Long before the world called him an ecosystem builder, entrepreneur, or AI innovator, Jason Delorie was just a boy with a notebook, scribbling invention ideas, dreaming of possibility. He didn’t know then that an eight-year-old’s art exhibition would hint at a much larger destiny. Or that the blend of African warmth and Scottish resilience would forge a mindset so curious, so persistent, that it would eventually touch entrepreneurs across an entire continent.
Born in Kenya to a Scottish mother and a father from Mauritius and Seychelles, Jason’s childhood was a masterclass in diversity. He didn’t just grow up hearing about entrepreneurship — he lived it. “Both my parents were entrepreneurs,” he recalls, “so I grew up not only witnessing the highs and lows of business life but also absorbing the dinner-table conversations about ideas, risks, and resilience.”
That upbringing gave him more than just exposure, it gave him a lens. One that turned every problem into a potential venture, every frustration into a market opportunity. It gave him the fire. But more importantly, it taught him what it means to build, patiently, passionately, and purposefully.
Pottery, Pitching, and Purpose
Even in childhood, Jason wasn’t waiting for adulthood to start building. “One of my first ventures, if you can call it that,” he says with a smile, “was an art and pottery exhibition I put together at around eight years old. My school friends’ parents were the ‘victims’ of my early sales pitch.”
That early initiative didn’t just raise money for a charity his mother had started, it made headlines. The Nation newspaper covered it. Barclays Bank matched the donation. A child’s curiosity turned into community impact. “That moment showed me the power of ideas, no matter how small, to create impact.”
Years later, in Scotland, Jason’s formal education only sharpened those instincts. High school, university, and a master’s degree gave him the structure and freedom to question, explore, and break boundaries. “Being immersed in an environment that encouraged questioning, curiosity, and bold thinking really shaped me,” he says. “I grew comfortable with pushing boundaries.”
Building Bridges in Mauritius
When Jason first moved to Mauritius, he wasn’t looking to build a company. But life, as always, had other plans. “I noticed how difficult it was to find reliable service providers,” he says. Coming from Scotland, where digital marketplaces were commonplace, he saw a glaring gap and an opportunity.
Enter ConnectMe, Jason’s first major venture. The startup’s first product, TutorMe, connected learners with tutors. Inspired in part by his wife, a teacher and tutor, the venture tackled the chaos of Mauritius’ tuition landscape. “Even though ConnectMe broke even, it didn’t show the growth potential I knew was necessary, so I pivoted.”
It was the kind of decision many founders fear, walking away from something that’s not failing but not flying either. But for Jason, it was simply part of the process. “Honestly, the learnings were as valuable, if not more, than my university education and definitely just as expensive!”
The end of ConnectMe was not the end, it was the beginning of a new chapter. One that focused not just on building startups, but building the very ecosystems that support them.
Entrepreneurs Talk Africa
Together with Marc Israel and Gerald Ami, Jason co-founded Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, a platform with a big vision: to build a sharing community that supports aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals across the continent. “Born from a desire to share, learn and support the growth of robust startup ecosystems across Africa,” he explains, “we identified that although there are vast amounts of entrepreneurial and startup content, there is very little that focuses on the African perspective.”
It wasn’t about spotlighting unicorns. It was about empowering underdogs, those overlooked, underestimated, or simply under-resourced. Through podcasts, events, and mentorship, the initiative became a lifeline for many, offering not just advice, but belief.
“What gives me the most pride isn’t a headline or a big funding announcement,” Jason says, “but those quiet moments when a founder I’ve mentored tells me, ‘I see the path forward now’.”
On Failure, Fatherhood, and the Fundamentals
“I am a failed entrepreneur and proud of it,” Jason declares without hesitation. The confidence doesn’t come from never falling, it comes from knowing how to rise.
“Failure is part of the job description,” he explains. “And I’ve had my fair share. But I’ve learned to treat setbacks as opportunities in disguise.” His favorite quote by Winston Churchill? “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” It’s a mindset that has helped him build through uncertainty, doubt, and risk.
“You learn by doing. No book can teach you how to be a founder. You become one.”
Despite the scale of his ambitions, Jason’s greatest project is at home. “I have a two-year-old son who keeps me on my toes every single day, and we’re expecting another little boy very soon.”
Fatherhood has reshaped everything. “It’s been the most humbling, challenging, and rewarding journey yet. There’s nothing quite like the perspective that fatherhood gives you, it sharpens your priorities and fills you with purpose in a way I never fully understood before.”
This grounded sense of purpose now drives everything he does, from mentoring founders to designing practical AI tools that make life easier for everyday business owners. “I spend a lot of my time mentoring early-stage founders and running investment readiness programs across Africa, helping startups find their footing and grow with confidence. And on a more personal mission, I’ve been exploring how to democratise AI for small businesses.”
AI for the People
AI isn’t the future — it’s the now. And for Jason, the question isn’t whether to use AI, but how. “What excites me the most is not just building AI models or chasing flashy tech but figuring out how to apply AI practically, in context, in operations, in everyday life and businesses.”
He’s developing simple AI agents for teachers, restaurants, architects, people who need solutions, not more complexity. “There’s so much untapped potential in giving everyday entrepreneurs access to powerful tools that can truly level the playing field.”
But he’s quick to add: “It’s crucial we use AI responsibly. It’s a powerful tool, not a silver bullet, and we always need to keep the human in the loop to maintain empathy and understanding.”
Advice to the Dreamers
“Start. Start now!!!” Jason urges. His advice to young founders is direct and unapologetic. “There’s magic in momentum. You don’t need the perfect business plan or a full team. Focus on doing the simple things well. Validate your ideas quickly, get fast feedback, and remember: ideas are cheap, execution is everything.”
“Talk to your customers. Fall in love with their problems. Be comfortable in the uncomfortable. Growth lives there.”
The Unfinished Journey
Jason Delorie doesn’t speak like a man who has arrived. He speaks like a man still walking, still building, still learning, not because he hasn’t found success, but because success, to him, is not a static destination. It’s motion. It’s creation. It’s doing the simple things well, again and again.
“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers,” he says. “It’s about creating space for people to bring their best ideas to the table and grow alongside you.”
If you strip away the titles, the ventures, and the platforms, what remains is a child with a journal — drawing, dreaming, daring to imagine a world that works better. And in many ways, he still is.
“At the end of the day, I’m just a problem-solver at heart — curious, relentless, and always learning. If sharing my story helps even one person take their first step, it will have been worth it.”
And with that, he turns the page.
