Most Startups Build Apps. He Built a Toilet - Jonny Harris, Arumloo

Most Startups Build Apps. He Built a Toilet - Jonny Harris, Arumloo

n this Born to Build episode, Jonny Harris shares his journey from civil engineering in the UK to building innovative sanitation solutions in Africa. He unpacks the founding of Isidima, the lessons learned from launching a consultancy with a purpose, and the five-year journey of developing Arumloo — an ultra-low flush toilet inspired by the Arum Lily. Jonny also explains how nature-based engineering, water-sensitive cities, and decentralized infrastructure could reshape the future of water and sanitation. Along the way, he offers honest insights into entrepreneurship, product development, patents, cash flow challenges, and why no founder succeeds alone. It's a fascinating conversation about solving real-world problems, building with purpose, and creating practical innovations that improve both human dignity and environmental sustainability. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Jonny's Journey into Water and Sanitation (05:07) Starting Isidima and Building with Purpose (09:04) The Problem That Inspired Arumloo (13:35) Nature, Biomimicry & The Arum Lily Breakthrough (16:34) Five Years of Product Development and Prototyping (18:05) Patents, Manufacturing & Startup Challenges (23:19) Why They Couldn't Give Up on Arumloo (24:08) Bringing Arumloo to Market (26:32) Expanding into Africa, the Middle East & Beyond (29:39) Patents, Protection & Global Growth (32:31) What Water-Sensitive Cities Could Look Like (36:03) Living Off-Grid and Turning Home into a Living Lab (37:47) Entrepreneurship, Faith & Building in Community (40:25) Marketing, Awareness & Commercializing Innovation (41:14) Rapid Fire Questions & Closing Thoughts Check them out: https://www.arumloo.com [https://www.arumloo.com] https://www.isidima.net [https://www.isidima.net] About Born to Build: Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.

Portable Power and Purpose-Driven Building - Weyers Marais, Helt

In this episode of Born to Build, Weyers Marais, co-founder of Helt, shares the story behind building a South African energy tech company focused on ultra-rugged portable power systems and the bigger vision driving it all. From early Frankenstein-style prototypes and engineering setbacks to building proprietary battery systems and learning how to earn trust in the market, Weyers gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build hard-tech products from the ground up. It’s a thoughtful conversation about engineering, purpose-driven business, long-term thinking, and why building both the product and the business matters if you want to create real impact. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & The Mission Behind Helt(00:49) The Fossil Fuel Problem That Sparked Helt(03:26) From Electric Tuk-Tuks to Portable Power(06:05) The Earliest Prototypes & Building an MVP(08:52) Manual Prototyping, CNC Machines & Iteration(14:00) The Hardest Engineering Challenges(19:27) Making Decisions Through Data & Uncertainty(24:03) Building the Business Around the Product(25:49) Brand, Storytelling & Preparing for Launch(29:03) The Meaning Behind the Name “Helt”(31:19) Building Trust vs Building the Product(34:03) Lessons Learned & The Lean Startup Mindset(35:52) Advice for Engineers & Technical Founders(38:28) Rapid Fire Questions & Final Reflections Check them out: https://helt.co.za [https://helt.co.za] About Born to Build: Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.

Youth Aren’t the Problem, They’re the Solution - Anton Cuyler, Sozo

In this Born to Build episode, Anton Cuyler shares how a calling led him from the UK to Vrygrond — and how a simple youth initiative grew into the Sozo Foundation, transforming young lives through education, skills, and opportunity. We unpack the realities of building in a deeply challenged community, the moment that nearly made him walk away, and why Sozo believes youth aren’t the problem — but the solution. It’s a powerful conversation about purpose, resilience, and building something that truly changes lives. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Anton’s Calling(01:24) Leaving the UK & Stepping Into the Unknown(05:57) Arriving in Vrygrond & Finding Purpose(14:19) From Youth Club to Sozo Foundation(17:46) Why Life Skills Matter as Much as Technical Skills(24:17) A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything(31:05) Becoming Part of the Community(34:38) Youth as the Solution to Unemployment(35:54) Building Access & Breaking Down Barriers(41:01) Dignity, Ownership & Transformation(45:53) Measuring Success: Jobs, Growth & Sustainability(50:30) From Empathy to Action — What We Can Do Check them out: https://sozo.org.za [https://sozo.org.za?utm_source=chatgpt.com] About Born to Build: Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.

They Pivoted Their Startup… and 10X’d Growth - Adrian Hope-Bailie, Fynbos

In this episode of Born to Build, Adrian Hope-Bailie shares his journey from early web development and global fintech roles to building Fynbos, a platform helping South Africans take control of their savings and investments. He unpacks the pivot from a global digital wallet to a locally focused investment platform, and the realisation that most people don’t need complexity, they need clarity and confidence. We dive into the psychology of money, why so many people struggle to take action even when they know what to do, and how Fynbos is simplifying personal finance through guidance, automation, and trust. It’s a practical and honest conversation about building in a complex industry, staying long-term focused, and creating products that genuinely help people. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Adrian’s Background(01:30) Early Entrepreneurship & Building sarugby.com(06:00) Entering the World of Payments & Fintech(10:00) From Digital Wallet to Fynbos Money(15:05) The Pivot to Savings & Investment Accounts(18:30) Exploring Ideas That Didn’t Work(21:45) The Real Problem: Confidence with Money(24:30) From Guidance to Execution(26:30) Building for the South African Market(31:30) The Future of Personal Finance & AI(36:10) Building Trust in Fintech(39:30) Growth Through Referrals & Customer Delight(42:30) Lessons from Building a Company(46:00) Work, Life & Founder Balance(47:10) Rapid Fire Questions Check them out: https://fynbos.money [https://fynbos.money/] About Born to Build:Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.

Why “People Buy From People” Still Wins in Sales - Mel Martin, Sales Intel

In this insightful interview, sales strategist Mel Martin shares her journey from shy introvert to sales expert, her innovative AI-powered sales training program, and practical tips for entrepreneurs to boost their sales. Discover how to build confidence, generate leads, and leverage human skills over tools for long-term success. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Sales and Personal Journey (02:32) Transitioning from Sales to Coaching (05:19) The SPRINT Program Explained (08:26) Key Sales Strategies for Entrepreneurs (11:02) Building Confidence in Sales (13:49) Human Skills vs. Tools in Sales (15:14) Starting a Business: Sales Strategies (17:36) The Role of AI in Sales (20:18) Simplifying Sales with AI (23:18) Celebrating Wins and Building Habits (26:13) Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts Find them here: https://salesintel.co.za About Born to Build: Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.