Episodes
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🚀 In our latest episode of The Startup Leap, we speak with Elizabeth Rossiello, Founder and CEO of AZA Finance, an innovator in African cross-border payment solutions and remittances. Elizabeth shares how her experiences in microfinance led her to tackle Africa’s currency exchange challenges.
Key Takeaways:
🔎 The journey from microfinance to building a fintech that addresses African liquidity needs.
🤝 Navigating regulatory landscapes and building trust through local hiring.
🚀 Insights on pivoting from consumer payments to B2B to meet demand.
👉 Connect with Elizabeth Rossiello and AZA Finance on LinkedIn and Instagram: @elizabethrossiello_ and @azafinance
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod | Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Learn More: www.thestartupleap.io
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#TheStartupLeap #ElizabethRossiello #AZAFinance #fintech #currencyexchange #microfinance #AfricaTech #AfricaBusiness #TechForGood #WomenInTech #FounderJourney #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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🚀 In this episode, Yvonne and Maria dive into essential hiring insights every founder needs. Explore team-building strategies, co-founder compatibility, and methods to attract talent with purpose. Founders know that building the right team is crucial. This episode revisits key insights on how to navigate the challenges of finding the perfect co-founders and team members to drive success. 👨🏿🤝👨🏼💰
Key insights:
🎯 The importance of hiring slow and intentionally
🤜🤛 How to find a team that aligns with your vision and values
🛠️ The balance between expertise and hands-on adaptability in a startup
Tune in and unlock the secrets to building your A-team!
👉 Connect with Yvonne and Maria on LinkedIn and Instagram: @yvonnebajela and @mariarotilu
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod | Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Learn More: www.thestartupleap.io
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#TheStartupLeap #FoundersJourney #EntrepreneurTips #TeamBuilding #BusinessGrowth #Teamwork #podcast #StartupLessons #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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Episodes manquant?
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🎙️Today on The Startup Leap, we feature Sait Cham, the Founder and CEO behind Hutch and Pimento. Learn how Sait built Hutch into a leading 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) provider, handling logistics for brands with customizable, tech-powered solutions, and how Pimento's software transformed the logistics game for 3PL providers everywhere.
Key Insights:
✨ Starting from scratch to leading in logistics tech
💼 Key takeaways on resilience and leadership
📈 The benefits of focusing on unit economics early
🚀 Practical insights on scaling for profitability
👉 Connect with Sait Cham, Hutch and Pimento on LinkedIn and Instagram: @saitcham, @tryhutch and @pimentohq
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod | Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Learn More: www.thestartupleap.io
Subscribe to our newsletter to join the community: subscribe.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #SaitCham #tryhutch #pimentohq #LogisticsTech #FoundersJourney #EntrepreneurLife #3PLSolutions #BusinessGrowth #podcast #StartupLessons #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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🎙️On this episode of The Startup Leap, we sit down with Raffi Salama, CEO & Co-Founder of Passionfruit, a B2B marketplace connecting top-tier freelance marketing talent with leading global brands like PepsiCo, Mars, and HSBC. 🚀
Key Takeaways:
💼 Discover how Raffi's journey—from working with David Beckham to building Passionfruit—was driven by luck, hard work, and smart strategies.
🎯 Learn the importance of focusing on high-leverage actions that produce the majority of results.
🌍 Hear why the traditional 9-5 work model is becoming obsolete, and how specialized freelancers are reshaping the future of work.
🔄 Passionfruit's innovative model: offering on-demand marketing talent through a dynamic, API-like approach.
👉 Connect with Raffi Salama and Passionfruit on Instagram and LinkedIn: @raffisalama and @usepassionfruit
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Learn More: www.thestartupleap.io
Subscribe to: subscribe.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #RaffiSalama #passionfruit #FreelanceRevolution #entrepreneurship #techfounderstories #marketing #b2b #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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🎙️This week on The Startup Leap, we sit down with Sabrina Del Prete, Founder of KORE Labs—a pioneering company transforming how financial institutions design and launch digital products.🚀
Key Takeaways:
💡 Sabrina's bold leap: From senior roles at top banks to founding KORE Labs, Sabrina shares her journey of turning an innovative idea into a successful fintech startup.
🌍 Empowering Fintech: Discover how KORE Labs simplifies and accelerates the development of compliant, customer-friendly digital products.
🎯 Resilience and Vision: Sabrina talks about overcoming challenges and maintaining focus on a clear vision for KORE Labs' growth.
💼 Advice for Founders: Learn Sabrina’s insights on how to build a solid foundation and gain trust with clients in a highly regulated industry.
