Join Iris Mettendaf on the One Million Euro stories Podcast where she talks with the founder and CEO of Afriex: Temitope Alabi. He has raised 11 million for his business.

Temitope is a visionary engineer-turned-founder who left Lagos for Silicon Valley and back to build faster, fairer financial flows across different countries. 

Take notice of the origin story from a childhood in Nigeria to a YC-backed rocket ride, the moment their product started making real impact, lessons on hiring, fundraising, and scaling across continents — plus honest, actionable advice on building fintech that moves money and lives forward. Tune in for inspiration, practical takeaways, and the human story behind a global startup. 

Listen now — available on your favorite podcast app.

In this episode Temitayo Osunkiyesi reveals the hidden strategies that turn ordinary engineering teams into high-performance powerhouses.

Learn how AI, flexible workflows, and deep understanding of team dynamics can create an unstoppable tech environment. If you want to revolutionize your approach to engineering leadership, this interview is your ultimate blueprint!

Listen to this new episode!

Imagine a world where booking a safari lodge is as easy as ordering takeout. 

In this podcast episode of One Million euro stories. Iris Mettendaf speaks to Lara Dendy Young CEO of Conservio, who just raised €1 million capital. 

Conservio is revolutionizing travel by connecting adventurers directly to breathtaking nature-based experiences across South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia. 

Founded during the pandemic, Conservio isn't just a booking platform - it's a mission to preserve wild spaces through sustainable tourism. Every click supports local conservation efforts and helps protect the continent's most incredible ecosystems.

Whether you're dreaming of watching sunrise over a Namibian desert, exploring lush safari lodges, or finding that perfect mountain retreat, Conservio makes your adventure seamless. Conservio creates connections between travelers and the raw, untouched beauty of Africa.

Your next unforgettable journey is just a click away. Explore. Connect. Preserve. With Conservio.

Listen to this new podcast episode.

"Don't miss this eye-opening interview with Josef Murad, the visionary co-founder of Byon8 HealthTech AI - a startup on a mission to revolutionize primary healthcare access in Africa. Josef Murad raised $4 million for Byon8.

As a former medical doctor, Josef saw firsthand the devastating impact of the looming healthcare worker shortage, set to leave over a third of the world's population without access to basic primary care by 2030. Determined to find a solution, he co-founded Byon8 HealthTech AI, an innovative HealthTech company leveraging AI to bridge this critical gap.

In this exclusive interview, Josef shares the incredible story behind Byon8 HealthTech AI - from pitching the idea to Swedish university investors, to building a talented team across continents, to overcoming funding challenges in a volatile market. You'll be inspired by his passion for using technology to democratize healthcare and bring quality, affordable primary care to the developing world.

Don't miss this chance to go behind the scenes of one startup's mission to solve one of the world's most pressing public health issues. Tune in to learn how Josef and his team are using AI to redefine the future of primary care delivery, and the lessons they've learned along the way. This is an interview you won't want to miss!"

In this captivating episode of the One Million Euro Stories Podcast, host Iris Mettendaf sits down with Nadia Scheffer, a trailblazing entrepreneur from Cape Town, South Africa, who is at the forefront of the seaweed revolution.

Nadia's journey into the world of kelp and seaweed began with a simple walk on the beach in 2015, where she stumbled upon a hidden treasure - the untapped potential of this versatile natural resource. What started as a curious exploration has now blossomed into a mission to unlock the economic and environmental benefits of seaweed, transforming not only her own life but the lives of communities across South Africa.

🎙️Through this insightful conversation, you'll discover the remarkable story behind Nadia's seaweed startup, from the challenges of navigating a nascent industry to the exciting partnerships and technological advancements that are shaping the future of this burgeoning sector. Prepare to be inspired by Nadia's unwavering passion, her commitment to sustainability, and her vision for creating a more prosperous and eco-friendly future.

➡️ Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a sustainability enthusiast, or simply someone curious about the untapped potential of nature's gifts, this episode is a must-listen. Dive in and be transported to the shores of South Africa, where one woman's serendipitous encounter with kelp is paving the way for a seaweed revolution that could change the world.

