Chasing Black Unicorns

How Building the Amazon of Africa Put Me on Interpol's Most Wanted List

By: Marek Zmyslowski

Narrated by: Dominic Edwards

Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

Silicon Valley meets Indiana Jones.

Chasing Black Unicorns is an autobiography written by Marek Zmyslowski, one of Poland’s most respected internet entrepreneurs. Witty and humorous, the book covers many dramatic and often dangerous events.

Before moving to Nigeria to set up the "Amazon of Africa", Zmyslowski worked for one of Poland’s biggest financial services companies and is the founder of many online ventures in Central Europe.

While establishing the first online network of funeral services in Poland, he had to overcome challenges from criminal gangs running the market sector. His businesses in Nigeria have also made him enemies - powerful individuals who have corrupted police and government officials to stand against him.

Overnight, Marek became an international fugitive and was put on the most wanted list by Interpol, an organization with a history of being manipulated by corrupt regimes. Zmyslowski describes this and many other events, putting them in the context of African history and cultures, a continent he is now deeply in love with.

©2019 Schubert Media (P)2019 Schubert Media

A captivating read on business in Africa

For anyone building a business, this fascinating book ‘Chasing Black Unicorns’ offers a true reflection on business in Africa and more particularly the eye-opening way business was conducted in Nigeria building Jumia Travel. Following his journey from running an online funeral service in Poland to building Africa’s equivalent of Amazon.com, Marek details his extraordinary journey building his life as an internet entrepreneur. I was captivated from the first page and it was well worth the read!

Jason Bourne meets Steve Jobs

The biography was more of an adventure with truths and insights thrown in. I enjoyed it and the narration was pleasant to listen to.

Not Your Typical Entrepreneurial Journey

If you are looking for a book on the adventures of being an entrepreneur that's going to take you on a wild ride beyond your imagination and provide you tons of insights into the world of doing business and living in Nigeria, entering emerging markets, and navigating the African Continent - this is the book for you or get the audiobook version which is how I heard Marek's insane story.

This is absolutely not your typical book about the entrepreneurial journey.

I didn't expect to learn so much from the book or find myself at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Marek is absolutely raw and honest about who he is or was at the start of his endeavors and he is a character you find yourself having mixed emotions about!! This book highlights his personal growth through the challenges, hardships, and insanity of being an entrepreneur while providing a lot of wisdom.

This isn't a Silicon startup story. It's SO MUCH MORE!

Honest

I loved the honesty and straight forwardness of the author. I appreciate the non apologist approach to describing Nigeria. I hope you book inspire good well Nigerian to keep fighting for what is right.

Great stuff!

Having started my career in Eastern Europe and also having co- founded a startup in Africa I could relate to a number of the stories told and I loved the brutal honesty at which the story is told! Looking forward to hear more about Mareks adventures and its inspired me to share more of my own! / Joar

Amazing story. Brilliantly written.

The story is gripping from start to end. Marek can really write too. An engaging and entertaining writing style. Really recommend this book.

A gripping memoir

Once I started I struggled to stop listening, Marek's story is very compelling. Highly recommended.

Just a white boy story of discovering Africa

i struggled to finish. stopped at chapter 10. maybe there would have been more substance later on but the first 10 chapters gave nothin in terms of the business environmemt im Nigeria, the characters anf mindset of the people in the ecosystem or even an inclination of lessons. its a typical Osuofia comes to London story. in Marek's case. he came to nigeria. He encounters traffic, women and poor electricity

What a Book!

This was a really fantastic listen. Marek basically outlined some of the many issues hindering Nigeria from becoming the better country which it ought to be.