🌟 From banking to founder: Sabrina's transition into entrepreneurship and what sparked the idea for KORE Labs.
🔑 Overcoming challenges: Sabrina's advice for pushing through the tough times while staying focused on long-term success.
👉 Connect with Sabrina and KORE Labs on LinkedIn
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram @thestartupleappod, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter to join the community: subscribe.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #KoreLabs #SabrinaDelPrete #podcast #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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In our latest The Startup Leap episode, we talk with Marta Krupinska, Co-founder of CUR8—a groundbreaking climate tech company focused on carbon removal and tackling the $1 trillion climate challenge.
Marta's journey from fintech to tackling climate change is filled with lessons about innovation, inequality, and the power of purpose-driven businesses.
🔗 Learn how CUR8 is pioneering the future of carbon removal solutions.
🌍 Discover how Marta transitioned from fintech to climate tech without a science background.
💡 Learn the role of inequality in shaping Marta’s understanding of climate challenges.
📊 Explore CUR8’s unique business model and its focus on carbon removals.
🚀 Get insider tips on startup culture and how Marta is reshaping what it means to build mission-driven companies.
👉 Connect with Marta and CUR8 on Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @martaisnotoninsta
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter to join the community: subscribe.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #StashApp #EdRobinson #Fintech #Startup #podcast #unicorn #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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On this episode of The Startup Leap, we have a conversation with with Ed Robinson, Co-Founder of Stash—a fintech platform valued at over $1bn empowering over 6 million customers and disrupting the traditional investing space. Stash has raised over $300 million in funding and employs 300+ people, making it easier for everyday individuals to start investing.
🚀 Ed shares his journey from Australia to London, then New York, and his leap from investment banker to co-founding a unicorn company valued at over $1 billion.
Packed with lessons on building a co-founding team, acquiring the first 1,000 customers, and scaling a regulated fintech app, this episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for an insightful conversation!
👉 Connect with Ed and STASH on Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @stash.financial
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap 🔗
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#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #StashApp #EdRobinson #Fintech #Startup #podcast #unicorn #yvonnebajela #mariarotilu
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🎙️ In this week's episode of The Startup Leap, we have a conversation with Oluwaseyi Sosanya, Co-founder and CEO of @GravitySketch – a groundbreaking Augmented and Virtual Reality Tech startup shaking up the design world! ✨
From growing up inspired by his engineer grandfather, to building with his hands in his early career, Oluwaseyi's journey is filled with creativity, innovation, and bold moves. 🌍🛠️
After moving to Taiwan from the US, and then to London pursuing an MSc in Design and Innovation Engineering at Imperial College London and Royal College of Art, he met his co-founder, and their vision for Gravity Sketch was born.
Oluwaseyi's journey took him from working as a Product Designer at Jaguar Land Rover, to taking the leap and building Gravity Sketch from scratch. Starting with revenue and grants as their first source of funding, Seyi and his team have raised over $40M in funding to date, revolutionizing the design process for B2B customers around the world.
In the episode, we dive into his 10-year entrepreneurial journey, covering key lessons on:
- Building the right founding team 🧑🤝🧑
- Navigating the fundraising landscape 💰
- Onboarding B2B customers 🤝
- Monetizing your product 💡
With a clear focus on how to blend design and technology, Seyi’s insights are invaluable for anyone looking to take the leap in the design space. Tune in now for a masterclass in building on how he took the leap, to building Gravity Sketch from the ground up! 💥
👉 Connect with Oluwaseyi and GravitySketch on Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @gravitysketch
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
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#TheStartupLeap #GravitySketch #ARVR #EntrepreneurLife #FoundersJourney #DesignThinking #Innovation #B2BCustomers #ProductDesign #OluwaseyiSosanya #Podcast #VentureCapital #StartupLife #MariaRotilu #YvonneBajela
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🎙️ This week we’re excited to bring you the incredible story of Louise Hill, Co-founder of GoHenry a European fintech startup helping over 2M+ children learn practical money management skills they can apply in the real world! 🌍💡I
1 in 5 UK kids ages 10-12 use a GoHenry Card.