In this episode of One Million Euro Stories, host Iris Mettendaf sits down with Andrew Akhabue, the CEO and founder of FlologPharma, a pioneering Nigerian startup on a mission to transform access to pharmaceutical care in Africa.

Africa’s healthcare system faces immense challenges from the critical shortage of pharmacists to the alarming rise of counterfeit medications. Millions struggle to access reliable healthcare, especially in remote and underserved areas. But what if technology could bridge this divide?

FlologPharma is doing just that. By leveraging digital innovation, the platform connects patients directly with trusted pharmacists, making expert consultations, medication access, and pharmaceutical guidance more seamless than ever. Through a model that prioritizes trust, accessibility, and convenience, FlologPharma is not just revolutionizing pharmacy services, it’s redefining healthcare delivery for the continent.

In this inspiring conversation, Andrew shares:

✔️ How FlologPharma identified and tackled the gaps in Africa’s healthcare system

✔️ The role of technology in combating counterfeit drugs and pharmacist shortages

✔️ The impact of digital health solutions in improving patient outcomes

✔️ The journey of building a health-tech startup in Africa and the road ahead

This episode is more than just a business success story. It’s a testament to how innovation, resilience, and a commitment to healthcare equity can reshape lives.

🎙️ Tune in now and discover how FlologPharma is paving the way for a healthier Africa!

🎙️ In a continent brimming with untapped entrepreneurial energy, two women are leading the charge to revolutionize the way we think about investing in Africa. Jill Curr, the managing partner MsFiT ventures of and co- founder Egla Ntumba are on a mission to empower the backbone of the African economy - small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

🏦 With a background that spans equities trading, hedge funds, and venture capital, Jill has witnessed firsthand the challenges that African entrepreneurs face in securing the capital they need to grow. Inspired by her mother's trailblazing career as one of the first female investment bankers in South Africa, Jill has dedicated her career to leveling the playing field and unlocking the potential of Africa's vibrant business community.

➡️At the heart of MsFiT ventures' approach is a bold shift away from the traditional venture capital model. Rather than focusing solely on high-growth tech startups, Jill and her co-founder Egla have set their sights on the unsung heroes of the African economy - the SMEs that generate the majority of jobs and GDP, yet struggle to access the capital they need to thrive.

💰By providing these businesses with much-needed debt financing, MsFiT ventures is empowering entrepreneurs to scale their operations, create jobs, and build sustainable, generational wealth. 

Listen to this new podcast about Jill Curr’s unique perspective on investing. 

In the dynamic and rapidly evolving world of African technology, this venture capital firm is a beacon of innovation and opportunity - The Scath Companies (TSC). Led by the visionary Oluwajimi Aikitunde, TSC is on a mission to unlock the immense potential of underserved and underrepresented regions across the continent.

Oluwajimi's journey from an engineering graduate to a successful entrepreneur and now a trailblazing venture capitalist is a testament to his unwavering determination and adaptability. Drawing from his own experiences building startups, Oluwajimi has developed a unique approach that goes beyond just providing funding.

At the heart of TSC's offering is a comprehensive suite of support services designed to empower the next generation of African tech leaders. From infrastructure and talent acquisition to strategic advisory and network-building, TSC is committed to being a true partner in the growth and success of its portfolio companies.

As a sector-agnostic venture capital firm, TSC is poised to back innovative solutions in a wide range of industries, from fintech and healthtech to agritech and beyond. Oluwajimi's vision is to cultivate a diverse portfolio of successful startups that can serve as beacons of inspiration, driving further investment and growth in Africa's thriving tech landscape.

This is a must listen podcast episode!

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The entrepreneurial journey of Racine Sarr is a testament to the power of perseverance and customer-centricity. 

In this podcast episode of One Million Euro Stories, Iris Mettendaf speaks to the CEO and founder of Shop Me Away, Racine Sarr.

As the founder of Shop Me Away, he has dedicated himself to solving the disconnect between African consumers and global product supply. From self-funding his logistics startup to securing innovative investment, the story of Racine Sarr showcases the immense potential of Africa's emerging markets.

