The Control Room: Uncensored (Inside the systems that shape capital, policy, and markets.) The Control Room: Uncensored is a long-form podcast examining how economies and companies are actually built. We bring together investors, operators, policymakers, and ecosystem builders for direct, unfiltered conversations about power, incentives, and decision-making. No hype. No performance. Just how things really work.
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February 2, 2026Episode 21 hr 32 min
Can Predictions Transform Africa? Oluwaleke Fakorede
What if many things in our society, e.g., elections, were decided by what people really think and believe?What if markets could tell the truth before the results were announced?In this episode, I sat with Oluwaleke (fondly called Hashcode) Co-founder of Bayse. We break down how prediction markets actually work, why they expose incentives faster than polls, and what happens when technology collides with regulation, culture, and power in Africa. This is a discussion about:How markets predict outcomes before institutions admit themWhy trust, simplicity, and redundancy decide whether systems surviveWhat regulation gets wrong about innovation in NigeriaHow stablecoins quietly underpin economic realityWhy politics shapes every other problem Africa faces
January 28, 2026Episode 11 hr 18 min
Cultural Identity and the African Narrative: Joe Kinvi
SummaryIn this engaging conversation, Joe Kinvi shares his journey as a founder, reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of building businesses in Africa. He emphasises the importance of empathy gained through personal experience, the need for a cultural narrative that accurately represents Africa, and the role of risk-taking in personal growth. Joe discusses his transition from corporate life to the startup ecosystem, the significance of negotiating equity, and the necessity of building trust within communities. He envisions a future where the African diaspora can invest confidently in their home countries, leveraging technology to create opportunities and foster growth. The discussion culminates in Joe's vision for Borderless, a platform aimed at empowering African investments and promoting cultural industries.Connect with Joe Kinvi
December 10, 20251 hr 10 min
Uncensored: Florent (Flo) Nduwayezu
A dedicated Investor and financial expert, Florent has spent more than a decade supporting African entrepreneurs strategically and with funds.Originally from Burundi, but now based in Kenya, Flo is a bilingual Investor and on this episode spoke about Investing in Africa, the new era of stablecoin, impact investing, AI and more.Connect with FlorentX: nduwaflorentLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florent-flo-nduwayezu-76ab4381/
March 1, 2025Episode 31 hr 40 min
Uncensored: Salmine Sassi, Innovation Specialist
Sidi Saccoh and Salmine Sassi explore the journey of self-discovery, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of community and mentorship. Takeaways Self-discovery is a continuous journey that shapes our paths. Family expectations can create pressure but also support. Unlearning is crucial for personal growth and development. Building a strong support system is essential for success. Networking and relationships are key to entrepreneurial success. A growth mindset is necessary for overcoming challenges. Feedback should be filtered and analysed critically. Community involvement enhances personal fulfillment and growth. AI has the potential to transform entrepreneurship in Africa. Entrepreneurs should focus on scalable business models.
February 21, 2025Episode 21 hr 28 min
Uncensored: Tomi Davies, Founder Lagos Angel Network, Africa Business Angel Network & Diaglocal
In this episode, Tomi Davies, a trailblaser in the African tech ecosystem, sits down with Sidi Saccoh to discuss his journey—from his family background and early education to the challenges of investing in Africa. He shares insights on navigating corruption, the role of language and colonial history in shaping African identity, and the power of angel investing in driving entrepreneurship and innovation.💡 Key Takeaways:✔ The realities of investing in Africa and how failure shaped Tomi’s approach✔ How African founders can transition into investors✔ The impact of AI on Africa’s future tech ecosystem✔ Why local capital and exits are critical for long-term growth🔊 Plus, hear Tomi’s bold takes: "I just told him to go to hell." | "You take their future." | "Founders should become investors."🚀 Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or tech enthusiast, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss!Buy Tomi best selling book here
January 20, 2025Episode 11 hr 34 min
Uncensored Series: Uwem Uwemakpan
The Uncensored series brings together experts to discuss what is happening on the African continent deeply.
This series featured the Head of Investment for Launch Africa Fund II, Uwem Uwemakpan.
August 5, 2024Episode 121 hr 7 min
Pitch Room Africa with Oladimeji Ajegbile, Co-Founder and CEO FotoPool
We sat down with Oladimeji Ajegbile, the genius designer with more almost 200 million views and millions in downloads of his original African depicted stock designs.
Oladimeji Ajegbile is a UX consultant and business leader with a proven track record of building successful ventures and inspiring creativity in others. Beginning his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 15, Oladimeji founded his first company, offering on-demand high-quality printing services for architecture students. This venture evolved into a successful business supplying art materials, architecture modelling materials, and scale figures, generating $50K in revenue by the time he was 19.
With a deep love for art, film, and writing, Oladimeji has spent over 13 years crafting experiences and products that people love and trust. Over the past five years, he has also delved into filmmaking, producing short films and vlogs.
Oladimeji is the visionary behind several impactful projects. He created a library of Afrocentric photos used by over 180 million users and founded an online design school in 2018, which has educated over 50,000 students. In 2020, he launched a design agency that has driven growth and scaled successful products across emerging markets in Africa, Europe, the US, and the UK.
