2025 was the year of resilience. After 27 episodes and hours of deep dives with the world's most innovative founders, we’ve distilled our favourites episodes of 2025. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, learn from those who already did."

From the grit of African fintech to the precision of global FemTech, Maria and Yvonne share their top 3 moments on episodes featuring;

1. Benji (Nala): On how faith fuels the journey. https://youtu.be/b6NGIGCT-Tk?si=Vgx3-Z6JCVCFDdEh

2. Coen (TymeBank): The "Sisyphus" analogy every founder needs to hear. https://youtu.be/mjJkn-1bzDk?si=X7zS5sxkokJ4fi8G

3. Dare (Onafriq): A masterclass in resilience and long-term success. https://youtu.be/m3fdWDT7Nxk?si=2-l4L5ezTfT1AaXK

4. Nadia (The StoryGraph): Why bootstrapping might be to your advantage. https://youtu.be/ntwlWbUwG1w?si=bfNlHBN-vZkAbXCE

5. GB (Flutterwave): Redefining rejection as a stepping stone. https://youtu.be/9H3lpxFbUOg?si=Fdiuwa783CjYInAx

6. Ida Tin (Clue): The reality of creating an entirely new category (FemTech) https://youtu.be/pxYyTJaJFy0?si=dGPAjK7iZIFYxoQF Join the Conversation:

We’re building the 2026 roadmap and we want YOU on the team. What was your favorite episode this year? Who should we interview next? What would you like to see next year? 👇

📌 Timestamps

00:00 Building Startup Leap: The 2025 Journey

00:28 The Highs and Lows of 27 Episodes

02:53 Nala’s Benji: Faith & The Founder Journey

05:05 TymeBank’s Coen Jonker: The Sisyphus Strategy

06:56 Onafriq’s Dare: Resilience in the Face of Adversity

09:09 Nadia Odunayo: The Blueprint for Bootstrapping Success

10:28 Flutterwave’s GB: How to Handle Rejection Like a Pro

11:50 Ida Tin: Lessons from the Mother of FemTech

13:26 Help us build 2026:

Tell us in the comments below 👇

#StartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #TechTrends2025 #AfricanFintech #Bootstrapping #FounderStories #Flutterwave #Nala #TymeBank #FemTech #BusinessGrowth

In this episode, Miishe Addy-Asare co-founder, and CEO of JetStream Africa, shares her journey from working at Bain to raising over $21 million for JetStream. Miishe discusses the challenges and misconceptions of building a business in Sub-Saharan Africa, the importance of specific skill sets for navigating the logistics and fintech sectors, and her evolving entrepreneurial mindset. She offers advice on navigating Africa's unique market landscape and highlights the growth potential in underserved regions. If you're building, or curious about Africa, its a must-listen.

What happens when a former record label founder applies the logic of venture studios to celebrity brand building? In this episode, David Olusegun, founder of Creative Control Ventures, reveals how he’s transforming the way talent and culture converge to create purpose-driven consumer brands.

From his early career at Viacom to co-creating ventures with leading celebrities, David unpacks the frameworks behind turning influence into enduring business value. Expect insights on brand defensibility, scaling CPGs in a saturated market, and why authenticity—not virality—defines the next era of brand growth.

For founders and investors alike, this conversation redefines what it means to build a “celebrity brand” that lasts.

📍Timestamps:

00:02:00 From Viacom to Ventures

00:06:00 Startup Mindset in Music

00:14:00 The Fenty Effect

00:22:00 Purpose Meets Profitability

00:25:00 The Founder as Influencer

00:33:00 Scaling & Systems

00:35:00 Owning Your IP

00:38:00 Discovery in a Changing World

00:47:00 Global Expansion

00:50:00 Exit Strategy 101

00:56:00 Lessons from the Best

Youtube: https://youtu.be/y910TtcSbao

📌 Connect with David and Creative Control Ventures: https://www.creativecontrol.ventures/

📌 Join The Startup Leap Community: subscribe.thestartupleap.io

#TheStartupLeap #Entrepreneurship #CelebrityBrands #ConsumerInnovation #FounderMindset #VentureBuilding #PurposeDrivenBusiness #BrandStrategy #EntrepreneurInsights