Join us as Racine Sarr shares how he built a tech-enabled platform to replicate the convenience of global e-commerce for African customers, while empowering local businesses. Discover the challenges and triumphs of expanding across West Africa and learn how Racine's unwavering focus on his team has fueled Shop Me Away's growth. This episode of the One Million Euro Story Podcast is a must-listen for anyone inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit transforming the African continent. Listen to this new podcast episode.

Stay updated with the latest information about the journey of amazing founders. Follow me on social media: https://linktr.ee/millioneurostories

➡️ Imali is Africa's easy-to-deploy “1-Click” insurance checkout platform, providing seamless, integrated insurance solutions for the travel and hospitality sector.

➡️ By partnering with progressive insurance companies and online commerce platforms, Imali offers tailored insurance solutions that enhance customer experience and satisfaction, making insurance accessible and convenien

➡️ Through its innovative 1-click insurance checkout API, Imali simplifies the insurance process, allowing businesses to offer quick, secure, and reliable protection to their customers. Imali is transforming the insurance landscape by providing comprehensive coverage options that cater to the unique needs of the African market.

Listen to the journey of Oluwasanmi Akinmusire, co-founder of Imali, on this new podcast episode.

Join Iris Mettendaf on One Million Euro Stories, where she delves into the inspiring journey of founder Geta Rasciuc and her background story of how HUGS+KISSES’s smart baby carrier was conceived and developed with tech innovation.

➡️ HUGS+KISSES’s understands the immense power of skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care. Backed by extensive research, this practice has been proven to exponentially increase premature babies' chances of survival. HUGS+KISSES has experience in conducting a clinical study in Tanzania for their smart baby carrier.

➡️ For mothers in challenging circumstances, such as war-torn regions or areas with limited medical access, the carriers offer a lifeline. They enable you to provide your baby with the warmth, security, and nourishment needed to thrive, even when fleeing danger or seeking refuge.

➡️ Geta’s approach of constantly testing prototypes with parents and hospitals and iterating based on their feedback, which could inform a strategy by ensuring the product truly meets customer needs.

Listen to this new podcast episode of founder Geta Rasciuc and how her smart baby carrier was conceived and developed with tech innovation.

“Sofie” app helps people live financially healthier lives through conscious spending choices. 

In this podcast episode of One Million Euro Stories, Iris Mettendaf speaks to the CEO and founder of Sofie, Astrid Bruinsma Eggink.

Mission of Sofie is to stimulate 100 million Europeans to live a financial healthier and sustainable life through B2B2C Saas platform.

Financial health 

•“Overcoming financial problems requires automating tasks and making unconscious decisions conscious”, says Astrid Bruinsma Eggink.

• Mostly 95% of daily decisions are unconscious, while 5% are thoughtfully considered.

• She discusses the importance of goal setting and small steps in achieving financial goals.

• The App provides personalized messages and tips to help users reach their financial objectives.

Using behavioral economics to improve financial decision-making.

• Astrid discovers that using videos and images can help people take financial actions, as only 5% prefer to think about problems before acting, while 80% prefer to hear or to see something before taking action.

• She seeks to double the number of people taking action on financial products through behavioral economics and scaling through fintech.

Bootstrapping, product development, and team growth.

• Astrid bootstrapped her company for €120,000 and showed investors her vision and ability to execute and eventually securing funding of €750.000.

• Scaling social enterprise requires a diverse team, product-market fit, and external funding, while maintaining personal well-being is crucial. 

Listen to this new podcast episode and the journey of Astrid Bruinsma Eggink of Sofie.

Octavia Goredema is the author of PREP, PUSH, PIVOT: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women. Her mission is to help underrepresented professionals advance their careers.

Octavia emphasizes the importance of recognizing our value, even when it may not be reflected back at us. She encourages women to keep track of their career milestones and to engage in self-validation. She emphasizes the importance of tracking wins, reflecting on achievements to gain and sustain momentum.

The Fire memos software enables employees to record and remember milestone moments at work. Octavia is a Techstars portfolio company.

Listen to this new episode.

