Designing Products That Work for African Businesses | Ted Oladele

The Invisible Tech Powering Africa: Ifeanyi Otudoh on Cloud, Fintech & MTN's Evolution

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! In this episode, host Timi Anako sits down with IfeanyiOtudoh, Head and Senior Consultant for Cloud Solutions at MTN, for an eye-openingconversation about the invisible infrastructure powering Africa's digital economy.Ifeanyi breaks down the cloud in the simplest terms: if you've sent money via mobilebanking, checked your email, or used an app today, you've used cloud technology, you justdidn't know it. He explains how payments, streaming platforms, fintech apps, and even yourfavorite social media all live on cloud systems, and why understanding this matters forAfrica's next wave of innovation.But this isn't just a tech explainer. Ifeanyi takes us behind MTN's transformation from atelecom giant into a full-scale digital and fintech platform, powering services like MoMo,cloud solutions, and AI-driven products that are reshaping how Africans connect, transact,and build businesses. He also shares lessons from his career journey across banking,consulting, and tech, and why he believes the best technology is the kind people don't haveto think about, it just works.If you're a founder, techie, or simply curious about how Africa's digital future is being built,this is the conversation you need to hear.

Designing Products That Work for African Businesses | Ted Oladele

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! In this episode, host Timi Anako sits down with Ted Oladele, founder of Mira, for an amazing conversation about curiosity-driven product development, the hidden operational problems destroying Nigerian restaurants, and what it takes to build something worth acquiring. Ted breaks down how a simple moment of curiosity with a QR menu led him to discover the brutal reality: most restaurants and clubs operate on pen and paper, losing thousands to staff theft through duplicate bills, personal inventory, and untracked orders. He explains how Mira became the operational backbone these businesses desperately needed, combining POS, inventory management, and fintech to stop money from walking out the door. But this isn't just a product story. Ted opens up about Chowdeck's acquisition of Mira, the intentionality behind building products that attract buyers, and the difference between founders who build to sell versus those who stumble into acquisition. He also shares hard-earned advice for new designers on what separates good from great, and what aspiring product builders and company founders need to know before they start. If you're a founder, designer, or entrepreneur navigating the African tech ecosystem, this is the playbook you need. Don't miss the full conversation!

Why African Tech Needs Better Storytelling | Fu'ad Lawal

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! In this episode, host Timi Anako sits down with Fu'ad Lawal, founder of Archivi.ng and one of Nigerian tech's most influential storytellers, for a conversation on why the stories you tell… or don't tell, define your startup's future. Fu'ad breaks down the brutal reality: most startups leave their narrative to the media, investors, and competitors, then wonder why they're misunderstood. He explains why preserving history isn't just nostalgia, it's strategic intelligence that prevents expensive mistakes. From his journey through books and comics to building a platform that archives Nigeria's most important moments, Fu'ad delivers a masterclass on how storytelling builds trust, shapes perception, and becomes your most underrated competitive advantage. If you're a founder who thinks storytelling is optional, this conversation will change your mind. Don't miss the full conversation!

"We Need Patient Capital, Right?" (Hint: Your Investor Isn't That Patient.)

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! We're kicking off with an unfiltered, high-stakes conversation featuring Odun Eweniyi, Co-founder and COO of PiggyVest. Odun delivers a masterclass on the unwritten rules of building a multi-million user platform in Nigeria. She explains why the obsession with external funding is a distraction, the cold truth about scaling infrastructure, and why the humanity in communications is so important in the face of AI. If you’re a founder, investor, or innovator in the African ecosystem, this is the essential roadmap you need to start and grow like PiggyVest has. KEY CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS: 00:03:22 - Building for Your Peers: The core philosophy that launched Odun’s first ventures and defined PiggyVest’s mission. 00:10:29 - The 'Kolo' Principle: Why digitizing an old cultural habit, not competing with banks, was the secret to PiggyVest's early growth. 00:13:48 - Stop the Hype: Odun's blunt lesson on why press coverage and "founder euphoria" distract you from the core work. 00:17:31 - The 1 Million User Lie: The cold truth about scaling and why PiggyVest’s infrastructure failed at 1M users, forcing a massive rebuild. 00:21:06 - The Anti-AI Strategy: Why the PiggyVest CEO still insists that "humanity in communications should not be lost." 00:26:00 - The Patient Capital Crunch: Odun’s definitive statement on why "a lot of capital is not patient," and how this reality shapes African startups. 00:27:06 - African Priorities: Why focusing on "the bottom of the pyramid" with the wrong product is a distraction from solving fundamental problems. 00:33:04 - Funding is a Preference: The strategic advantage of running a founder-led company and choosing not to constantly raise. 00:37:09 - Volatility Blueprint: How PiggyVest manages Nigeria’s chaos by relying on a "smart treasury team" and economists. 00:44:45 - The One Thing I Wish I Knew: Odun's final, crucial piece of advice to her younger self (Spoiler: It’s all about regulation).

Intro to new wave Podcast

The Wave Podcast is a new platform for deep conversations with the builders, thinkers, and innovators at the forefront of the African tech and creative ecosystems.