Episode 34 of the Big5D Podcast features an interview with Brenton Naicker, Director of Capital Formation and Growth at CV VC, a blockchain-focused Swiss venture firm that is actively investing in Africa. 

The interview includes Brenton's take on recent developments in the cryptocurrency industry. The bulk of the conversation deals with how blockchain-based startups are uniquely well-positioned to solve real-world problems in Africa. 

This episode is sponsored by Duda
www.duda.co/

Episode 34: Brenton Naicker, CV VC

Episode 37 of the BIG5D Podcast features a conversation with Michelle Geere, CEO of Adbot, a Cape Town startup that automates Google and Bing ads for SMEs. The conversation included a discussion of how AI will change everything from digital marketing to employment to how we create the movies we love. 

This episode is sponsored by the no-code website builder Duda.co. Please visit them at Duda.co to learn more about how they help digital agencies deliver website solutions to their customers.

Episode 37: Michelle Geere, AdBot

Episode 38 of the BIG5D Podcast features an interview with Zack Marks. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Jia, a blockchain-based small business lender that is focused on emerging markets, where Marks says there is a $5 trillion small business credit gap. 

Jia's current operational scope includes Kenya, with ambitions to expand elsewhere within Africa.

This episode is sponsored by the no-code website builder Duda. Please visit them at Duda.co to learn more about how they help digital agencies deliver website solutions to their customers.

Episode 38: Zack Marks, Jia

The BigFive Summit Speaker Series features conversations about Africa’s tech scene, empowering SMEs with technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, startup life, and much more featuring the incredible thought leaders who will speak at the 2024 BigFive Summit, 19-20 March in Cape Town.
The series’ first guest is Aisha Pandor, the CEO of SweepSouth, a two-sided marketplace startup celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. 
This podcast series is sponsored by The 2024 BigFive Summit

Summit Speaker Series Aisha Pandor

Episode 2 of the 2024 BigFive Summit Speaker Series featured a chat about economic inclusion with Ashmita Singh, the Co-founder of SwapVend Afrika and the Co-Managing Director for South Africa of AMLANDA Social Entreprises.

The conversation is focused on addressing informal SMEs with technology, which has been Singh's life's work.

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 BigFive Summit, 19-20 March in Capoe Town. https://qkt.io/laNIFj

Summit Speaker Series Ashmita Singh

The BigFive Summit Speaker Podcast Series continues with a conversation with Fiona Tabraham, CEO of Capaciti, a South African organization that provides digital skills training for African youth so that they can compete for tech-related jobs in the private sector. 

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 BigFive Summit, "Africa's leading small business technology event" coming to Cape Town 19-20 March 2024. Learn more at https://qkt.io/laNIFj

Summit Speaker Series Fiona Tabraham

The BigFive Summit Speaker Podcast Series continues with a conversation with Kimberley Taylor. She is the founder and CEO of Loop, a South African logistics tech company that helps delivery companies with route optimization. 

The interview talks about how her company progressed from idea to execution as well as the perspective of a young founder on what it takes to run a tech startup and the hard lessons learned int he process of doing so.  

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 BigFive Summit, "Africa's leading small business technology event" which is coming to Cape Town 19-20 March 2024. Learn more at qkt.io/laNIFj

Summit Speaker Series Kimberley Taylor

The BigFive Summit Speaker Podcast Series continues with a conversation with Thaheer Mullins. He is the general partner of Savant Venture Fund, which is a deep tech-focused venture firm and startup accelerator. 

The interview talks about how the fourth industrial revolution is breeding some very interesting companies that are addressing real needs in Africa. 

This episode is sponsored by the 2024 BigFive Summit, "Africa's leading small business technology event" which is coming to Cape Town 19-20 March 2024. Learn more at qkt.io/laNIFj

Summit Speaker Series Thaheer Mullins

Steven Boykey Sidely is a professor, author, and investor with strongly held views on the threats and opportunities presented by AI.

This candid and engaging conversation spans AI safety, the AI opportunity for startups, and AI's geopolitical implications. 

It is a fascinating conversation that you will not want to miss.

Episode 49: Steven Boykey Sidley, Johannesburg Business School

This podcast usually talks to guests with a foot on the ground in Africa or the Middle East. For this episode, we make an exception.

Neal Polachek is an old colleague who has co-founded Dialog, a business doing groundbreaking research around small business use of AI. Dialog is learning not just how many SMEs are using AI but why and what the outcome is of this usage.

The bottom line is no surprise. Time is the SME's most precious resource and AI gives them back an abundance of time.

Dialog is currently US-based but will be expanding globally.

Episode 50: Neal Polachek

Episode 55 of the Big5D Podcast once again turns to the May 2025 BigFive Summit in Cape Town for a great conversation about tech and business in Africa. 

This conversation, recorded at Innovation City Cape Town on 6 May 2025, features a panel on Go to Market Strategies for SMEs led by Summit Co-host Amanda Louw-Bester (Pragmattica Consulting). 

The panel features three entrepreneurs who have seen it all and can at the very least steer small business founders away from obvious mistakes in the early stages of their business journey. 

The panelists offer a wide array of insights for founders on everything from tactics to avoid to tactics not to overlook, especially in a business's early stages. 

The panelists joining Amanda are Bernadene Appalsamy, Ledger Leap; Tim Shoko, Umlilo Energy; and Remi du Preez, Polygon.

This episode of the Big5D Podcast is supported by the 2025 BigFive Summit sponsors.

Absa Group (absa.africa)
Dialog (localdialog.com)
Nspyre (nspyre.co.za)
Networds (networds.co.za)
AfriGIS (afrigis.co.za)
Pragmattica Consulting (pragmattica.co.za)


Episode 55: Live from the BigFive Summit -- GTM for SMEs

The BIG5D Podcast features interviews with entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, and others driving the adoption of digital marketing and commerce tools by small businesses in Africa and the Middle East. 

The "Big Five" in this context are search, social, mobile, location, and payments. 

This podcast is produced by BigFiveDigital and The Africa B2B Tech Report. Send inquiries to info@bigfivedigital.org

Episode 55: Live from the BigFive Summit -- GTM for SMEs

The BIG5D Podcast

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