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Africa’s Unbanked: Where FinTech Is Finding the Most Resilient Returns | Mohamed Okasha, DisrupTech Ventures

May 20
1h 39m

Episode Description

What does it take to build a billion-dollar fintech company and then walk away from it to start over during a global pandemic? 

In this episode, Mohamed Okasha shares the story behind helping to build Fawry into Egypt’s first tech unicorn—and then leaving shortly after its landmark IPO to launch DisrupTech, a first-time venture capital fund during COVID-19. 

He breaks down what matters more than big ideas and what is often the ultimate competitive advantage in Africa’s startup ecosystem. 

If you're curious about what helps founders grow stronger companies, don’t miss Mohamed’s practical lessons on investing, leadership, and decision-making from both an operator and investor perspective. 

Tune in to learn more about:

  • [00:03:30] Why Mohamed decided to leave Fawry after its billion-dollar IPO to start a venture fund during COVID.
  • [00:05:05] The importance of making decisive moves during pivotal moments in life.
  • [00:8:54] The role Mohamed’s parents played in encouraging risk-taking.
  • [00:18:53] How routine and discipline help Mohamed succeed.
  • [00:20:45] What Mohamed saw at Vodafone that no one else could see.
  • [00:25:45] How his team built trust with their clients.
  • [00:31:27] Why Fawry kept “one leg in the physical world and one leg in the digital world” during the transition to digital payments.
  • [00:52:30] What makes a good founder in Africa versus a good founder in the USA.
  • [01:03:00] The importance of advisory rather than relationships.
  • [01:06:40] How Mohamed builds startups that make each other stronger.
  • [01:09:15] How he encourages collaboration between founders without forcing partnerships.
  • [01:15:00] What backseat leadership looks like to Mohamed.
  • [01:21:37] What people should expect as an investor in African companies.
  • [01:30:16] Why many global investors could be overlooking major opportunities in underserved markets.


Resources:


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