VC4A Venture Showcase Mini Series - Bram Van der Bosh & Lillian Musoke

Entrepreneurs Talk Africa: Uncovering the Stories of Africa's Rising Business Stars

Emata: Building Fintech Solutions for African Farmers - Entrepreneurs Talk Africa

**Summary**: In this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, host Jason Delorie interviews Bram van den Bosch and Lillian Nassanga Musoke, founders of Ugandan fintech startup Emata. They discuss Emata's journey building digital financial services for smallholder farmers in Africa, from its early days gathering data to predict creditworthiness all the way to launching partnerships with banks and agricultural companies. Bram and Lillian share insights on the value of startup accelerators, the resilience required as a founder, and their experience in VC4A's annual Venture Showcase program.

**2:30** - Bram and Lillian introduce themselves and their backgrounds before starting Emata. Lillian was passionate about designing solutions for everyday Africans while Bram wanted to move beyond just shuffling money between the wealthy.

**5:07** - The origin story of Emata - realizing banks weren't financing farmers and building a data-driven solution.

**7:14** - On the value of startup accelerators for constant learning, expanding your network, and discovering unknown challenges on the horizon.

**10:18** - Why Emata applied for many accelerators early on, but has gotten more selective over time. There's always a new level to reach.

**15:02** - For startups in nascent ecosystems, the exposure and learning accelerators provide is crucial.

**18:46** - Expectations for the VC4A Showcase: learning from other founders, meeting investors, and bringing conversations to the next level.

**23:05** - The relationships and "emotional support" between cohort founders last long after programs end.

**25:01** - Don't do it alone - keep going and keep putting yourself out there until you find the right programs and supporters.

**27:26** - Behind the success are often many rejections - persistence pays off.

**28:40** - A message to VC4A: thank you for building the African startup ecosystem and keep going!

**References**:

- Emata website: https://www.emata.ug

- VC4A Venture Showcase: https://vc4a.com/ventureshowcase/

- Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AES): https://vc4a.com/aes/

Get inspired by the resilience and vision of African startup founders like Bram and Lillian. Tune in to Entrepreneurs Talk Africa to hear more startup journeys, lessons learned, and tips for aspiring founders across the continent.