In this episode of Power Talks, recorded live at Latitude59 in Nairobi, host Ssuna Ronald sits down with Mike Strano, Co-founder and COO of Yakwetu Online Limited. Dive into the ambitious mission to create a premier on-demand platform dedicated entirely to African storytelling. Mike reveals the shocking scale of the piracy crisis robbing African creatives of $803 million a year and how his company's proprietary technology is not just streaming content, but actively creating a legal, profitable ecosystem for filmmakers.

We explore Yakwetu's unique four-product strategy, from the pay-per-view model of "My Movies Africa" to their groundbreaking encrypted screening tool that's being used by churches and events. Mike also shares his philosophy as a bootstrapped founder with a proven track record, why he believes his venture is a safe bet for investors, and his plan to legitimize 54,000 illegal movie shops across Kenya. If you're curious about the future of African media, entertainment tech, and resilient entrepreneurship, this conversation is a must-listen.

(00:00:43) - The Big Idea: Mike introduces Yakwetu and its mission to empower African creatives.
(00:01:10) - The Product Suite: A breakdown of Yakwetu's four key products, including "My Movies Africa."
(00:02:16) - The $803M Piracy Problem: Mike reveals the staggering financial loss and their encrypted solution for screenings.
(00:04:18) - Legitimizing an Illegal Market: The innovative plan to partner with 54,000 "movie shops" and split revenue three ways.
(00:06:08) - Quality vs. Relatability: How Yakwetu curates content and the power of a good story.
(00:07:48) - The Bootstrapped Journey: Mike discusses bootstrapping since 2014 and the current search for a $1M pre-seed round.
(00:09:42) - The Future Vision: Yakwetu's next step as a marketplace for media, similar to Amazon's model.
(00:11:53) - Global Ambitions: Patenting their anti-piracy tech for markets in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and beyond.

Power Talks is your front-row seat to the conversations shaping the future of business and technology in Africa. Host Ssuna Ronald brings you face-to-face with the most dynamic founders, investors, and ecosystem builders driving progress across the continent. From deep-dive interviews with startup founders to insights from top VCs and event coverage from hubs like Nairobi and Kigali, we unpack the big ideas, the bigger opportunities, and the game-changing conversations you need to hear.

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Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald

Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard

Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang

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