Podcast: Building Hard Tech in Africa - Key Insights from Octavia Carbon's Founder
How a team of 54 Kenyans is building Africa's first Direct Air Capture company, and why that might rewrite the rules of climate tech
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Martin Freimüller, founder of Octavia Carbon, on building Africa's first Direct Air Capture company, why Kenya is the world's best location for DAC, his contrarian approach to talent, and more.
Key Takeaways
Why Kenya is the optimal location for Direct Air Capture:
Renewable grid infrastructure
Abundant geothermal energy
Perfect geology for carbon storage
Young, educated population
Strong co-benefits for the local economy
The Local Talent Formula:
Current team: 54 Kenyans, 1 Austrian
Base expectation: 50 hours/week
Leadership pace: 85 hours/week
Philosophy: "Two years at Octavia = Five years of experience elsewhere"
Contrarian Views on African Climate Tech:
Most African climate tech = "Fintech built on Chinese hardware"
Octavia's approach = Building hardware from scratch in Kenya
Focus on manufacturing, not just implementation
Emphasis on developing deep technical expertise locally
Crisis Management Lessons:
Challenge: $300,000 customer payment delayed during payroll period
Solution: Tapped into personal and family savings
Takeaway: Plan 2-months ahead in case of a business slowdown
Building Global Competitors from Africa:
"If you think you can compete globally by building in Kenya and working 48 hours a week, you're probably dead wrong"
Model after Samsung/BYD's early days
Emphasize hard work over quick wins
Focus on building lasting infrastructure
The Startup Journey
On Early Motivation
"Life isn't always like a picture book. If you really set your mind on something and you're willing to put in the work, many things are possible."
On Purpose vs Profit
"I learned about a year and half into actually running Octavia that some people start companies to make money. And I found that funny because this is a horrible way of making money."
On Team Building
"What we're building here is a BYD, a Samsung – a Global South hardware startup that wants to compete globally and win globally."
Actionable Insights
For Founders Building in Africa:
Choose locations based on strategic advantages
Invest heavily in local talent development
Plan for global business cycle impacts
Build infrastructure, not just products
For Deep Tech Teams:
Focus on core technical excellence
Don't shy away from manufacturing
Embrace intensive work cultures
Build for global competition from day one
For Climate Tech Entrepreneurs:
Look for unique geological advantages
Consider co-benefits in location selection
Build deep technical expertise in-house
Think beyond carbon credits
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Martin Freimüller and Octavia Carbon
02:39 Martin's Upbringing and Early Influences
05:21 Realizing Personal Potential and Overcoming Limitations
07:53 Cultural Adaptation in South Africa
10:30 The Journey to Carbon Removal and Entrepreneurship
13:37 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship
16:28 Kenya: The Ideal Location for Direct Air Capture
23:46 Missionary vs. Mercenary: The Investor's Dilemma
26:30 Assumptions and Realities in Direct Air Capture
28:32 Building a Local Talent Ecosystem
34:20 Crisis Management and Conviction
37:48 Contrarian Views on Climate Tech in Africa
40:32 Rapid Fire Insights and Final Thoughts
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Youtube