The Samuele Tini Show - where business, innovation, and sustainability converge

Bug Business: The Startup Turning Waste into Wealth

In this fascinating episode of The Samuele Tini Show, meet Tommie Hooft, CEO and co-founder of Proteen, an innovative startup transforming waste management and agriculture in East Africa using Black Soldier Flies (BSF).
Key Points:
Discover how tiny insects can revolutionize waste management by turning organic waste into high-quality fertilizer.
How Proteen's unique approach using BSF tackles both environmental issues and economic challenges.
Practical insights on regenerative agriculture and circular economy solutions.
Why turning waste into wealth is not just good for the environment—but also good business.
Join us to understand how innovative startups like Proteen are reshaping sustainability in Africa, turning small insects into big impact.

The Untold Story of Investing in African Startups

Is Africa’s investment model broken?
On this thought-provoking episode of The Samuele Tini Show, we meet Nick Mwai, Founder and CEO of Pumapa Capital, who is challenging traditional investment models in Africa’s startup ecosystem. Nick shares his inspiring journey from corporate finance to pioneering a more inclusive and impactful approach to private equity.
Key Points:
Why billions earmarked for African startups rarely reach them, and how to fix it.
How democratizing private equity can unlock growth for emerging African businesses.
Practical advice for founders navigating Africa’s unique investment landscape.
Real examples of how patient, purposeful capital creates true transformation and profitability.
Nick reveals how a fresh approach to investment—driven by transparency, local knowledge, and long-term thinking—can genuinely empower entrepreneurs, transform communities, and reshape Africa’s future.
Tune in to discover the untold story of investing in African startups.

Zero Is the New Hero: Inside the Global Network for Zero | S. 2 E 14

Zero Is the New Hero: Inside the Global Network for Zero
Can businesses truly achieve net zero emissions by 2030—or even sooner? On this episode of The Samuele Tini Show, host Samuele Tini welcomes sustainability powerhouse Mahesh Ramanujam, former president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and founder of the Global Network for Zero.
From his early life in India, where sustainability meant survival, Mahesh has led a global transformation in green building practices through the renowned LEED certification. Now, he's going further, leading an ambitious global movement aiming for total decarbonisation.
In this insightful episode, you'll discover:
Why Net Zero is no longer just an ambition, but a necessity for businesses everywhere.
How certification can create transparency, build consumer trust, and spur competitors into action.
The critical role of technology, particularly AI, in rapidly scaling sustainable solutions.
Powerful examples of businesses already achieving remarkable progress toward zero emissions.
Mahesh delivers an optimistic yet pragmatic vision: sustainability isn’t just about protecting our planet—it’s about driving innovation, growth, and lasting value for all.

Leapfrogging Ahead: How African Businesses Are Redefining Success | S.2 E 13

Building Better Businesses: Lucy Muigai on Africa’s B Corp Movement"
Join host Samuele Tini in an inspiring conversation with Lucy Muigai, CEO of B Lab Africa, as they delve into why Africa is uniquely positioned to lead a global movement of sustainable, purpose-driven business.
Lucy shares her journey from finance to leading the African B Corp movement, highlighting how businesses across the continent are combining profit with purpose. We discuss the groundbreaking changes to the global B Corp standards and what these mean specifically for African enterprises aiming for sustainable impact.
You’ll gain powerful insights into:
Why African businesses should adopt the B Corp model now more than ever.
Practical examples of successful African B Corps driving environmental and social change.
How local sourcing, stakeholder governance, and robust sustainability metrics can transform your business for the better.
If you're passionate about the role of businesses in building a resilient, equitable, and prosperous Africa, don’t miss this transformative episode!

Why Your Diversity Efforts Are Failing (And How to Actually Fix Them) | S.2 E. 12

On the latest episode of The Samuele Tini Show, I'm joined by powerful DEI advocate Ebony Adams, leader at Pariveda and author of History vs Women. We explore tough, uncomfortable questions about inclusion that most organisations avoid:
🔥 Why does DEI face so much backlash—and how can businesses push back?🔥 Are your diversity efforts genuinely impactful or just performative?🔥 What hidden biases could AI be amplifying, and how can we ensure technology doesn't deepen inequality?
Ebony delivers candid truths and fresh insights into crafting authentic DEI strategies that are holistic, impactful, and truly transformative—especially within purpose-driven organisations and B Corps.
Ready to move beyond superficial gestures and embrace true inclusion?
🎧 Listen now to spark the real conversations we all need.