Louise shares her leap from Operator to Founder of her first startup, an e-commerce business. 🚀 How she started GoHenry, explored go-to-market strategies, and built the first team. 💼✨
We also dive into Louise’s fundraising journey, including GoHenry's record-breaking crowdfunding round, its growth, acquisition of another startup, and its own acquisition! 🔥
Join us on this insight-packed episode, filled with valuable lessons from building financial technology for children ages 6-18 🎧💸
👉 Connect with Louise and GoHenry on Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @gohenry
Website: www.gohenry.com
🌟 Stay Updated with The Startup Leap:
Instagram: @thestartupleappod Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
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#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #GoHenry #LouiseHill #YvonneBajela #MariaRotilu #Fintech #Crowdfunding #StartupGrowth #FinancialEducation #Podcast
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🎙️ This week we’re excited to bring you the incredible story of Co-Founder of Max, Tayo Bamiduro building for the $15bn Electric Vehicle Market. Tayo discusses his leap with co-founder Chinedu post his MBA at MIT Sloan, the early days, learning to pitch, accelerators, learning to pitch, raising debt, building a scalable EV technology and logistics startup, many more!
Join us on this refreshing episode, sharing valuable lessons from the journey to building technology infrastructure for the adoption of low emission vehicles in African logistics🚀👉
Connect with Tayo:Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @bamtayo and Max on @maxdotng
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap:Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
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#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #ElectricVehicles #Max #Africa #AdetayoBamiduro
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This is the startup leap story of the amazing Julia Collins, a four-time founder, one of which was a unicorn. Julia's current startup has raised a $16.8 round for Planet FWD, a technology company helping consumer businesses reach net zero.
What’s in this episode?
Who is Julia?Growing up and early entrepreneurship family influencesOrigins from Deep South (South Carolina and West Virginia) to San FranciscoFrom Stanford to Co-Founding MexicueCo-Founding Zume PizzaChoosing to Leave The Business Starting Moonshot, the healthy snack brandMotherhood and EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurs as Creators, Builders and MakersFounding Planet FWD and validating the businessFor entrepreneurs as they think of taking the leap.Connect with Julia Collins :Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @juliaecollins
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
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#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #ClimateTech #JuliaCollins #YvonneBajela #MariaRotilu
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🎙️ This week we’re excited to bring you the incredible story of Richard Robinson, an ex-lawyer turned Founder of Legal -Tech startup RobinAI.
Robin AI has raised over $30million, has 95 customers, 7 of the Fortune 500. Has over 100+ employees in London, and New York, with major global funds as clients.
🔑 What’s in this episode?
From Debate Championship To Lawyer
Building A NightClub App
The Eureka Moment for RobinAI
Bringing His Co-Founder On Board
Impact of COVID on the Business
Building Teams and Leading as a CEO and many more
Tips for entrepreneurs as they think of taking the leap.
👉 Tap the link in our bio to listen now!
Connect with Richard Robinson:Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @richard_robinson_
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap:Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
Learn more: www.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #LegalTech #TechFounder #RichardRobinson #RobinAI
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🎙️ This week we’re excited to bring you the incredible story of Sameh Saleh, a three-time founder who’s taken his passion for building businesses to new heights.
From founding a dating app that led to a major acquisition to launching the fintech startup MNZL, Sameh's journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurship. 🌍✨🔑
What’s in this episode?
From Egypt to Malaysia: How Sameh's early life and career moves set the stage for his entrepreneurial journey,
Media Beginnings: Hear how Sameh started a travel media company with friends and the pivot that led to a successful exit.
Building for Family: Discover the personal story behind founding a dating app to help his sisters, and the strategies he used to acquire the first 1,000 users.
Big Win: Learn about the acquisition of his dating app by MATCH Group and what it taught him.
New Ventures: Dive into his latest venture, MNZL, and the valuable lessons he's applying from his past experiences.
Don't miss this insightful and inspiring conversation! 🚀
Connect with Sameh Saleh: Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @sameh_saleh_
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap:Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter to join the community: subscribe.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #Fintech #TechFounder #SamehSaleh #MNZL
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🎙️ This week Yvonne and Maria bring you the unstoppable Michelle Kennedy, the powerhouse founder behind Peanut—the app that’s transforming how women connect across all stages of their experience; Fertility, Pregnancy, Motherhood, Menopause, you name it!
With over 3 million users and counting, Michelle’s journey from lawyer to tech founder is nothing short of inspiring.
Episode Highlights:
From the courtroom to the boardroom: How Michelle’s background paved the way for her success in technology leadership roles and ultimately founding her own technology company.Badoo & Bumble: Michelle’s insider stories from her days as Deputy MD at Badoo and her early roles as Board Advisor and Director at Bumble.Taking the Leap: What inspired Michelle to create Peanut and build a platform by women, for women.Finding product-market fit: The strategic moves and go-to-market approaches, that led Peanut to become the go-to app for millions of women worldwideVC insights: Why Michelle believes in thinking deeply before chasing venture capital.Don’t miss this candid and energizing conversation! 💬
New episodes drop every #Tuesday so follow across all channels and be the first to know!
