Power Talks is your all-access pass to the boardrooms and breakthrough moments shaping Africa's tech landscape. Host Ssuna Ronald goes behind the scenes with the continent's most audacious founders, investors, and ecosystem builders. We bring you the real conversations from the front lines of innovation—from Nairobi to Kigali and beyond—unpacking the big ideas, the billion-dollar opportunities, and the personal journeys behind the next generation of African success stories.
Power Talks with Ssuna Ronald
Claim This Podcastby Ssuna Ronald
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32 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Power Talks is your all-access pass to the boardrooms and breakthrough moments shaping Africa's tech landscape. Host Ssuna Ronald goes behind the scenes with the continent's most audacious founders, investors, and ecosystem builders. We bring you the real conversations from the front lines of innovation—from Nairobi to Kigali and beyond—unpacking the big ideas, the billion-dollar opportunities, and the personal journeys behind the next generation of African success stories.
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Publishing Since
3/11/2020
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Recent Episodes
October 23, 2025
Betting on Grit: Anil Atmaramani on Why Antler Invests in African Founders at Day Zero
<p>In this episode of Power Talks, host Ssuna Ronald sits down with <strong>Anil Atmaramani</strong>, a Partner at <strong>Antler</strong> focused on West Africa. Dive into the unique model of this global venture capital firm that invests at "day zero"—backing high-potential individuals even before they have a concrete idea. Anil, a Canadian with two decades of experience on the continent, reveals why he holds an unwavering conviction that "the future is African," and how Antler is structured to accelerate that future.</p><p>We explore Antler's grueling, highly-selective residency program that sifts through 5,000 applications to find the top 20 founders, the traits they look for beyond a business plan (grit, resilience, and coachability), and what successful alumni like Uncover and Honeycoin are achieving. If you're an aspiring founder who has faced failure, an investor curious about pre-seed opportunities, or believe in Africa's demographic destiny, this conversation is a masterclass in founder-first investing.</p><ul><li><p><strong>(00:00:51)</strong> - <strong>The Antler Model:</strong> What it means to be a "day zero" investor and how the residency program works.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:02:34)</strong> - <strong>Investing in Founders, Not Ideas:</strong> Why Antler backs people first and how they assess character during the program.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:04:00)</strong> - <strong>The Founder DNA:</strong> The key traits Antler looks for: grit, determination, coachability, and the willpower to face hard truths.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:05:37)</strong> - <strong>Beyond the Check:</strong> The full suite of benefits for founders, from co-working space and cloud credits to a powerful global network.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:06:23)</strong> - <strong>Antler's African Footprint:</strong> The impressive growth in Kenya and the upcoming launch in Lagos, Nigeria.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:07:17)</strong> - <strong>Success Stories:</strong> A look at portfolio companies like the skincare brand Uncover and crypto-trading platform Honeycoin.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:08:17)</strong> - <strong>The African Conviction:</strong> Anil's powerful personal thesis on why the future is undeniably African.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:10:30)</strong> - <strong>A Message to Founders:</strong> Why failure is a "badge of honor" and a call to keep building.</p></li></ul><p>Power Talks is your front-row seat to the conversations shaping the future of business and technology in Africa. Host Ssuna Ronald brings you face-to-face with the most dynamic founders, investors, and ecosystem builders driving progress across the continent. From deep-dive interviews with startup founders to insights from top VCs and event coverage from hubs like Nairobi and Kigali, we unpack the big ideas, the bigger opportunities, and the game-changing conversations you need to hear.</p><p><strong>Subscribe</strong> to stay updated on Africa's innovation revolution.</p><p><strong>Enjoyed this episode?</strong> Please subscribe, rate us, and share it with a friend, a founder, or anyone who believes in the power of African innovation.</p><p>Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald</p><p>Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard</p><p>Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang</p><p>Powered By: Latitude 59</p><p> </p><p>Connect via: <a href=""><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a><strong> & </strong><a href=""><strong>Instagram</strong></a><strong></strong></p><p>For Inquiries: <a href=""><strong>emailpowertalks@gmail.com</strong></a></p>
October 23, 2025
Why Estonia is Betting on Africa: Latitude59's Mission to Connect Continents with Kai Isand
<p>In this episode of Power Talks, recorded live at their Nairobi event, host Ssuna Ronald sits down with <strong>Kai Isand</strong>, a key organizer and Head of Programs for <strong>Latitude59</strong>. Dive into the story of why this premier European tech conference, born in the "startup nation" of Estonia, is making a strategic home in Africa. Kai reveals the mind-blowing reception they received in Kenya, drawing parallels between the hunger of today's African entrepreneurs and the early days of Estonia's own tech miracle.</p><p>We explore Latitude59's unique role not as a direct investor, but as a high-quality connector and community builder, facilitating serendipitous moments between African startups, global investors, and policymakers. Kai discusses the success of their first investor day, the vital partnership with Smart Africa, and their ambitious goal to become the biggest and most impactful tech conference on the continent. If you're building a startup, looking to invest, or curious about the bridges being built between Africa and Europe, this conversation provides an essential insider's perspective.</p><ul><li><p><strong>(00:00:46)</strong> - <strong>The Latitude59 Mission:</strong> Kai introduces her role and the success of their first investor day in Nairobi.