Susan Olapade is a co-founder of Akaani, a technology supply-chain startup that utilizes a two-sided marketplace powered by Artificial Intelligence, and a recipe platform to offer an innovative commerce experience for both grocery customers and sellers.
Susan is an experienced professional with a background in e-commerce, IT consulting, and finance & insurance industries. She earned her first degree in Chemical Engineering but found her true passion at the intersection of Technology and Business.
With a keen interest in integrating cutting-edge technology in a wide range of business applications, Susan is dedicated to increasing operational efficiency, driving revenue growth, and improving customer experience.
She comes from a family of entrepreneurs. After completing her undergraduate studies in Nigeria in 2017, she started her own business specialising in gourmet and customized brownies in Lagos, Nigeria during her national service until she left Nigeria in 2021.
In 2019, she joined AXA as a Business Optimization Analyst, where she gained experience analysing and building automation solutions for finance, risk management, human resources, sales, liquidations, and claims processes.
Exposure to technology at AXA greatly influenced how she managed her baking business. She trained her staff members to leverage platforms such as Flutterwave and Paystack to improve efficiency and integrated technology into their everyday processes.
In 2021, she met Richard Igbiriki, the CEO/CTO/Founder of Akaani, in New York. During one of their discussions, they shared their frustrations about the difficulties in getting African groceries delivered to our doorsteps.
This led Susan to conduct research on African stores in New York City, where she discovered that only 14% of the 70 stores sampled offered doorstep delivery. Upon sharing her findings with Richard, he revealed that he was already working on a startup to address this issue.
Intrigued by the idea, Susan expressed her interest in working on the project with Richard. She was particularly drawn to the idea of providing an experience that catered to the food needs of Africans in the diaspora, as she has a passion for cooking.
Richard, the CTO/CEO/Co-founder at Akaani agreed to bring her on board as the COO/Co-founder, and she enthusiastically accepted the opportunity. By building a platform, Akaani has been able to serve users in both Nigeria and the USA simultaneously.
Though these are very different markets, their technology has enabled them to scale quickly and manage distinct business models. In Nigeria, Akaani is designed to provide an online shopping experience for everyday grocery products, whereas in the US, the focus is specifically on African grocery products.
“Managing my own business and working as an automation developer inspired me to pursue an advanced degree at the intersection of Business and Tech. I’m currently completing my Master’s degree in Management of Technology at NYU, which has been a fantastic career decision. The program has provided me with valuable insights on managing technology-driven businesses, and I’m using this knowledge to shape the way I’m building my startup, Akaani.”
– Susan Olapade
Per gender challenges as a female cofounder, Susan has not faced any gender-related challenges while working with her male co-founder. However, she encountered a sexist comment from a male African store owner during market research in NYC.
He insinuated that Susan should be focused on getting married instead of building an African grocery business due to the challenges of the industry. This comment made her feel demeaned, as it suggested that her gender made her incapable of succeeding in the business.
On how gender equity can be achieved in Africa, Susan notes that certain industries or professions are considered “male-dominated” or “female-dominated.” For example, men are more likely to be employed in higher-paying industries such as technology and engineering.
On the other hand, women are more likely to work in lower-paying industries such as education and healthcare, resulting in a gender pay gap and lack of female representation. In light of this, she asserts that there needs to be a change in the mindset and attitudes of the Nigerian society towards job roles.
Also, sensitization programs and campaigns can help to raise awareness of the importance of gender equity by encouraging women to start taking on roles that are traditionally reserved for men. Sensitization can also help reduce gender biases that can impact hiring decisions, promotions, and pay raises.