Show Notes
Can Africa lead the global race to reverse climate change? In this episode of The Financing Africa’s Future Podcast, we speak with Martin Freimüller, CEO and Co-Founder of Octavia Carbon, Africa’s first Direct Air Carbon Capture (DAC) company, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Octavia Carbon is pioneering technology that removes carbon dioxide directly from the air, using renewable energy and Kenya’s unique volcanic geology for permanent CO₂ storage. While Direct Air Carbon Capture is one of the most promising carbon removal and climate innovation technologies in the world, it has yet to scale due to high costs. Supported by FSD Africa through Cohort 11 of the Catalyst Fund, Octavia Carbon is the only DAC company in the Global South, uniquely positioned to lower costs and make carbon capture accessible and impactful. This conversation goes beyond the science, exploring how climate finance, clean-tech entrepreneurship and African innovation are transforming the continent’s role in the global push towards net zero. Martin shares insights on how technology can create new industries, generate skilled jobs and turn Africa into a leader in the carbon capture and storage economy. 🎧 Listen now to discover how African ingenuity is redefining climate action, sustainability and the financing of our shared future.
More from Financing Africa’s Future
What if future repayments on loans to small businesses and farmers could unlock more capital for lenders, allowing them to finance even more customers? In this episode of Financing Africa’s Future, Sucharita Mukherjee, Co-founder and CEO of Kaleidofin, joins Kaara Wainaina of FSD Africa to explore how securitisation can connect institutional investors with last-mile lenders. Drawing on the Apollo Agriculture transaction in Kenya, which raised KES 276 million (around $2.5 million) through local-currency securitisation, they discuss how innovative financial solutions can expand access to finance and strengthen Africa’s capital markets. Subscribe to the FSD Africa channel for more insights on financial inclusion, SME financing and Africa’s financial future. #FinancingAfricasFuture #Securitisation #SMEFinance #AgriculturalFinance #CapitalMarkets
How can African countries manage rising debt pressures while preserving the fiscal space needed for development? In this episode of Financing Africa’s Future, Kaara Wainaina speaks with Henry Kyeremeh, Lead, Sovereign Debt Advisory at FSD Africa, about sovereign debt management, domestic capital mobilisation and the tools that can help African economies build more sustainable financing frameworks. They explore liability management, debt capacity, domestic capital markets and the importance of stronger institutions in navigating Africa’s evolving debt landscape. Listen to the full episode for insights into the choices shaping sovereign finance across the continent.
Nigeria’s capital markets are at a pivotal stage, with market reform, liquidity, new investment products and regulatory innovation shaping the next phase of growth. In this episode of Financing Africa’s Future, Bola Ajomale, Commissioner, Operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria, shares her perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing Nigeria’s investment ecosystem. The conversation explores market liquidity, capital raising, patient capital for SMEs and growth businesses, investor protection and the rise of digital assets and tokenisation. Bola also discusses the role of technology in strengthening market surveillance and the implications of Nigeria’s Investment and Securities Act 2025, which broadens the regulatory framework across emerging and established areas of the investment market. Listen to the full conversation for insights into how Nigeria is working to deepen its capital markets and build a more resilient investment ecosystem.
Ethiopia’s capital markets are entering a new phase, with reforms creating opportunities to mobilise domestic capital, deepen financial intermediation and expand access to long-term finance. In this episode of Financing Africa’s Future, Hana Tehelku, Director General of the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), discusses the evolution of Ethiopia’s capital markets, regulatory reform, investor confidence and the opportunities ahead for private sector financing and investment. Listen to the full episode for insights into the development of Ethiopia’s capital market and its role in supporting broader economic transformation. Subscribe to Financing Africa’s Future and listen to more episodes on the ideas shaping Africa’s financial future.
In Episode 19 of Financing Africa’s Future, Dr. Tilahun Esmael Kassahun, Founding Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), reflects on building Ethiopia’s capital market from the ground up. He discusses the ESX’s progress, growing investor participation, new market opportunities and the role of FSD Africa in supporting Ethiopia’s capital market development. Having since left the ESX, Dr. Kassahun looks back on an exchange that has evolved from an ambitious idea into a functioning market, leaving a strong foundation for its next chapter. Listen to the full conversation and subscribe to FSD Africa for more insights on Africa’s financial markets and economic transformation.