Austin Okere, founder of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Nigeria’s first indigenous tech company to IPO on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, reveals how he turned $35,000 into a $90 million company while staying true to ethical leadership and shared prosperity.
In this exclusive episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, Austin shares the raw truth about building in Africa, raising money without structure, surviving the 2008 global financial crisis, and navigating private equity and IPOs in emerging markets.
He explains:
If you’re a founder, investor, or anyone building in emerging markets, this episode is your blueprint for legacy, leadership, and scale.
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinokere
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Hosted by
Eche — https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/
Chika — https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/
📍Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
02:15 Opportunities in Africa for Entrepreneurs
04:55 Starting CWG with $35,000 Seed Capital
07:00 Leaving His Job & Early Struggles of a Founder
09:30 Partnering with Dell and Building Trust
13:00 Building Nigeria’s Maintenance Culture
15:30 Telecom Expansion and VSAT Networks
18:10 Managing FX and Currency Challenges in Africa
19:15 The Afropolitan Toast Segment
20:00 Software Beginnings & The Banking Opportunity
23:00 The Infosys Partnership and Finacle Banking Software
26:00 Y2K Opportunity & Winning Three Nigerian Banks
28:00 Scaling CWG During Banking Consolidation
31:45 Raising $10M from Aureos Private Equity
34:30 Closing Tony Elumelu at Midnight: A Founder’s Story
37:45 Surviving the 2008 Global Financial Meltdown
40:20 Preparing CWG for IPO
41:10 Listing CWG at $90 Million Valuation
42:30 2,500x Return for Early Investors Explained
44:00 Inside Private Equity Due Diligence
47:30 Navigating the Nigerian IPO Process
50:55 Building Strong Co-Founder Partnerships
53:50 The “T-Person” & “H-Person” Framework for Founders
57:00 Succession Planning & Letting Go as a Founder
01:00:45 Launching the Ausso Leadership Academy
01:03:00 Redefining What It Means to Be a Billionaire
01:05:30 How to Join and Serve on a Corporate Board
01:07:55 Ethics and Corporate Governance in Africa
01:09:30 When CBN Banned ATMs: Lessons from Crisis
01:13:20 Turning Setbacks into Opportunity
01:15:30 Reflections on the Abraaj Capital Collapse
01:17:30 Staying Grounded After Financial Success
01:19:45 Building the Ausso Leadership Academy for Founders
01:21:45 Scaling Through COVID & Online Leadership Training
01:25:00 Legacy, Impact, and Shared Prosperity
01:27:30 Advice to Young African Entrepreneurs
01:29:00 Redefining a Billionaire by Impact, Not Money
01:31:15 Lessons from 28-Year-Old Austin
01:34:30 Closing Reflections & Outro
Learn the strategies behind tech and crypto within the African diaspora. We demystify the pathways to limitless value creation within these emerging technologies and the communities around them.
