The Akro Podcast
The Akro Podcast
Akro Holdings (Pty) Ltd
Akro is an early-stage accelerator for African startups - this is its podcast, which aims to provide a portal into the minds of key players in the early-stage scene for the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors. The go-to podcast for serious discussions on all things startup in Africa, we put Africa in the spotlight and provide transparency into successes, weaknesses and learnings for all who believe in innovation on the continent.
Startup Profile: Shop Online Today
This episode is part of a series of startup profiles we're doing to showcase the businesses in Akro's first township accelerator. This means that all the startups in this cohort either have a founder who grew up in, or is based in a township, or, that the startup does business within the township economy. This time we have on Hiten Keshave the founder and CEO of Shop Online Today .
Dec 4, 2020
12 min
Startup Profile: Khangelani Business College
This episode is part of a series of startup profiles we're doing to showcase the businesses in Akro's first township accelerator. This means that all the startups in this cohort either have a founder who grew up in, or is based in a township, or, that the startup does business within the township economy. This time we have on Rodney Roskruge, the CEO and founder of Khangelani Business College. 
Nov 30, 2020
19 min
Startup Profile: Urban Farm Kzn Agro
This episode is part of a series of startup profiles we're doing to showcase the businesses in Akro's first township accelerator. This means that all the startups in this cohort either have a founder who grew up in, or is based in a township, or that the startup does business within the township economy. This time we have on Lindelo Magubane, the CEO and Cofounder of Urban Farm KwaZulu Natal Agro.
Nov 24, 2020
28 min
Startup Profile: East Jaguar International
This episode is part of a series of startup profiles we're doing to showcase the businesses in Akro's first township accelerator. This means that all the startups in this cohort either have a founder who grew up in, or is based in a township, or that the startup does business within the township economy. This time we have on Kanya Mtsaka and Piwe Qangule, the CEO and COO of East Jaguar International which is an award-winning call answering and telemarketing service provider. https://www.eastjaguar.co.za
Nov 16, 2020
13 min
Startup Profile: Faded Black Innovations
We chat to Leonard Moliki in the first of a series of startup profiles we're doing to showcase the businesses in Akro's first Township Accelerator. This means that all the startups in this cohort either have a founder who grew up in, or is based in a township, or that the startup does business within the township economy. Up first we have Leonard Moliki from Faded Black Innovations.
Nov 9, 2020
15 min
Alison Collier, MD of Endeavor South Africa
Endeavor is like a startup accelerator, but they have a global presence and they are focused further down the line than Akro is, this means they work with small to medium-sized post-revenue businesses and they provide them with high quality mentorship from CEOs, entrepreneurs, industry experts and academics. This mentorship network helps select high-impact entrepreneurs that run potential venture-scale startups and then through a series of programmes, Endeavor quips them with the resources needed to scale.           In this interview we cover Alison's background in INtrepreneurship and what brought her to Endeavor, what Endeavor does in depth, the spirit of mentorship in south africa, and we end with a quickfire round of questions.Alison's LinkedInEndeavor's Website
Oct 29, 2020
36 min
Idan Jaan, CEO & Cofounder of Fundrr
This episode, we have on Idan Jaan who is CEO and Cofounder of Fundrr. A platform that uses tech to provide easy and simple access to finance for SMEs in South Africa. The sound quality isn't our usual standard in this episode, but it's well worth sticking with, because Idan gives us a taste of what it was like to startup and get rejected by investors around 60 times, and how it isn't all rainbows and unicorns. We also go into the Dunning-Kruger Effect and how it contributed to both our developments. Find out more about Fundrr here: www.fundrr.co.za
Sep 29, 2020
37 min
A Guide to Startup Funding in South Africa
Dylan Fletcher reads an article from our blog that takes you through the basics of fundraising and where to start in South Africa. 
Sep 22, 2020
11 min
Theo Kitshoff, Co-founder & Head Of Commercial at Sticitt
Theo Kitshoff is a Cofounder and Head of Commercial at Sticitt, which aims to simplify financial services, from first principles i.e. from the customer need first. Financial Services evolved from the start around the competitive and regulatory space rather than around the actual customer need, from first principles, as Sticitt puts it. In our discussion, we start off covering Theo’s education in Quantitative Risk Management and his CFA, background in the banking space, accounting, and his early ambitions in golf. We then move onto why Sticcit was founded and the vision, the back end, cofounding team, regulation and more..  For more info visit www.sticitt.co.za
Sep 18, 2020
35 min
How to Pick Cofounders
Dylan Fletcher reads an article from www.venturescale.co that is a collection of quotes from the greats on how to pick cofounders... all in one place.
Sep 3, 2020
10 min