In this compelling episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Simon Hardie and Grant Niven are joined by Ciku Mugambi, an experienced investor and former startup executive, to explore the challenges and opportunities within Africa’s startup and innovation ecosystem. Ciku shares her unique journey—from her early days in audit and private equity, to leading operations at logistics tech company Kobo360 in Nigeria, and now, her current role managing a family office focused on impact-led investments in Kenya. The conversation offers a candid and personal look at what it means to navigate startup hardship, adapt to changing capital environments, and emerge as a more empathetic and informed investor.

In this episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Grant Niven and Simon Hardie, welcome Sophie Guibaud, a fintech entrepreneur and co-founder of Radsody, to discuss her personal and professional journey from Europe to Saudi Arabia. The conversation explores themes of self-disruption, innovation, the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Riyadh, and how AI and cloud are shaping the region’s digital future.

In this episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Grant Niven, Simon Hardie, and Mark Walker are joined by Tashfin Shafique, founder and CEO of EMERGEiQ, to explore the real-world application of artificial intelligence (AI) in business. The discussion focuses on moving beyond AI hype, emphasising the need for strong data foundations, ethical deployment, and human-centric strategies as organisations navigate the evolving technology landscape

In this episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Mark Walker, Simon Hardie, and Grant Niven speak with Oliver Kreusen, Partner and Managing Director at Bridgemaker Gulf, about the growth and evolution of venture building in the Middle East and globally. The conversation explores how venture building is shaping new business models, the challenges and opportunities it presents for corporates, governments, and family offices, and how AI and talent are reshaping the venture development process

In this latest episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Grant Niven and Simon Hardie are joined by Michael O’Loughlin, a fintech veteran turned regulator and now investor. The discussion explores the rapid transformation of Saudi Arabia’s fintech ecosystem, the role of regulation in fostering innovation, and the future of investment in emerging markets.