Tech & Innovation Leader.
Specialized in Product Management, Venture Building, Innovation Planning & Management, digital transformation, Big Data & Analytics.
About me
I'm Paul Mandele, a Venture Builder and Innovation Strategist with over a decade of experience transforming bold ideas into market-ready businesses. My journey has spanned from co-founding startups to leading innovation initiatives at scale across East Africa.
From establishing and managing innovation support organizations like hubs, acccelerators, venture studios to working on policies level, working with startups, corporates, governments and DFIs to serving on the Tanzania National ICT Skills Council, I've dedicated my career to building ecosystems where technology and innovation thrive. I believe in the power of design thinking, data-driven strategies, and relentless execution.
Whether it's launching new ventures, transforming organizations, or mentoring the next generation of innovators, I'm driven by impact that matters.
Building ventures, leading innovation, and transforming ideas into scalable businesses across East Africa
I can help you with...
Innovation Management
Strategic guidance to embed innovation into your organization's DNA. From ideation frameworks to execution strategies, I help organizations build sustainable innovation capabilities that drive growth and competitive advantage.
Venture Building
End-to-end venture creation from concept to market-ready business. I guide organizations through validation, product development, and go-to-market strategies to launch successful new ventures that create value and capture market opportunities.
Digital Transformation
Transform your organization for the digital age. I design and implement comprehensive digital strategies that modernize operations, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new business models through technology and innovation.
My way of getting things done
I bring a holistic approach to innovation and venture building, combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution. My methodology integrates design sprints for rapid idea validation, innovation workshops to align teams, comprehensive market research to ensure product-market fit, and strategic innovation frameworks that drive meaningful transformation.
From initial concept through to scalable ventures, I orchestrate the entire journey—managing technical development to build robust solutions and overseeing product management to deliver continuous value. This end-to-end approach ensures your ventures are built on solid foundations and positioned for sustainable growth.
Selected Experience(3)
A snapshot of my experiences
Smart Foundry
Director - Venture Building & Business Operations
Vodacom Innovation Hub
Product Manager - Venture Studio
Buni Hub - COSTECH
Co-Hub Manager & Innovation Lead
Latest Thoughts(3)
Insights and ideas from my blog
Unlocking the Potential of Startup Methodologies: A Game-Changer for Corporates Seeking Rapid…
Unlocking the Potential of Startup Methodologies: A Game-Changer for Corporates Seeking Rapid Innovation and Growth Photo by RDNE Stock project from ...
Building Exponential Innovation Ventures with AI in Low-Resource Markets
Photo by Edmond Dantès: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-group-of-people-having-conversation-while-sitting-near-the-wooden-table-8550655/Building scala...
Corporate innovation requires both doing different things and doing things differently.
Photo by Austin Distel on UnsplashIn today’s relentlessly evolving business landscape, the term ‘innovation’ echoes through boardrooms and strategy m...
