Alicia Torné and Amish Chhagan, the founders of Afriqinsights, a market research company focused on Africa, were interviewed by Davide Rovera for the Esade Doers podcast series. During the interview, they discussed their entrepreneurial journey and the motivation behind starting Afriqinsights.

>> Check the full interview here: https://dobetter.esade.edu/en/Amish-Chhagan-Alicia-Torne

Amish Chhagan shared with us that he always had an entrepreneurial spirit, which was influenced by his upbringing in Zambia. As a child, he says, he found creative ways to make money, such as selling mixtapes burned on CDs. He was inspired by his father, who started an IT retail company and achieved success in the business world. Amish's plan was to gain corporate experience and then start his own venture.

Amish had multiple attempts at starting companies before moving to Barcelona and starting an MBA. In Barcelona, he explored various projects and ideas. The idea for Afriqinsights came about when he realized the challenges faced by companies trying to enter the African market due to the lack of reliable data and insights. He saw an opportunity to solve this problem and provide valuable information to businesses and organizations.

Alicia Torné points out that Afriqinsights is a specialized African marketing research and consulting firm that addresses the knowledge gaps faced by decision-makers across the African continent. They provide bespoke and reliable data and insights to clients and partners, enabling them to make well-informed decisions regarding their strategies, operations, and research. With a presence in over 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Afriqinsights leverages its multiskilled and local teams to deliver value to its clients.

When asked about their first major project with the UN CDF, Amish explained that they submitted a proposal and were shortlisted among several companies. They went through an interview and panel discussion process, which led to them securing the project. This initial success helped build their credibility and led to further projects and referrals from stakeholders within the community.

Regarding their operations, Alicia explains that they have three teams: project management, analysts, and research. They collaborate with trusted and experienced research professionals on the ground in different African countries. They also have experts who provide valuable insights and support during the research and analysis process. This network allows Afriqinsights to undertake projects across the continent and deliver high-quality results.

In terms of funding, Afriqinsights operates on a revenue-funded model. As a consulting-based company, they sell their expertise and don't require significant capital investments or fundraising. They focus on delivering value to their clients and expanding their track record and credibility in the market.

The interview provides insights into the entrepreneurial journey of Alicia Torné and Amish Chhagan, highlighting their motivation, the challenges they faced, and the success they have achieved with Afriqinsights in providing valuable market research and consulting services in Africa.

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