The Startup Leap
Real Founder Stories. Real Startup Lessons.
🎙 The #1 Podcast for Early Stage Tech Founders
👩🏾💼 Hosted by @yvonnebajela & @mariarotilu
The Startup Leap Hosts Yvonne & Maria have candid conversations with real tech entrepreneurs who’ve gone from idea to launch, to millions in customers and funding.
Learn from real founders on how they build products, find co-founders, raise capital, and scale teams, plus the wins, failures, and lessons they picked up along the way.
Whether you’re starting your first business or scaling a tech startup, get proven tips on fundraising, go-to-market strategy, product development, building your early team, and sustainable growth - there's something here for you.
New episodes on Tuesdays. Subscribe for weekly startup insights and founder advice from real founder experiences.
#thestartupleap #founderstories #startupadvice #entrepreneurship #businesspodcast
The Startup Leap
Do you know the Startup Leap story behind Olio?
Comment “LINK” on this post and we’ll send a link to episode 👇🏾
SWIPE to the last page to see Tessa’s book recommendation for founders 📚
3️⃣ Things You Should Know About Olio:
1. Olio has 7+ million users across 60+ countries
2. Food Waste Heroes — Over 140,000 trained volunteers
3. Olio is a B Corp-certified startup
Tessa Clarke’s journey with OLIO is proof that purpose and scale can thrive together. From a single “aha moment” to a 7M-user global movement, she’s redefining how the world thinks about food waste, and showing every founder that resilience and mission-driven focus can change the future.
🌍✨
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney
#OlioApp #FoodWaste #Sustainability #StartupStories #MissionDrivenBusiness
1 month ago | [YT] | 2
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The Startup Leap
Do you know the Startup Leap story behind Nala?
Comment “LINK” on this post and we’ll send a link to episode 👇🏾
3️⃣ Things You Should Know About Nala:
1. $50M+ raised from top global investors.
2. Radical transparency, zero hidden fees.
3. NALA is licensed in multiple countries, including the UK, and is expanding across 11+ African markets.
Benjamin Fernandes didn’t just build a company—he built a movement. From five YC rejections to $50M+ raised, from tracking users on WhatsApp to building infrastructure for millions, he’s proving that when you lead with purpose, the world follows. NALA isn’t just about sending money, it’s about rewriting the financial story of Africa.
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #FintechInnovation #Nala #EmergingMarkets #AfricaTech
2 months ago | [YT] | 4
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The Startup Leap
Do you know the Startup Leap story behind TymeBank?
Comment “LINK” on this post and we’ll send a link to episode 👇🏾
SWIPE to the last page to see Coen’s book recommendation for founders 📚
3️⃣ Things You Should Know About TymeBank:
1. 17M+ customers and counting
2. Raised over $250 million
3. Operating in South Africa, the Philippines, and expanding into Southeast Asia
Coen Jonker didn’t just build a digital bank—he built a blueprint for what’s possible when vision meets grit. TymeBank is redefining access to finance in emerging markets, proving that profit and purpose don’t have to be at odds. It’s not just a success story—it’s a signal of where the future of banking is headed.
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #DigitalBanking #FinancialInclusion #GlobalExpansion
3 months ago | [YT] | 4
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The Startup Leap
Do you know the Startup Leap story behind Shazam?
Comment “LINK” on this post and we’ll send a link to episode 👇🏾
SWIPE to the last page to see Dhiraj’s book recommendation for founders 📚
3️⃣ Things You Should Know About Shazam:
1. Apple acquired Shazam in 2018 for a reported $400 million.
2. It has over 2 billion app downloads globally.
3. Pioneered sound-based search before “AI” was a buzzword.
Dhiraj Mukherjee didn’t just help create Shazam—he helped redefine what’s possible when bold ideas meet relentless belief. From launching in the middle of a tech crash to getting acquired by Apple, his journey is one of persistence, vision, and trusting your gut when no one else sees it. Today, he’s not just known for building one of the world’s most iconic apps—he’s backing the next wave of founders doing things differently, purposefully, and bravely.
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #AIStartup #SiliconValley #AppleAcquisition
3 months ago | [YT] | 5
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The Startup Leap
Do you know the Startup Leap story behind MeVitae?
Comment “LINK” on this post and we’ll send a link to episode 👇🏾
SWIPE to the last page to see Riham’s book recommendation for founders 📚
3️⃣ Things You Should Know About MeVitae:
1. Founded by a neuroscientist, backed by science.
2. It’s AI that fights bias in hiring by anonymizing candidate data.
3. Secured over £500K in early funding.
Riham Satti and MeVitae are redefining what fairness in hiring looks like in the age of AI. With a mission rooted in purpose and a product designed to serve quietly but powerfully, Riham is proving that true innovation isn’t just disruptive—it’s equitable, ethical, and built for lasting change.
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #AIStartup #SiliconValley
3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3
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The Startup Leap
Do you know the Startup Leap story behind Onafriq?
Comment “LINK” on this post and we’ll send a link to episode 👇🏾
SWIPE to the last page to see Dare’s book recommendations for founders 📚
3️⃣ Things You Should Know About Onafriq:
1. Onafriq is Africa’s largest cross-border payment network
2. With 500M wallets across 42 African countries
3. It was built on relationships, not just code
Dare Okoudjou transformed a bold vision into a scalable infrastructure solution that now powers cross-border payments across Africa. Onafriq stands as a leading force in the continent’s fintech landscape—driven by strategic focus, operational resilience, and purpose-led innovation.
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #MobileMoneyInnovation #AfricanEntrepreneurs #DigitalFinanceAfrica
3 months ago | [YT] | 11
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The Startup Leap
Hello TSL Fam 👋🏾 - if you haven’t caught this episode, this weekend is a great time to!
He built Onafriq - 500m wallets, 42 countries and over $300m raised 🚀
16 years of startup wisdom condensed into one hour.
Tell us what you think when you watch?
👇🏾
3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3
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The Startup Leap
We’ve Hit 1K Subscribers 🎉
We started with a mic 🎙️a mission 🧭, and a belief ✨
Now, 1,000 of you have subscribed to that mission, and we’re just getting started.
To every founder, dreamer, and doer who’s tuned in: THANK YOU
You’ve helped build this from a scrappy idea to a thriving community.
🔔 Haven’t joined yet? Subscribe now and be part of the next 1K.
#TheStartupLeap #1KStrong #FounderFuel #StartupMilestone #BuildInPublic #YTCommunity #MariaRotilu #YvonneBajela #Founders #Technology #Startup
4 months ago | [YT] | 14
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The Startup Leap
Do you know of the OkHi Startup Leap Story?
SWIPE to the last slide to see Timbo’s book recommendation 📚
3️⃣ Things About OkHi You Should Know:
1. Digital address verification for billions without formal addresses. 📍
2. Mapped thousands of buildings and interviewed 200+ businesses before launch. 🚀
3. Backed by banks and regulators, setting the standard for digital addressing. 💼
By proving that digital addressing is not only possible but superior to outdated methods, OkHi has positioned itself as the go-to solution for address verification in emerging markets.
Hear directly from Founder Timbo Drayson as he shares his journey of leaving Google Maps, tackling a global problem, and building OkHi into a category-defining company 🗺️✨
Catchup this weekend on this episode and tell us what you think?
#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #techforgood #africanstartups #OkHi
6 months ago | [YT] | 4
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The Startup Leap
Supercharge your week with wisdom from powerhouse women who’ve been there, done that, and built it anyway. 💡✨
Swipe for some #RealTalk from our incredible guests!
6 months ago | [YT] | 4
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