In this podcast episode of One Million Euro Stories, Iris Mettendaf speaks to the Co-founder and General Partner of Digital Africa Ventures Nonkululeko Komanyane.

Nonkululeko Komanyane is an entrepreneur at heart and has worked with over 40 startup founders from the acceleration phase to pre-series A.

In her early days, she ran an accelerator focused on the principles of the Book I'M IN of Dragon’s Den Season 1 South Africa and highlighted the journey of successful entrepreneurs.

Nonkululeko Komanyane is passionate about investing in high-growth, early-stage tech startups with their fund. Digital Africa ventures invest in the future of startups in Africa. They are passionate about supporting African startups that have the potential to make a real impact on the continent and in people’s lives.

Listen to this new podcast episode and the journey of Nonkululeko Komanyane as General Partner of a fund.

In this podcast episode 22 of One Million Euro Stories, Iris Mettendaf speaks to the founder of Babymoon Geta Rasciuc.

World Prematurity Day is on the 17th November: it's a global movement to raise awareness of premature birth and the impact it can have on families.

War in Ukraine

Founder of Babymoon Geta Rasciuc says: “Imagine you have a premature baby, a super tiny vulnerable baby and you are in the neonatal unit. There is a bomb alarm and you need to run out of the hospital into the bomb shelter with a vulnerable baby. It's so crazy; it gives me chills just to think about it."

Carrier for premature babies 

"The hospitals can't rely on electricity supply. They can't even rely 100% on their equipment, because you need electricity. This is also an extra point for my product that it doesn't need electricity. It will provide the environment for the baby, that will keep them safe”, says Geta Rasciuc.

60 hospitals and 12,000 carriers for premature babies

"This is a collaboration with Rotary fellowship of Healthcare professionals, Ukrainian Institute for Perinatal Health and Heroes International”, says Geta Rasciuc of Babymoon.

Listen to this “food for thought” episode about the war in Ukraine and a female founder addressing infant mortality.

Workbucks is a skill tech venture, which is predominantly focused on emerging technology. Priyanka Kamath says: “we have expertise in training web three from the beginner level of web2 and transitioning  to the expert level in web3. We undertake undergraduate students that are just coming  into the workforce and impart industry–deployable skills in smart contract training to push them towards technologies of tomorrow."

"We have been very fortunate to have some brilliant young minds working with us for grassroot innovation projects and proud of this program called: 100 Girls in blockchain, that has been our flagship module."

Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn more about how Workbucks is making a difference in skill tech in India.

Amitruck is building Africa’s digital logistic marketplace. The mission of Amitruck is to bring trust and transparency back to transport: “We aim to connect every cargo owner with interested transporters in a transparent, efficient and secure manner then let them set their own terms.”

As a former investment banker Mark Mwangi says: “I actually think it’s better to be called analysts. Because really all I did was analytics. I was going through companies, markets, economies, competitive dynamics and financial modeling. I was doing that most of the time as I was trying to price instruments. I think that experience has been very useful in terms of how to think about the business where you position yourself and understanding competitive threats. Just having that background of being able to look at things objectively within a market I think, comes in very handy when you become an enterpreneur.

Listen to this new podcast episode.

Terawork is a freelance marketplace that plug into the African challenge of the global workforce and helping businesses to try to connect with vetted professional across African continent. Terawork has currently over 20,000  Freelancers across technology, communication and writing, social media management etc on the platforms and businesses that need freelance assistance.

Terawork started from a personal problem of one of the co-founders encountered when needing a freelancer for their own business only to find out the freelance job was not fulfilled and the money was already paid. This was a painful experience.

Join this new episode with Titi Ogunsina-Taiwo of Terawork and turning a painful problem into a start up business.

Hema Vallabh is an engineer, turned entrepreneur, turned investor who is the founding partner of Five35 Ventures, which is a Pan African female focused fund investing in seed stage tech enabled businesses across the continent. 

The name of Five35 Ventures speaks to the opportunity. Hema says: “Research shows that if we add more women entrepreneurs to the African ecosystem, we could see a potential 5% GDP uplift by leveraging the 35% higher ROI that diverse teams could achieve over all male teams if the playing field was leveled.

