Africa to Alpha - A podcast by RealCorp Capital

Chris Kanwei
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship

Africa to Alpha is a monthly podcast series by RealCorp Capital where we sit down with bold thinkers, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of African innovation. Each episode will feature candid, practical conversations about building, scaling, and investing across African markets. No buzzwords, No vague theory, Just real stories, real lessons, and real insights from the people doing the work. What to expect:- Honest conversations about the startup and investment journeyLessons from angel investors and operatorsSector insights and emerging trendsPractical guidance for aspiring and active early-stage investorsA focus on Africa’s growth, challenges, and opportunitiesWhether you’re an investor, builder, or simply curious about the continent’s growth story, Africa to Alpha is for you.

Episodes

  1. Oct 12

    Action, Capital & Cross Border Venture Building: How Founders Become Investable.

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! The conversation around founder fundraising is shifting – and today’s episode goes straight to the heart of what separates founders who raise capital from those who don't. I sat down with Steven Dossou (“Action Man”), Founder of IRIS Vision Capital, TEDx speaker, global venture strategist, and advocate for execution‑driven entrepreneurship, for one of the most practical conversations happening right now about investor readiness and cross‑border venture building. We unpack: ✅ Why ideas don’t attract capital – execution does ✅ Why a startup without sales is just an expensive hobby and what founders must do to validate demand early ✅ The five pillars investors examine before writing a check: idea validation, team quality, scalability, go-to-market strategy, and financial performance ✅ Why founders should sell before they build and use waiting lists, pilots, and customer conversations as proof of demand ✅ The difference between working in the business and working on the business as companies scale from early stage to Series A and beyond Steven brings clarity, intensity, and an execution-first philosophy shaped by a remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Togo to becoming a trusted advisor to founders and investors across global markets. His message is simple but powerful: customers pay rent, ideas don't.

    Action, Capital & Cross Border Venture Building: How Founders Become Investable.

  2. Jun 5

    Storytelling, Credibility & the Communications Infrastructure Behind African Tech

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! The African tech media landscape is shifting – and this episode goes straight to the heart of how founders build credibility, trust, and visibility in a noisy ecosystem. I sat down with Jessica Hope, Founder & CEO of Wimbart and long‑standing Google Launchpad mentor, for one of the most important conversations happening right now about storytelling, positioning, and the communications infrastructure behind African tech. We unpack: ✅ Why most startup updates fail the “so what?” test – and what truly counts as news ✅ How earned media really works – and why journalists aren’t a transactional channel ✅ Why AI is flooding the ecosystem with generic content – and how founders can stand out from the crowd ✅ The evolution of African tech media – from iROKOtv to today’s fragmented, niche landscape ✅ Why positioning and consistency matter more than ever for early‑stage founders Jessica brings clarity, honesty, and a decade‑long view of how African tech companies rise – and how the best founders use narrative discipline, human relationships, and strategic communication to build reputations that last.

    Storytelling, Credibility & the Communications Infrastructure Behind African Tech

  3. Mar 5

    Backing Bold Founders: Execution, Traction & the Discipline of African Venture

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! The discipline of African venture is under the spotlight here – and this episode goes straight to the heart of what it really takes to build and back companies on the continent. I sat down with Florent (Flo) Nduwayezu, Investor at FB Capital, syndicate investor with EUVC, and ClimateHack Ambassador in Nairobi, for one of the clearest and most unfiltered conversations happening in African venture right now. We unpack: ✅ Why African founders must prove market validation earlier – and why $1 of revenue in Africa signals more than $4 elsewhere ✅ The misalignment between founder expectations and VC economics, and what “VC‑backable” really means ✅ Why African venture needs more discipline – from fund sizes and valuations to traction requirements ✅ The outsized role of syndicates as strategic early‑stage capital that opens doors, not just wallets ✅ Why climate tech is Africa’s biggest commercial opportunity, not just an impact story ✅ Flo’s core message to founders: “Distribution is the only differentiator.” Flo brings sharpness, honesty, and a 360° perspective shaped by years as a fractional CFO, operator‑side partner, and now early‑stage investor. His lens on traction, discipline, and execution is a must-hear for founders, angels, and anyone serious about African venture.

    Backing Bold Founders: Execution, Traction & the Discipline of African Venture

  4. Feb 2

    Building the Rails for Diaspora Capital: Trust, Infrastructure & Collective Investing

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode explores how diaspora capital is evolving from informal networks into structured, trust-driven investment ecosystems – and how Borderless is building the financial rails to power that shift. Joe Kinvi shares his journey from operator to founder, the lessons learned from collective investing, and why infrastructure, trust, and community are the real unlocks for Africa’s next decade of innovation.

    Building the Rails for Diaspora Capital: Trust, Infrastructure & Collective Investing

  5. Jan 11

    From Angel to Impact: Investing with Purpose in Africa

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this debut episode, Henry Ojuor — Founding Partner at OnAfrica Angels and Program Director at Startupbootcamp AfriTech — sits down with RealCorp Capital's principal, Ifeoluwa Ariyibi, and breaks down what it really takes to invest with purpose in Africa. From accelerating startups to backing founders and building investor communities, Henry shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and stories behind his journey from angel to impact.

    From Angel to Impact: Investing with Purpose in Africa
  • 5 Episodes

About

Africa to Alpha is a monthly podcast series by RealCorp Capital where we sit down with bold thinkers, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of African innovation. Each episode will feature candid, practical conversations about building, scaling, and investing across African markets. No buzzwords, No vague theory, Just real stories, real lessons, and real insights from the people doing the work. What to expect:- Honest conversations about the startup and investment journeyLessons from angel investors and operatorsSector insights and emerging trendsPractical guidance for aspiring and active early-stage investorsA focus on Africa’s growth, challenges, and opportunitiesWhether you’re an investor, builder, or simply curious about the continent’s growth story, Africa to Alpha is for you.

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