Africa’s Talking co-founder Sam Gikandi has opened up about the insurmountable struggles and challenges he faced before, during and after launching one of the most notable startups to come from Kenya and impact Africa.
While speaking to the 9 to 5 podcast, hosted by Jacqui Wangari, Sam reminiscenced about his days working for Morgan Stanley, the investment bank, in the US and Hong Kong.
He also delved a little deeper into the working dynamics of New York compared to, say, working in Hong Kong.
“At New York, it was all about grinding. Just work, work, work. In Hong Kong, however, there was alot of partying,” he says.
In the Asia office, Sam helped build the high frequency trading platform and led a team trading hundreds of millions of dollars per day. He, however, reveals that racism in Hong Kong became too much for him to bear, forcing him to relocate.
This also happened just after he says he was unceremoniously sacked, blaming it all on ego wars between some Morgan Stanley managing directors based in the US.
“Things in Hong Kong started getting testy. Racism was crazy. I was fired unceremoniously. My job was turning code into money. I went from making $5 dollars to $15,000 a day,” he says.
The Strathmore-schooled developer, who was born and brought up in Nyeri, also touched on the messy relationship with his father who he says changed even after being the man responsible for introducing him to computers at an early age.
“My mom told me Dad introduced me to computers in Nyeri. I have always been fascinated by how technology interfaces with the brain,” he said.
After his sudden sacking, a still-shocked Sam couldn’t comprehend the circumstances that led to his dismissal, playfully saying that he would miss his jet-set lifestyle.
In 2010, and now back in Kenya, after a whirlwind stay in some of the priciest addresses in the world, Sam and his partner Eston embarked on a project – Africa’s Talking.
“I came back to Kenya by mistake. Africa’s Talking was born out of the Obama spirit. The spirit of Africanness,” he said. “We registered the company in 2010 and quickly signed up more than 10,000 users.”
Africa’s Talking, which offers APIs for short codes, payments, and communications, including bulk SMS, USSD, and voice, did not necessarily kick off on the right foot.
Sam says that, during the early days, there were a host of challenges which saw him and his co-founder almost shut down the business in 2012.
Sam says that, whilst he may have studied at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, very little of what the school taught was practical especially for Africans. He also added that such an institution lacked the awareness to deal with people from different backgrounds, who saw things differently and interpreted things differently, too.
“They are not trauma-aware. They teach you from a white man’s perspective. If you are not aware of my trauma, you cannot teach me…” he said.
Back in Kenya, the challenges with Africa’s Talking continued, as he faced battles with his own financiers and a very testy raising period.
Getting Startup Funding, which is a financial investment in a company for product development, manufacturing, expansion, sales, etc, Sam says IFC’s venture capital, which is a private arm of the World Bank, proved to be a little too complex and challenging for him and his team.
“We got a $6 million pledge and did not get the money until almost the end of 2019,” he says.
Sam goes on to speak about the challenges he faced with some individuals ostensibly working for the World Bank. He details how they wanted him out of his position as CEO, how they also wanted to buy him off and basically stage a coup in his own home.
“They started sending emails. Sending everyone emails whose headlines read, “Remove Sam from Africa’s Talking”. They wanted me out. I had not done anything wrong. No one could point out to me what wrong I had done,” he says.
“They were calling for lawsuits, even claiming that we had sexual violence in Africa’s Talking. They offered me $20 millio to sell the company…but I refused.”
He also says that there was a huge desire to replace him with a person of their choice – even when the team had suggested someone else.
“World Bank wanted to remove me and install someone else. The team wanted this particular person but the World Bank guys had someone else in mind…” he says.
Amid the struggles and the internal fights, Sam says he sought refuge in his own self while also learning to find peace and solace in Africa’s Talking.
“Africa’s Talking became my safe place. It’s my home,” he says. “You learn to trust yourself. My purpose in life is to fight for my freedom.”
He also credits his wife Leyla with being there for him, helping him love himself and being his anchor during his darkest moments.
“Leyla taught me self-love. She helped me find the best version of me,” he says.
About Africa’s Talking, Sam advises people to ensure they find a safe place to help deal with their trauma, pain and anxiety.
“Find a safe place… A place where there is no judgement. You need someone with a framework to help you understand your condition,” he says.
Sam also describes the true essence of Africa’s Talking, saying that it is a place where people go to find safety and to feel accepted and respected.
“Africa’s Talking is a story. It’s not just my story… It’s everyone’s story. We’ve developed a consciousness as a company that is very safe. There are people who come to the office to feel the sense of safety,” he says.
He also highly praises the Stanbic Bank board who he says appreciated him, respected him in spite of his dreadlocks and made him feel like family.
“I left Stanbic. They’re an an amazing team and the best Chairman. There was a consciousness and a brotherhood. They made me realize my board in Africa’s Talking was pure drama. I left to go focus on that,” he says.
While revisiting the endless wars he’s endured with the men responsible for his funding, also the men intent on taking away his blood and sweat, Sam calls them the ‘class system’ who he says operate by an intention to kill one’s spirit.
“This year I have been attacked by the class system. The way the system moves forward is by killing your spirit,” he says.
“Right now we are like oil and water with the World Bank, we do not mix. Their version of consciousness and mine is different. I told them, you guys are going to kill me with anxiety.”
Sam, however, remains proud of the far he’s come and the difference he has managed to make in people’s lives.
“It’s been an incredibly wonderful journey. I created a space for me to become who I am and for many people too,” he says. “Our strategy is always around where are we today and where are we going.”
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