Today, Oladimeji is the Co-founder and CEO of FotoPool, an AI-powered photo-sharing platform designed for event planners and attendees. As a designer specialising in end-to-end UX Design, he has helped businesses and organisations worldwide achieve significant growth and success.
With a robust following of over 250,000 entrepreneurs and creatives, Oladimeji also coaches founders on business growth and personal branding. He is the author of "Who Sets the Standard?", a thought-provoking book that explores success and happiness, providing readers with practical guidance to uncover their most authentic selves.
Oladimeji Ajegbile continues to inspire and innovate, leaving a lasting impact on the creative and entrepreneurial landscapes
June 26, 2024Episode 1158 min
Pitch Room Africa with Chioma Udoh, Lead Product Manager ADR
We sat down with one of Africa's finest Product Manager, Chioma Udoh.
Chioma Udoh, is a Lead Product Manager at Automation Done Right USA and an Associate Director at Founders Institute Lagos. She brings over seven years of experience in leading dynamic teams across various industries in technology. Her leadership has been instrumental in the creation of software products that are not only user-friendly but also foster sustainable, product-led businesses.
Her professional journey has seen her make significant contributions to diverse sectors such as Digital Healthcare, Banking, Cleantech, Martech, Edtech, and HRtech. Chioma’s exceptional work has been recognized with several accolades, including the Andela Integrity Award, the Mandela Washington Fellowship from the US Mission in Nigeria, and the African Presidential Leadership Award from the President of Egypt.
With a diverse educational background spanning Pharmacy, Software Engineering, Innovation Management, and Artificial Intelligence, Chioma Udoh continues to leverage her unique skill set to drive innovation and excellence in technology. She is also an Active Angel Investor at TVCLabs.
June 14, 2024Episode 101 hr 26 min
Pitch Room Africa EP 10 with Uwem Uwemakpan Investments at Launch Africa VC Fund II
In Episode 10 of the Pitch Room Africa, we spoke to Uwem to determine the technical requirements investors are looking at in this climate.
Uwem Uwemakpan is a seasoned ecosystem builder and investor, currently serving as the Head of Investments at Launch Africa VC Fund II. With an unwavering commitment to supporting early-stage startups, Uwem is at the forefront of driving entrepreneurship in Africa’s dynamic business landscape.
Previously, Uwem played a pivotal role in the success of Ingressive Capital, where he led operations and investments. During his tenure, he oversaw the growth and impact of a $10m Fund I and $50m Fund II venture capital fund that has been instrumental in empowering the next generation of African innovators.
Before his time at Ingressive Capital, Uwem was the Entrepreneurship Programme Manager and founding team member of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. In this role, he spearheaded the largest Pan-African Entrepreneurship Programme, a $100 million initiative that exceeded its 10-year goal of training, mentoring, and funding 10,000 entrepreneurs across Africa in just five years. Uwem’s leadership and dedication to driving entrepreneurship have cemented his reputation as a dynamic and influential figure in the African startup community.
Today, as the Head of Investments at Launch Africa VC, Uwem continues to leverage his expertise and industry connections to build robust entrepreneurship ecosystems. He actively collaborates with renowned organizations such as Google, IBM Hyper Protect Accelerator, She Leads Africa, Startup Grind, and Techstars to support and uplift African startups.
Uwem is passionate about the role of entrepreneurship in driving Africa’s economic development. In addition to investing, he mentors entrepreneurs and shares insights as the host of The Grinders Table podcast featuring innovative startups and thought leaders in Africa. With his experience across leading entrepreneur support organizations, Uwem has established himself as an authority on early-stage investing and entrepreneurship development in Africa.
www.launchafrica.com
May 9, 2024Episode 91 hr 11 min
Pitch Room Africa with Obinna Okerekeocha, Director of Content for Moniepoint Inc
In this episode, we spoke to the Obinna Okerekeocha about the impact of storytelling in selling African art.
He is a Creative Director, Creative Executive, Producer, Documentary Filmmaker, Art Director, Multi-media Artist (Video & Sound), AV Editor, Photo & AV Manager, Graphics & Motion Designer, Film Music Composer, Storyteller, Creative Entrepreneur, Creative Community Builder & Creative Adventure seeker.
Having spent almost 2 decades in the African workspace in various creative capacities, I have had the unique opportunity of building Nigerian super-brands in Advertising, 24hrs News, Energy, Philanthropy and Content Creation + Curation + Broadcast.
As the Brand Programs Manager at TEF (Tony Elumelu Foundation), He produced key creative & publicity assets on various high-value audio-visual productions and projects, especially for the $100,000,000 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme that has impacted the lives of thousands of African entrepreneurs.
He is the Director of Content for Moniepoint Inc. (Formerly TeamApt). Moniepoint Microfinance Bank is the definitive bank for small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria and is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Moniepoint MFB was also awarded by the CBN in 2022 as the most inclusive payment platform in the country and operates the largest distribution network for financial services in Nigeria, over 21 million people use their cards on our POS terminals monthly across every local government in Nigeria.
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