In this episode of Building From Scratch, our host Yewande Odumosu sits down with Hammed Okunade, founder and creative mind behind Hingees, to explore his journey from a simple idea to building one of Nigeria’s most loved lifestyle brands.
With a background in design and branding, Hammed shares how he built Hingees from the ground up, from sourcing and production challenges to cultivating a loyal community that extends beyond.
He opens up about the principles that guide his creative process, how he balances vision with business realities, and the lessons learned from growing a brand in a competitive space.
Hammed’s story is a blueprint for turning a passion project into a sustainable business that resonates deeply with its audience.
Connect with Hammed Okunade
If you would love to stay in touch with Hammed and follow and learn more about his journey, you can connect with Hammed Okunade on LinkedIn
Visit www.hingees.com to shop on Hingees and the services they provide.
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In this episode of Building From Scratch, our host Yewande Odumosu speaks with Seun Alley, Founder and CEO of Fez Delivery, to explore her journey from being an operator to becoming the founder of one of Nigeria’s most trusted logistics companies.
What began as a solution to a logistics gap in her cleaning business has grown into a tech-enabled delivery platform serving thousands of individuals and businesses across Nigeria.
She opens up about the emotional weight of entrepreneurship, the mindset shift from execution to leadership, and what it takes to grow a company in a tough market.
Today, Fez Delivery is simplifying last-mile logistics across Nigeria, and Seun’s journey offers a blueprint for operators looking to step into bold, founder-driven leadership.
Connect with Seun Alley
If you would love to stay in touch with Seun and follow and learn more about her journey, you can connect with Seun Alley on LinkedIn
Visit www.fezdelivery.co for more info on Fez Delivery and the services they provide.
Follow BFS on:
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these stories.
You can follow the Building from Scratch Podcast on Twitter & LinkedIn for updates, upcoming episodes or email us at thebfspod@gmail.com
In this exciting episode of Building From Scratch, our host Yewande Odumosu kicks off Season 2 with a deep dive into the remarkable journey of Habib Wasulu, founder and CEO of Smileys Africa.
What began as a side hustle with just ₦16,000 selling colourful socks has evolved into a thriving lifestyle brand offering sneakers, briefs, beanies, and more.
With a background in digital marketing and e-commerce, Habib built Smiley’s from the ground up, leveraging branding, customer experience, and smart logistics to scale the business. He shares how he navigated sourcing from China without ever visiting, scaling operations, and maintaining quality and affordability as the brand grew.
Habib offers practical insights into working with agents, testing new products, and delivering consistent value to customers.
Today, Smileys Africa is pushing boundaries in Africa's fashion and footwear manufacturing, serving as an inspiring blueprint for entrepreneurs building something meaningful from scratch.
Ada Nduka Oyom: Building Communities, Creating Impact
From a simple idea to a movement changing the face of tech in Africa,Ada Nduka Oyom is a powerhouse in community building and open source advocacy.
She is theFounder and Executive Director of She Code Africa (SCA), a nonprofit empowering over64,000+ women across 20 African countries with technical skills, mentorship, and career opportunities. She’s also the driving force behindOpen Source Community Africa (OSCA), helping developers across the continent connect, contribute, and grow.In this episode ofBuilding From Scratch, Ada shares the real journey, the wins, the tough moments and full story from her day zero on the BFS Podcast!
Kelvin Umechukwu is a tech entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of Bumpa, a platform enabling African SMEs to thrive through digital tools. He is also the founder of Consonance Club, a community dedicated to supporting innovators and tech enthusiasts on their journey to success. Kelvin is passionate about creating tools and spaces that empower individuals and businesses to reach their full potential.
On Building From Scratch episode, he talks about scaling Bumpa, empowering SMEs, and fostering innovation with Consonance community.
Nora Awolowo is an award-winning filmmaker and Founder of Rixel Studios, known for her impactful storytelling and collaborations with brands like Netflix, FIFA, and Visa. In this episode, Nora shares her journey from phone photography to building a thriving production company from the ground up. She discusses the challenges of scaling a creative business, balancing passion projects with commercial work, and the power of storytelling.
Meet Dolapo Amusat, founder of WeTalkSound, a 360 creative company with an impressive roster of clients including artists Teni, Victony, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), Joeboy, and other record labels. He is also a Grammy Recording and BET Awards Academy member, one of Pulse's 20 under 30 shaping the Nigerian music industry, and a Product Marketing Manager at Google.
In his episode, he shares insights on building WeTalk Sound, his journey, challenges, and achievements.
Our first guest, Seni Sulyan is the Founder of Talstack and Black Ops, and previously VP of Global Operations at Andela. He's a serial entrepreneur & advisor with a passion for building high-performing teams and leaders.
