Episode 2: Jollof Rice and Burger Celebrations with Sumorwuo Zaza, CEO & Co-Founder at Nicklpass Artwork

Founder's Fridge

Founder's Fridge is the podcast where food and entrepreneurship collide.

Each week, we talk to startup founders about what is in their fridge and what that reveals about how they work, think, and build. From protein shakes and energy bars to takeout boxes and grocery-store staples, the meals they choose tell a story.

This business podcast is not just about food. It is about habits, routines, and the human side of startup life. As our guests share what fuels them through long days and late nights, they also reflect on decision-making, resilience, creativity, and the challenges of growing a company.

Whether it is a smoothie before a pitch or cold pizza during a crunch, these stories give a unique look into the real lives of founders. The fridge becomes a window into how they balance chaos, structure, and everything in between.

If you are curious about what drives today’s entrepreneurs, Founder's Fridge offers a fresh, personal perspective. It is a show about food, business, and what it takes to keep going.

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Founder's Fridge

Episode 2: Jollof Rice and Burger Celebrations with Sumorwuo Zaza, CEO & Co-Founder at Nicklpass

October 07, 2025 • Founder's Fridge, LLC • Season 1 • Episode 2

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What if the meal you grew up with is what gets you through the hardest parts of building a company?

In this episode of Founders Fridge, host Heidi Knoblauch sits down with Sumorwuo Zaza, co-founder of nicklpass, to explore how childhood meals and family traditions can shape the way founders lead and persevere.

Zaza grew up in a Liberian household where “food is medicine.” Meals weren’t just for eating—they were preparation. Rice, protein, and greens fueled long days of learning and work, while Friday night burgers and once-in-a-while pizza became symbols of celebration and progress.

Today, as Zaza builds Nicklpass—a B2B platform that gives professionals single sign-on access to hundreds of premium news and data sources—he still leans on those lessons. When things are going well, it is a burger. When things are tough, he goes back to basics: rice, spinach, and focus.

This conversation explores the connection between food, culture, and entrepreneurship—and how the rituals we learn early in life can carry us through the hardest moments of building something new.

Listen to hear:

How Nicklpass evolved from a blockchain micropayments startup to a patented SaaS platform
Why food and leadership are more connected than we think
The meaning of “food is medicine” in Zaza’s life and work
What is really in his fridge

Subscribe to Founders Fridge for more conversations about the meals that feed founders—and the habits that hold everything together.

#FoundersFridge #Nicklpass #Entrepreneurship #StartupStories #Leadership #FoodIsMedicine #LiberianFood

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From shucking oysters to talking food with the founders. From quick snacks to the big contracts. Hi everyone, my name's Heidi Nlock and I'm the host of Founders Fridge. Founders Fridge is a podcast where we talk to founders about what they eat while they're building their company. On today's episode, we have Zaza, co-founder of Nickel Pass. Zaza is based in Philadelphia and we talk about Jolola rice, burger fries, and special occasion pizza. Let's hear what's in Zaza's fridge.