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

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. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryamahassani/] Reach out to Mayuri here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayurireddy/] Follow the Founders Atlas On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersatlas.podcast]

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mseshie/] and/or through ⁠Kola Market's website⁠ [https://kola.market/]. 🌍 The Founders Atlas brings you stories of entrepreneurs building in emerging ecosystems around the world. Follow along on instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersatlas.podcast] and substack. [https://thefoundersatlas.substack.com/]

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/ [https://www.triift.africa/] 🔗 Trift Africa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/triiftafrica [https://www.linkedin.com/company/triiftafrica] 🔗 Yemisi Ajeojo (Isidi) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemisiisidi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemisiisidi/] Follow The Founders Atlas: 🌐 Website: https://www.thefoundersatlaspodcast.com [https://www.thefoundersatlaspodcast.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersatlas.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersatlas.podcast] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founders-atlas [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-founders-atlas]

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 [https://www.vigaet.com/] | Vivek’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivek-reddy-397b172b/]The Founders Atlas Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersatlas.podcast] | Website [https://www.thefoundersatlaspodcast.com/]| Mayuri's Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayurireddy/]

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jafar-shunnar/], CTO and Co-founder of TAP Careers [https://www.tapcareers.io/]- recently named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for Social Good. [https://www.fastcompany.com/91270160/social-good-most-innovative-companies-2025] 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 [https://tapcareers.io] 📬 Reach out directly:✉️ talent@tapcareers.io [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 [https://www.thefoundersatlaspodcast.com/] is a podcast exploring global entrepreneurship through the lens of visionary founders building from underrepresented and overlooked regions. Hosted by Mayuri Reddy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayurireddy/], each episode offers insights into the human stories behind startups—and the cultural, personal, and economic forces that shape them.