetMap #OpenGeoSpatial #GIS #NASA #Geospatial #OpenData #Space #AstralAbyss

    S3 E14: From Open Geospatial to NASA Lifelines & Authoring Astral Abyss

  6. Jul 27

    S3E13: Why Countries Must Invest in National Data Systems

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What does it take for countries to build data systems that serve their people, strengthen governance, and shape their own digital futures? On the sidelines of the Global Data Festival and the Kenya Space Expo and Conference 2026, we sat down with Jenna Slotin, CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, to explore what success looks like for national data systems in the years ahead. In this conversation, we discuss: Why countries should invest in data systems as critical infrastructureWhat it means for nations to drive their own digital futures in the age of AIThe role of governments, citizens and partnerships in building resilient, trusted data ecosystems

  7. Jul 22

    S3E12: What Is Space Weather? How It Affects GPS, Satellites & Your Everyday Life

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari Have you ever heard someone introduce themselves as a Space Weather Expert? Neither had we. In this episode of the GeoHabari Young Professionals Segment, Linus sits down with Mary Dusabe, a Navigation & Positioning Engineer at the Kenya Space Agency, researcher, instrumentation engineer, and space weather specialist, to unpack one of the most fascinating careers you've probably never heard of. Together, they explore what space weather actually is, why solar storms matter, how they affect GPS, satellites and communication systems, and why this field is becoming increasingly important in our connected world. But beyond the science lies an equally inspiring story. Mary shares her journey into this highly specialized field, the decisions that shaped her career, the value of curiosity, the importance of building strong technical and communication skills, and why young professionals shouldn't be afraid to explore paths that don't yet have a roadmap. Whether you're in geospatial sciences, engineering, technology, or simply trying to figure out your own career path, this conversation is packed with practical insights and a refreshing reminder that some of the most exciting careers are the ones we were never told about. If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who loves technology, science, or is still figuring out where their career might take them.

  8. Jul 13

    S3E11 : Shaping Kenya's Space Future | Major General Hillary Kipkosgey

    Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari What keeps the Director-General of the Kenya Space Agency, Major General Hillary Kipkosgey, up at night? We caught up with him on the sidelines of the Global Data Festival and Kenya Space Conference & Expo to hear his perspective on: What success looks like for Kenya's space sector and the broader African ecosystem How Africa can collectively strengthen the upstream and downstream space value chain.  The one question we couldn't leave without asking: What keeps him up at night?

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About

Amplifying African Tech Stories and Elevating Technical Brilliance. This is a podcast for the geospatial community. 

Information

  • Creator
    Geohabari Pod
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 GEOHABARI
  • Show Website
    GEOHABARI