The Wave Podcast

How do you go from pitching traders on yellow buses in Lagos to closing the biggest fast-food partnership in Nigerian tech history?In this episode of The Wave Podcast, we sit down with Kennedy Ofor, the Head of Sales at Chowdeck. Kennedy’s career is a masterclass in raw grit, relentless hustle, and treating sales not just as a job, but as a carefully honed craft.Kennedy pulls back the curtain on how he built the sales machine behind Chowdeck's 10,000+ daily orders—including the rogue experiment they ran to land Chicken Republic, listing them without permission, buying the food over the counter, and using secret sales data to force an exclusive deal that redefined food logistics in Africa.We also dive into Chowdeck's famous "15-Delivery Challenge," why they force their software engineers to ride dispatch bikes in Lagos traffic, and how Kennedy channels Suits' Harvey Specter to close high-stakes deals.If you want to learn what it actually takes to sell, scale, and win in high-friction markets, hit play!TIMESTAMPS (Update the bracketed numbers to match your final video edit!)00:00 - Intro: From Lagos yellow buses to Chowdeck's Head of Sales03:52 - Rapid Fire: The ultimate elevator pitch challenge07:05 - Alaba Market Chronicles: Real sales isn't for the "lily-livered"25:10 - The 15-Delivery Mandate: Why Chowdeck engineers deliver food in Lagos traffic31:30 - Sales 101: Why the best salespeople spend 90% of their time listening53:30 - Channeling Harvey Specter: "If you don't sign with us, your business will die"Spotify: [Insert Link]Apple Podcasts: [Insert Link]Follow Flutterwave: https://x.com/flutterwaveFollow Chowdeck: https://x.com/chowdeckLISTEN / SUBSCRIBE

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! In this episode, host Timi Anako sits down with IfeanyiOtudoh, Head and Senior Consultant for Cloud Solutions at MTN, for an eye-openingconversation about the invisible infrastructure powering Africa's digital economy.Ifeanyi breaks down the cloud in the simplest terms: if you've sent money via mobilebanking, checked your email, or used an app today, you've used cloud technology, you justdidn't know it. He explains how payments, streaming platforms, fintech apps, and even yourfavorite social media all live on cloud systems, and why understanding this matters forAfrica's next wave of innovation.But this isn't just a tech explainer. Ifeanyi takes us behind MTN's transformation from atelecom giant into a full-scale digital and fintech platform, powering services like MoMo,cloud solutions, and AI-driven products that are reshaping how Africans connect, transact,and build businesses. He also shares lessons from his career journey across banking,consulting, and tech, and why he believes the best technology is the kind people don't haveto think about, it just works.If you're a founder, techie, or simply curious about how Africa's digital future is being built,this is the conversation you need to hear.

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! In this episode, host Timi Anako sits down withTed Oladele, founder of Mira, for an amazing conversation about curiosity-drivenproduct development, the hidden operational problems destroying Nigerianrestaurants, and what it takes to build something worth acquiring.Ted breaks down how a simple moment of curiosity with a QR menu led him to discover the brutal reality: most restaurants and clubs operate on pen and paper,losing thousands to staff theft through duplicate bills, personal inventory, and untracked orders. He explains how Mira became the operational backbone these businesses desperately needed, combining POS, inventory management, andfintech to stop money from walking out the door.But this isn't just a product story. Ted opens up about Chowdeck's acquisition of Mira, the intentionality behind building products that attract buyers, and the differencebetween founders who build to sell versus those who stumble into acquisition. He also shares hard-earned advice for new designers on what separates good from great, and what aspiring product builders and company founders need to knowbefore they start.If you're a founder, designer, or entrepreneur navigating the African tech ecosystem, this is the playbook you need.Don't miss the full conversation!

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! In this episode, host Timi Anako sits down with Fu'ad Lawal, founder of Archivi.ng and one of Nigerian tech's most influential storytellers, for a conversation on why the stories you tell… or don't tell, define your startup's future. Fu'ad breaks down the brutal reality: most startups leave their narrative to the media, investors, and competitors, then wonder why they're misunderstood. He explains why preserving history isn't just nostalgia, it's strategic intelligence that prevents expensive mistakes. From his journey through books and comics to building a platform that archives Nigeria's most important moments, Fu'ad delivers a masterclass on how storytelling builds trust, shapes perception, and becomes your most underrated competitive advantage.If you're a founder who thinks storytelling is optional, this conversation will change your mind.Don't miss the full conversation!

Welcome back to The Wave Podcast! We're kicking off with an unfiltered, high-stakes conversation featuring Odun Eweniyi, Co-founder and COO of PiggyVest.Odun delivers a masterclass on the unwritten rules of building a multi-million user platform in Nigeria. She explains why the obsession with external funding is a distraction, the cold truth about scaling infrastructure, and why the humanity in communications is so important in the face of AI. If you’re a founder, investor, or innovator in the African ecosystem, this is the essential roadmap you need to start and grow like PiggyVest has.KEY CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS:00:03:22 - Building for Your Peers: The core philosophy that launched Odun’s first ventures and defined PiggyVest’s mission.00:10:29 - The 'Kolo' Principle: Why digitizing an old cultural habit, not competing with banks, was the secret to PiggyVest's early growth.00:13:48 - Stop the Hype: Odun's blunt lesson on why press coverage and "founder euphoria" distract you from the core work.00:17:31 - The 1 Million User Lie: The cold truth about scaling and why PiggyVest’s infrastructure failed at 1M users, forcing a massive rebuild.00:21:06 - The Anti-AI Strategy: Why the PiggyVest CEO still insists that "humanity in communications should not be lost."00:26:00 - The Patient Capital Crunch: Odun’s definitive statement on why "a lot of capital is not patient," and how this reality shapes African startups.00:27:06 - African Priorities: Why focusing on "the bottom of the pyramid" with the wrong product is a distraction from solving fundamental problems.00:33:04 - Funding is a Preference: The strategic advantage of running a founder-led company and choosing not to constantly raise.00:37:09 - Volatility Blueprint: How PiggyVest manages Nigeria’s chaos by relying on a "smart treasury team" and economists.00:44:45 - The One Thing I Wish I Knew: Odun's final, crucial piece of advice to her younger self (Spoiler: It’s all about regulation).

The Wave Podcast is a new platform for deep conversations with the builders, thinkers, and innovators at the forefront of the African tech and creative ecosystems.

Welcome to another episode of Businesses vs Pandemic series, where we discuss the many struggles of small businesses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today Jennifer Uloko, Founder of Yanga Beauty tells a story of survival, passion and determination.

In our Businesses vs Pandemic series, we discuss the many struggles of small businesses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, We will be hearing more of these survival stories from Bawoni Consult, a Customer Experience Consultancy based in Ghana.

In this Episode of Businesses vs Pandemic, we discuss the many struggles of small businesses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, it is about Tobi Eyinade, Co-Founder of Roving Heights, an online Bookstore available on Flutterwave Store.

The Founders of Oh So Nutrition - Foluke Oyeleye and Affiong Osuchukwu, - A lifestyle company focused on promoting wellness through food, based in Lagos, Nigeria. They discuss how they have been affected by the pandemic.