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In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Uzair Essack, entrepreneur, Managing Director of Riyp Exports, and 2020 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 inductee.

Uzair shares his remarkable journey from a financially struggling university student to founding one of South Africa’s most dynamic fruit export businesses. With zero agricultural background but an unstoppable entrepreneurial spirit, Uzair built Riyp from scratch — bootstrapping his way into global markets, navigating 50-degree heat in Dubai on a broken leg, and even closing a million-dollar deal with a Qatari sheikh in a hotel lobby.

This episode is packed with lessons on:

•Seizing opportunities and turning hardship into hustle

•How Africa is emerging as a major player in global fruit demand

•The power of lean operations and building strong personal relationships in agribusiness

•Why breaking with tradition is sometimes the best thing a farmer can do

Key Takeaways:

•“Chance favors the bold” — Uzair’s story is a masterclass in calculated risk-taking

•Africa offers massive untapped buying power in fresh produce markets

•Relationships matter more than ever in an increasingly tech-driven world

•Keeping overheads low can lead to better margins and returns for farmers

Connect with Uzair on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uzairessack/

Visit the Riyp website: https://www.riyp.co/

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