Connect with Michelle Kennedy: Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @michellekennedylon
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter to join the community: subscribe.thestartupleap.io
#TheStartupLeap #WomenInTech #Entrepreneurship #MichelleKennedy #PeanutApp #TechFounder
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🎙️ In our first guest episode, we sit down with three-time founder Timothy Armoo @timarmoo, who shares his inspiring Leap story, starting his company while still at university and later starting @Fanbytes, which he sold for 8 figures at the age of 27.
Episode Episode Highlights:
Childhood and Early Influences: Discover how his journey from humble beginnings in Ghana to the UK fuelled his ambitions to be successful at an early age.
Growing as a CEO: Gain insights on how he evolved as a CEO as the company scaled and what he would do differently.
Team building: Hear valuable insights on what to optimise for when building a world-class team.
Fundraising: Tim shares his insights on why he chose to be very intentional around the type of funding he used to fuel his business.
Achieving an 8-figure exit: Hear about how Tim achieved that 8-figure exit and how his life has adjusted since.Join us for an intimate and enlightening conversation filled with gems, laughter, and lessons.
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap: Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
New episodes drop every #Tuesday 🎙️
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#entrepreneurship #business #startup #thestartupleap
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🎙️ In our second "Meet the Host" episode, we sit down with the amazing @YvonneBajela who shares her inspiring journey from working at Goldman Sachs to living and investing across the globe, from Japan to Israel and now being a Partner at LocalGlobe
Episode Highlights:-
Childhood and Early Influences: From humble beginnings in South London to learning about financial markets from as young as 8.Career Evolution and Resilience: Hear about her hustle to enter the venture world after a chance encounter on her way to Ghana.Investment Insights: Gain insights on her stellar investment track record investing in Europe and Africa like Wise, Marshmallow, and Flutterwave and how it took her across the globe to invest in Japan.Join us for an intimate conversation filled with laughter, great insights, and valuable lessons.
Connect with Yvonne Bajela: Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @yvonnebajela
Stay Updated with The Startup Leap:
Instagram: @thestartupleappod Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
New episodes drop every Tuesday - stay tuned for our first guest episode, 🎙️
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#thestartupleap #technology #entrepreneurship #business #startup #Yvonnebajela
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🎙️ In our first "Meet the Host" episode, we sit down with the incredible Maria Rotilu, who shares her inspiring Leap story, transitioning from Operator (Uber&Branch) to Investor (Oxford Seed Fund, Octopus Ventures), and now Founder and General Partner at Openseed VC.
Episode Highlights:
Childhood and Early Influences: Discover how Maria's upbringing in Nigeria shaped her entrepreneurial journey.Educational Path: Learn about her decision to pursue a Computer Science degree, her emigration to the UK, and her enriching MBA experience at Oxford.Career Evolution: Hear about her pivotal MBA internship, her transition into venture capital, and her impactful role as Fund Manager at Octopus Ventures.Faith and Resilience: Maria opens up about the importance of faith in her journey, the profound impact of losing a loved one, and how it influenced her attitude towards risk.Professional Insights: Gain valuable lessons from her consulting days at Deloitte and her experience scaling tech giants like Uber and Branch.co.Founding Openseed VC: Maria shares the bold steps she took to establish Openseed.VC, even amidst the challenges of building a first-time VC fund.Join us for an intimate and enlightening conversation filled with gems, laughter, and lessons.Connect with Maria
Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter: @mariarotiluStay Updated with The Startup Leap:
Instagram: @thestartupleappodTwitter, YouTube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter to join the community: subscribe.thestartupleap.ioDon't miss out on Yvonne's "Meet the Host" episode this Thursday! 🎉
#thestartupleap #technology #entrepreneurship #business #startup #MariaRotilu
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Your Hosts; Yvonne and Maria share what to expect as you listen to The Startup Leap (TSL)
It promises to be packed with insights, real-life stories of entrepreneurs who took the bold step to launch their own companies. TSL your go-to podcast as you transform your business dreams into reality.
Considering taking the leap to entrepreneurship? Want to learn from the stories of founders?
Then this is the Podcast for you!
Follow us on our socials and be the first to know when new episodes drop every Tuesday.
Instagram: @thestartupleappod
Twitter, Youtube, and TikTok: @thestartupleap
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Follow The Startup Leap on all channels, and you'll know when new episodes drop every Tuesday 🎙️
#thestartupleap #technology #entrepreneurship #business #startup #YvonneBajela #MariaRotilu