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:01:17)</strong> - <strong>The Estonian Story:</strong> Why the "startup nation" is looking to Kenya and what the ecosystems have in common.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:02:49)</strong> - <strong>Building Bridges, Not Dictating:</strong> How Latitude59 fosters inclusive, co-creative communities between Africa and Europe.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:04:34)</strong> - <strong>The "Serendipity" Model:</strong> Explaining Latitude59's role as a platform and connector, not a direct funder or incubator.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:06:12)</strong> - <strong>The African Ambition:</strong> Latitude59's goal to become the biggest and highest-quality tech conference in Africa.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:07:47)</strong> - <strong>Government & Policy:</strong> The crucial role of partnerships with entities like Smart Africa in shaping a thriving startup ecosystem.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:08:54)</strong> - <strong>Advice for Startups:</strong> How founders should use events like Latitude59 to build relationships and secure funding.</p></li></ul><p>Power Talks is your front-row seat to the conversations shaping the future of business and technology in Africa. Host Ssuna Ronald brings you face-to-face with the most dynamic founders, investors, and ecosystem builders driving progress across the continent. From deep-dive interviews with startup founders to insights from top VCs and event coverage from hubs like Nairobi and Kigali, we unpack the big ideas, the bigger opportunities, and the game-changing conversations you need to hear.</p><p><strong>Subscribe</strong> to stay updated on Africa's innovation revolution.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Enjoyed this episode?</strong> Please subscribe, rate us, and share it with a friend, a founder, or anyone who believes in the power of African innovation.</p><p>Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald</p><p>Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard</p><p>Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang</p><p>Powered By: Latitude 59</p><p> </p><p>Connect via: <a href=""><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a><strong> & </strong><a href=""><strong>Instagram</strong></a><strong></strong></p><p>For Inquiries: <a href=""><strong>emailpowertalks@gmail.com</strong></a></p>
October 23, 2025
Beyond Netflix: How Yakwetu is Building the "Netflix for Africa" and Fighting a $803M Piracy Problem
<p>In this episode of Power Talks, recorded live at Latitude59 in Nairobi, host Ssuna Ronald sits down with <strong>Mike Strano</strong>, Co-founder and COO of <strong>Yakwetu Online Limited</strong>. Dive into the ambitious mission to create a premier on-demand platform dedicated entirely to African storytelling. Mike reveals the shocking scale of the piracy crisis robbing African creatives of <strong>$803 million a year</strong> and how his company's proprietary technology is not just streaming content, but actively creating a legal, profitable ecosystem for filmmakers.</p><p>We explore Yakwetu's unique four-product strategy, from the pay-per-view model of "My Movies Africa" to their groundbreaking encrypted screening tool that's being used by churches and events. Mike also shares his philosophy as a bootstrapped founder with a proven track record, why he believes his venture is a safe bet for investors, and his plan to legitimize 54,000 illegal movie shops across Kenya. If you're curious about the future of African media, entertainment tech, and resilient entrepreneurship, this conversation is a must-listen.</p><ul><li><p><strong>(00:00:43)</strong> - <strong>The Big Idea:</strong> Mike introduces Yakwetu and its mission to empower African creatives.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:01:10)</strong> - <strong>The Product Suite:</strong> A breakdown of Yakwetu's four key products, including "My Movies Africa."</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:02:16)</strong> - <strong>The $803M Piracy Problem:</strong> Mike reveals the staggering financial loss and their encrypted solution for screenings.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:04:18)</strong> - <strong>Legitimizing an Illegal Market:</strong> The innovative plan to partner with 54,000 "movie shops" and split revenue three ways.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:06:08)</strong> - <strong>Quality vs. Relatability:</strong> How Yakwetu curates content and the power of a good story.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:07:48)</strong> - <strong>The Bootstrapped Journey:</strong> Mike discusses bootstrapping since 2014 and the current search for a $1M pre-seed round.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:09:42)</strong> - <strong>The Future Vision:</strong> Yakwetu's next step as a marketplace for media, similar to Amazon's model.</p></li><li><p><strong>(00:11:53)</strong> - <strong>Global Ambitions:</strong> Patenting their anti-piracy tech for markets in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and beyond.</p></li></ul><p>Power Talks is your front-row seat to the conversations shaping the future of business and technology in Africa. Host Ssuna Ronald brings you face-to-face with the most dynamic founders, investors, and ecosystem builders driving progress across the continent. From deep-dive interviews with startup founders to insights from top VCs and event coverage from hubs like Nairobi and Kigali, we unpack the big ideas, the bigger opportunities, and the game-changing conversations you need to hear.</p><p><strong>Subscribe</strong> to stay updated on Africa's innovation revolution.</p><p><strong>Enjoyed this episode?</strong> Please subscribe, rate us, and share it with a friend, a founder, or anyone who believes in the power of African innovation.</p><p>Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald</p><p>Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard</p><p>Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang</p><p>Powered By: Latitude 59</p><p> </p><p>Connect via: <a href=""><strong>LinkedIn</strong></a><strong> & </strong><a href=""><strong>Instagram</strong></a><strong></strong></p><p>For Inquiries: <a href=""><strong>emailpowertalks@gmail.com</strong></a></p><p></p>
32 total episodes available
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