Beyond Capital: Why the Smartest Investors are Funding Sustainable Innovation | S. 2 E.11

In our latest episode, we welcome Isabelle Toledano-Koutsouris , Managing Partner at Ithaca Capital Partners and former CFO of the innovative startup Ÿnsect. Isabelle shares powerful insights on how strategic investments can accelerate groundbreaking innovations—like transforming waste into valuable insect protein through companies such as Better Origin and Ÿnsect.
Isabelle reveals the challenges of scaling sustainable startups, the critical role of resilience, and why sustainable finance is shifting from niche to mainstream.
Join us to explore how bold entrepreneurs and visionary investors are reshaping food systems, driving sustainability, and creating opportunities for a better world.
🎧 Listen now and learn why the next big innovation might just be buzzing in your backyard.

What the Arctic Taught an Ultra-Runner about Saving the Planet | S.2 E.10

Can we learn sustainability by running through the Arctic? Pavel Cenkl says yes.
In our latest episode, we talk with Pavel Cenkl, Dean at Prescott College, endurance athlete, and founder of the Regenerative Learning Network. Pavel passionately shares how experiential and regenerative education is reshaping our approach to the climate crisis.
From transformative learning models at Prescott College to his personal "Climate Run" expeditions across the Arctic, Pavel explores how vulnerability, embodied practice, and direct engagement with nature can foster meaningful change in education—and society.
🎧 Join us to discover how bridging academics with real-world experiences can empower future leaders and regenerate our relationship with the planet.
👉 Listen now and join the regenerative learning revolution!

The Hidden Danger in Your Laundry: How Your Clothes Pollute Oceans | S.2 E. 9

The Hidden Danger in Your Laundry: How Your Clothes Pollute Oceans"
Did you know your washing machine might be a major contributor to ocean pollution? Each wash releases millions of microplastic fibres, invisible to the naked eye but devastating to marine ecosystems and human health.
Join us as we welcome Rachael Miller, founder of the Rosalia Project and inventor of the innovative Cora Ball, designed to catch harmful microfibres before they reach our waters. Rachael shares alarming insights, practical solutions, and groundbreaking ideas from her years of frontline ocean research.
Find out how small daily habits can become powerful tools to protect our planet and safeguard our future.
Listen now to discover the hidden impacts of your laundry—and how you can help save our oceans!

A Love Letter to Earth: Why Laudato Si Matters to Everyone| S.2 E.8

Can Faith Truly Drive Global Sustainability? 
Ten years ago, Pope Francis issued a revolutionary encyclical, Laudato Si, urging humanity to care deeply for our common home. But has it truly made a difference?
Today on The Sustainability Journey Podcast, I had the profound honour of speaking with Dr. Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si Movement. Lorna shared how Laudato Si is more than a Catholic teaching—it's become a universal call to action, uniting people across faiths, inspiring thousands of grassroots leaders, and challenging institutions to become sustainability champions.
🔑 Key Takeaways from our conversation:
The real meaning behind Pope Francis' radical vision for a sustainable future.
How the Laudato Si Action Platform mobilized over 5,000 institutions globally.
Why authentic sustainability must integrate spiritual, ecological, and economic dimensions.
Lorna’s personal reflections on Pope Francis as a uniquely compassionate and listening leader.

AI’s Hidden Carbon Footprint and How to Fix It | S.2 E.7

Is Hydrogen the Future of Sustainable Data Centers?
The rise of AI has dramatically increased the energy demand on our ageing power grids. But what if data centers could be fully sustainable, operating entirely off-grid with zero emissions?
In my latest podcast episode, I had an insightful conversation with Yuval Bachar, CEO and Founder of ECL, who is making this vision a reality. Yuval’s innovative hydrogen-powered data centers represent a paradigm shift: they’re not just carbon-neutral—they're carbon-free, emitting only water and even potentially giving it back to local communities.
 Key Highlights:
How ECL is delivering a gigawatt-scale hydrogen-powered data center in Texas.
Why modular, off-grid data centers are faster, cheaper, and cleaner.
The potential of hydrogen power to completely redefine data infrastructure and support AI sustainably.
Listen to the episode to understand how Yuval and his team are redefining the data center landscape, making high-performance AI computing accessible and sustainable for everyone.