Our job really is to make sure that women have access to the same opportunities, access to capital, access to networks and access to support. The mandate of the fund is to invest in Pan African female-focused tech enabled businesses at a seed stage.

Listen to this new podcast episode and the journey of Hema Vallabh as a fund manager.

In this episode of our podcast One Million Euro Stories, host Iris Mettendaf speaks with Naledi Magowe, the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Brastorne.

Brastorne has reached over 2 million users in Botswana, DRC and Cameroon and has raised $625,000 in grants, debt and prize funding. Their innovative solution to connect the unconnected involves enabling rural populations to access the internet without data bundles or smartphones.

Naledi explains that in Africa, internet access is different from the Western world, and many people using mobile devices are excluded from interacting with the internet due to using feature phones. This realization is what promoted her mission to connect the unconnected to the world.

Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn more about how Brastorne is making a difference and bridging the digital divide in Africa.

Alumni Bridge has put in place tools that facilitate and equip alumni and other global funders with a platform through which they can give back to society as well as mentor students. It does this by streamlining scholarship requests of vetted candidates to ensure that they remain in school. Furthermore, mentorship for candidates recognized by their institutions is available through the platform in two ways; online and networking by way of in-person events organized by Alumni Bridge.

Alumni Bridge is the brainchild of its technical co-founder Andrew Kibe. Working on the idea since November of 2022, the platform was launched on the 20th of January 2023. Currently, schools and their alumni can hop aboard the platform and launch their desire to assist those in need and pay forward. Users currently can open accounts, view the status of scholarship requests and actualize the funding of these scholarships while networking with fellow alumni who some may have lost touch with after completing their high school studies. 

Through the community platform offered by Alumni Bridge, school administrators, and alumni can interact with each other and work together in identifying projects and areas they can assist each other. Growing from an MVP web platform, the website is constantly evolving with the addition of new exciting features based on ideas from the growing community on the platform as well as the product roadmap laid down by the incredible team at Alumni Bridge.

Listen to this episode and come to discover the journey of building an idea into a business that supports students in need, the process involved in building a system capable of several functions, and how they are integrated into realization. In addition, you will discover the hurdles and achievements experienced in the journey of fundraising turning an idea into reality. For more information: https://www.joinalumnibridge.com

Vendease is building Africa's food operating system that automates the flow of food from farm to restaurant, optimises business operations across the value chain through accurate data deployment, reduces wastage and drives profitability. Vendease's digital procurement engine makes it easier by offering a more transparent process for restaurants in cities across Nigeria and Ghana to buy food supplies at considerably cheaper rates than open market prices, with guaranteed 12-hour delivery. In September 2022, Vendease announced its Series A, raising $30 million in venture capital.

Oyewale shares the main lesson learnt from his role at Vendease: "It's really important to be focused on the problem you are solving for your customers. You need to understand the problem. How can you do that? Talk to your customers. Don't assume anything about the problem. You need to talk to the people who are affected by the problem and its pain points. It's then you will have clarity. Then you can help your customers."

In this episode Iris Mettendaf talks to entrepreneur Shokoofeh Ketabchi about when you have big dreams and things that happen that are not in your control. This is part 2. Shokoofeh talks about her dream, her vision, support and her journey as an entrepreneur. Shokoofeh says: “I am grateful for my courage, my self motivation and hard work. Life can bring the unexpected.” Listen to this new episode!

In this episode Iris Mettendaf talks to Shima Zeroual about sales. Shima loves sales and everything about sales. Shima says: “when you have your first discussion with someone about your product or your services. Make sure that when you have this person on the phone or face to face, that you figure out what they want from you and what the timing is. If they make the decision by themselves or multiple people and ask them and I know this is very scary, what budget they have. You know the reason I'm asking is because I don't want to waste your time. I want to make sure it's aligned with what you expect.“

This is a new episode about Sales.

She talks about the importance of men in your life. What do you think about this topic? Listen to this episode and let me know on social media.

Iris Mettendaf interviews female founders who raise €500.000 and more. She talks to different guests and experts about venture capital, tech ecosystem, marketing, sales, psychological concepts, failure and succes.