#FoundersConnect: Interview with Chijioke Dozie, the CEO of Carbon

Chijioke Dozie is the CEO and co-Founder of a $15.8 million VC-backed company, Carbon. Carbon is a leading African Mobile-First Consumer Lending Business and a digital bank. They empower individuals with credit, simple payments solutions, high-yield investment opportunities, and easy-to-use tools for personal financial management.

In this video, Chijioke shares his story - how Carbon started as One credit in 2012, pivoted to One fi in 2015 then Paylater and now Carbon. He also talks about growing up, schooling abroad and starting a business with his immediate elder brother and more.

Watch the Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mfRdO_F5go

Video timestamps

1:40 5 things about Chijioke that are not Carbon-related

2:23 5 of Chijioke’s favourite things

3:37 Chijioke talks about his fondest memory growing up

5:14 He talks about his educational background in relations to early life career plans

6:43 He talks about defining moments for his life and career

8:58 He talks about How & Why Carbon started

11:17 He talks about the pivot from OneCredit, to OneFi, to PayLater, to Carbon.

13:12 He talks about the biggest challenge with the company so far

16:11 How he feels about hitting $240 million in processing and the biggest win so far

17:27 What Carbon has done so well that has been able to keep them for almost a decade in this ecosystem

18:59 He talks about the Carbon Disrupt fund

22:00 He talks about how it feels like to have his blood brother as a Co-Founder

24:30 How it feels like being the son of Pascal Dozie

26:22 The three people that have made the most impact in his life

29:27 He talks about the ideal people to hire, manage and keep at Carbon.

32:01 He shares three biggest business lessons

33:32 Why you need to get on Carbon

34:30 One piece of advice for first-time tech founders

36:06 Top three favourite cities in the world, Favourite food & colour