15. Zakaria Jaiathe
Hey there Risers & Thrivers,
In this riveting episode, meet Moroccan-born 2x founder turned investor, Zakaria Jaiathe. Zak shares his journey from humble beginnings in Safi, Morocco, to his early days in France and Germany, where he began his entrepreneurial path. Here’s what to expect:
From Dreams to Reality: Zak’s childhood dream of flying became a reality in France. He discusses cultural shocks and unexpected familiarity within the Moroccan community there.
Challenges in Germany: Hear about Zak's battle with German immigration, facing potential deportation, and how he navigated these challenges while building his first company.
Building and Scaling Startups: Zak highlights the difficulties in being taken seriously as a founder, especially in deep tech and the African market.
Fundraising and Investor Relations: Zak offers advice for early-stage founders on preparing for VCs, creating a solid pitch deck, and understanding the investor mindset.
Advice for Founders: Insights on avoiding drastic pivots, being selective with advice, and the importance of detailed preparation and strategy.
Packed with inspiring stories, practical advice, and valuable insights, this episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Happy Listening 🎧
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Acknowledgments
Intro/Outro & Interlude Music: Music by oussama arichi from Pixabay
Timestamps
Zak's Childhood and Dream of Traveling (00:02:14) Zak shares his childhood dream of flying and his journey from a small city in Morocco to France.
Adapting to Life in France (00:06:47) Zak discusses his unexpected experience of encountering many Moroccans and familiar cultural elements in France.
Motivation to Move to Germany (00:08:04) Zak explains his desire to move to Germany and his analytical approach to choosing the country.
Transition from Employment to Entrepreneurship (00:11:16) Zak reflects on his decision to leave a comfortable job at SAP to pursue entrepreneurship and the catalyst for making that choice.
Facing Deportation in Germany (00:15:09) Zak recounts the experience of facing deportation in Germany and the stress and uncertainty it caused.
Challenges for Foreign Entrepreneurs in Germany (00:26:09) Zak and Janine discuss the difficulties faced by foreign entrepreneurs, particularly in obtaining visas and funding in Germany.
Challenges of Being Taken Seriously as a Founder (00:30:30) Zak shares his experience of not being taken seriously as a founder.
Pivoting and Fundraising Challenges (00:34:36) Zak discusses the challenges faced while pivoting his company and the difficulties in fundraising, particularly when focusing on African markets.
Investor's Perspective on African Markets (00:39:29) Zak sheds light on the lack of understanding and investment in African markets, particularly from the perspective of German investors.
Early Mistakes and Founder Pitfalls (00:42:01) Zak provides insights into the early mistakes made in building startups and shares an investor's perspective on common pitfalls for founders.
The Dangers of Rushing to Investors (00:50:01) Zak advises founders to thoroughly prepare before approaching VCs, highlighting the common mistakes and wasted time in fundraising due to lack of preparation.
Importance of Homework in Fundraising (00:52:56) Zak emphasizes the need for founders to do their homework before speaking to investors, including understanding the investors' focus and being selective in approaching them.
