Techpoint Build, our biggest event yet, slated for 27th of January 2018, is just around the corner. We have an interesting lineup of speakers, moderators and judges who will be presiding over affairs at Techpoint Build. If you've been wondering who they are, look no further than the list below.
Speakers
Jason Njoku
Jason Njoku is a Nigerian entrepreneur and most notably associated with iROKOtv, a company he founded in 2011. iROKOtv is arguably the largest online repository of Nollywood movies in the world.
Simeon Ononobi
Simeon Ononobi is a tech entrepreneur with a vision to put African e-payments on the global map. This is why he founded SimplePay to revolutionise payment in Nigeria. He also has his hands in other entrepreneurial ventures; MyAds and Thank U Rewards are notable ones.
Raymond Umeh
Raymond Umeh is one of the few entrepreneurs who have truly innovated the online furniture market with his company, Skaraband. Founded in February 2015, Skarabrand has grown to become one of Nigeria's foremost online furniture shops for all types of home furniture.
Tosin Eniolorunda
Tosin, a self-taught programmer, used to be Products Manager/Developer at Interswitch until he found his calling. He founded TeamApt in 2015 to provide end-to-end service as well as full system automation, credit/debit reconciliation and any other digital products that will help banks accelerate their activities and set them on the same pedestal with the digital age.
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Martin Karanja
With over 12 years of proven success in achieving business goals across the emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Africa, it comes as no surprise that Martin Karanja is one of the Senior Executive Officers at GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator.
The GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator programme provides startups in Africa and Asia Pacific with funding (£100K - £250K), mobile-focused technical assistance and opportunities to partner with local mobile operators. Martin will be sharing how African startups can benefit immensely from the programme.
Onyeka Akumah
Onyeka Akumah is a young entrepreneur with so much passion for agriculture. This is why he founded FarmCrowdy to help millions of people invest and reap immensely from Agriculture. In December 2017, FarmCrowdy raised $1 million to expand across Nigeria.
Lanre Akinlagun
Lanre Akinlagun founded what is arguably Nigeria's biggest and foremost online drinks hub, Drinks.ng. The one time iROKOtv executive started Drinks.ng as a means of addressing the frustration with getting large quantity of drinks in Nigeria. Being a strong advocate of the growth of the Nigerian eCommerce scene, Lanre is one of those who have advocated for the abolishment of Payment on Delivery (PoD).
Olumide Balogun
Olumide Balogun has over 8 years of experience in the smartphone manufacturing industry and currently is the Head of Marketing West Africa at HMD Global (Nokia). In the course of his time working with the global organisation, he has helped attract and harness marketing talent, lead marketing activities across West Africa, provided ongoing price proposals based on product life-cycle and competitor landscape amongst others.
Shola Akinlade
Shola Akinlade needs little introduction. The young entrepreneur is one of the new players constantly injecting fresh innovation into the payments scene in Africa with his Fintech startup, Paystack. He co-founded the company with his partner Ezra Olubi in 2014 and in 2016, Paystack became the first startup to make it into Y Combinator, a major startup accelerator in Silicon Valley.
Osaze Osoba
From being an IT support staff in a research and development council in 2011 to a senior executive at different points and in different reputable companies, Osaze Osoba took with him over 6 years of experience to Zoto, where he is currently their go-to-market lead. Zoto is an app that enables bill payment and mobile data recharge.
Adebayo Adekanmbi
This name might probably not ring a bell but Adebayo Adekanmbi is one of the people making things happen in the Nigerian telecommunications industry. He is an experienced data scientist and a business leader in strategy, analytics and marketing. He is presently the Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria.
Modupe Durosinmi
Having spent most of her life outside Nigeria, Modupe is strongly of the opinion that Africa is where things are happening. Upon her return, she has worked with companies like Andela and currently is putting her experience to work with Flutterwave, a payment vehicle in Nigeria. The interesting thing about Modupe is how she has become a leader in a space that is perceived to be dominated by men.
Lola Cardoso
Cardoso joined Union Bank in August 2013 to drive the bank’s strategy, anchor its overall transformation and support execution bank-wide. With over 17 years of experience providing strategic advice to corporate, startups, and public sector organisations, she continues to drive Union Bank’s strategic growth priorities and support critical efforts aligned to growth including sustainability and innovation.
Kola Aina
Kola Aina is an entrepreneur and investor constantly looking for interesting ideas to expand upon. He is the founder of Emerging Platforms, from which emerged Ventures Platform, a seed stage fund and accelerator that actively finds, funds and supports innovative companies solving real problems across Africa.
Uju Uzo Ojinnaka
With over 17 years work experience in strategic marketing, retail banking and business development, Uju Uzo Ojinnaka has grown to become a strong resource person. She is the CEO of Traders of Africa (TofA), an eCommerce company focused on driving trade between Africa and the world through technology.
Moderators
The following people will be moderating the various panel sessions
Victor Ekwealor
Victor Ekwealor is a senior editor at Techpoint.ng. He will be moderating the session themed "Keeping a business afloat".
Muyiwa Matuluko
As the editor-in-chief and chief chronicler at Techpoint.ng, Muyiwa Matuluko is responsible for, amongst others, the scrutiny of stories published on the platform. He will be moderating the session themed, "Where is the market: Offline or online?"
Adewale Yusuf
Adewale Yusuf is both the publisher and CEO of Techpoint.ng. He will be moderating the session themed, "Investing in African startups".
Osarumen Osamuyi
Osarumen Osamuyi used to be Head of Production at BigCabal until he recently joined the Ventures Platform team. At Ventures Platform he is Head, Research and Ecosystems.
Judges
As you are already aware, 9 startups will be pitching at the Pitch Storm session of Techpoint Build. Here are the faces of the judges that will be presiding over the pitches.
Aima Nwafor-Ohiwerei
Aima Nwafor-Ohiwerei is a senior fellow at Singularity Investment.
Chika Nwobi
Chika Nwobi is a technology entrepreneur and an investor. He is also the founder of L5 Lab.
Deepankar Rustagi
Deepankar Rustagi is CEO, Vconnect.
Nick Dixon
Nick Dixon is the founder, Cloud Cover
Leonard Stiegeler
Leonard Stiegeler is the General Manager, Ringier Africa.
Yele bademosi
Yele Bademosi is the founder of Microtraction, an investment vehicle that invests in early stage technical founders.
Tunji Eleso
Tunji Eleso is Directorm Incubation and Head, Growth Capital CcHub.
