FROM GARAGE TO GROWTH

How do you take on a multi-billion dollar industry when you have no money and no investors? You start with a problem you can't ignore. For Audien Hearing founder Ishan Patel, that problem was watching his grandfather become isolated by the staggering $5,000 cost of a traditional hearing aid. He decided to change the game, creating a high-quality, accessible solution for under $100.This is the ulti...

In this episode, Josh Simons, the founder of music-tech networking app Vampr and CEO of Vinyl Group, shares his incredible journey from frontman of a rock band to the C-suite of a public company. Discover the raw truths about the founder's grind, why he believes 'tribe matters more than talent' when building a product, and the strategic thinking behind selling his startup, only to become the CEO o...

In this episode on global scaling, Adam O'Connor, Chief Commercial Officer of Gear Inc., breaks down the essential strategies for successful international expansion. Learn how to avoid the most common pitfalls founders face, build a resilient and cohesive global culture, and use his unique 'taxi driver test' to evaluate new markets before you invest About the Guest: Adam O'Connor is a C-suite exec...

A law on paper is one thing. Making it work is another. Is the proposed South African Startup Act the game-changer our entrepreneurs have been waiting for? In this episode of "From Garage To Growth," we do a deep dive into this landmark legislation to see if it holds the key to unlocking our local ecosystem's true potential. We discuss:🔹 The #1 Hurdle for SA Founders: Why over 90% of local VC fun...

How do you walk away from a $600 million company you co-founded? And what do you do next? In this episode of "From Garage To Growth," I sit down with Braydan Young, the founder behind the gifting giant Sendoso and now CEO of the innovative sales platform, SlashExperts. Braydan gets candid about the difficult decision to leave his first major success and the realities of starting over. We discuss:...

What's the single most critical tech decision a founder can make? And how can getting it right save you thousands in capital and months of development time? In this episode of "From Garage To Growth," we tackle the ultimate startup conundrum: web app, native mobile app, or a Progressive Web App (PWA)? To guide us, we're joined by Angelo Zanetti, co-founder and CEO of Elemental, a veteran with near...

What does it take to walk 2 million steps in a single month? And how can that one incredible act of endurance help launch a revolution in Black health? In this episode of "From Garage To Growth," we follow the extraordinary journey of Kwame Terra, the CEO and founder of Behr Health. Driven by a deep-seated mission to tackle systemic health disparities, Kwame is building a new system from the groun...

In this episode, we dive into the power of building in public and how founders can leverage LinkedIn to attract leads, grow their audience, and build trust. From content strategy to personal branding, learn practical tips to turn your LinkedIn presence into a lead-generating machine#BuildingInPublic #LinkedInMarketing #LeadGeneration #StartupGrowth #FounderTips #B2BMarketing #PersonalBranding #Con...

In this episode of "From Garage To Growth," we chart the incredible journey of Hamish McKay, the 23-year-old founder who bootstrapped his Shopify app, Order Editing, to a staggering $27,000 a month in revenue. In "The Bootstrapped Blueprint," Hamish reveals how he turned a common e-commerce headache into a multi-million dollar solution. #Bootstrapping   #SaaS   #Ecommerce   #ShopifyApp   #Building...

What if you could build a $20 million app with zero funding, all while sharing every win and struggle with the world? In this episode of "From Garage To Growth," we chart the incredible journey of Hamish McKay, the 23-year-old founder who bootstrapped his Shopify app, Order Editing, to a staggering $27,000 a month in revenue. In "The Bootstrapped Blueprint," Hamish reveals how he turned a common e...

🔥 From corporate setback to candle connoisseur! Discover how Veliswa Tiya turned job loss into a booming luxury candle brand in South Africa. In this inspiring video, we delve into the entrepreneurial journey of Veliswa Tiya, founder of Rich Aunties Esthetics. Learn how she navigated adversity, found her unique niche, and built a brand that empowers and uplifts. This is a must-watch for aspiring...

What's the secret to turning a brilliant startup idea into a market-ready product without wasting your precious time and cash? In this week’s episode of "From Garage To Growth," “MVP Masterclass: How to Launch Your Startup Idea The SMART Way,” I sat down with Angelo Zanetti, CEO of Elemental, to get the lowdown on the art and science of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We discuss:🔹 What an MVP t...

What if your startup’s next breakthrough is just a cloud credit away? In this week’s episode of From Garage to Growth, I sit down with Chuka Ezenwalie and Katlego Mabila from Silicon Overdrive, Africa’s trailblazing AWS Premier Partner. Their mission? To turn cloud computing from a cost center into a launchpad for innovation. From navigating Africa’s funding deserts to unlocking $100,000 AWS credi...

What if unlocking your purpose was just a question away? In this week’s episode of From Garage to Growth, I sit down with Llewellyn Craddock and Sam, the founder of Nova Mentis, whose journey from isolation to inspiration led him to create a platform helping people decode their Ikigai—their reason for being. From navigating an existential crisis during the pandemic to building an AI-powered self-d...

What does it take to turn street smarts into global influence? In this week’s episode of From Garage to Growth, I sit down with Ambassador Oliver Fortune Chikodzore, whose journey from washing cars to advising nations is nothing short of extraordinary. From selling vegetables on the streets of Mutare to leading multinational ventures across Africa and beyond, Oliver’s story is a masterclass in res...

What does it take to break barriers and build an industry from scratch? In this week’s podcast episode, “From Soweto to Founder – What It Takes to Build Without a Blueprint,” I had the privilege of sitting down with Raymond Ledwaba to unpack his journey. From growing up in Soweto to becoming a pioneering force in African gaming and tech, Raymond’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, innov...

The steel industry faces a sustainability challenge, contributing nearly 10% of global CO2 emissions. Can AI drive a greener future? In this episode, we talk to Dr. Osas Omoigiade, founder & CEO of DEEP.META, about how AI and reinforcement learning are transforming steel production. Discover how DEEP.META’s ‘furnace copilot’ saves energy, cuts emissions, and boosts efficiency—potentially reduc...

Discover how Aasiyah, the founder of BBCAKES, turned a humble student savings of just R20 into a dessert sensation redefining South Africa's cake culture! 🎂✨ From trendy retro designs to custom lunchbox cakes, BBCAKES has captured hearts and taste buds across Cape Town. Aasiyah shares her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges, building a vibrant brand, and growing a loyal online community o...

Did you know? By 2040, nearly half of the global workforce will come from Africa! But here’s the challenge: only 3 million jobs are created each year, while 11 million people enter the workforce. 📈This is where Shortlist, founded by Paul Breloff, steps in. Combining technology, insight, and a deep understanding of African markets, Shortlist is revolutionising how talent is sourced and developed....

Deborah Choi: A Woman of Many Hats! From Nigeria, USA to Europe, Deborah Choi has built a career on resilience, adaptability, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. 🌍 As a serial entrepreneur, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Founderland—Europe’s largest community for underrepresented founders—Deborah has dedicated her life to empowering women of colour in the startup ecosystem. 💪 In this episo...

In this episode of From Garage to Growth, we sit down with Dr. Houda Ghozzi, founder and CEO of Open Startup (OST), an NGO transforming Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape. Dr. Ghozzi shares her journey from academia to social impact, and how OST is empowering young African entrepreneurs by bridgingthe gap between universities and industries. Discover how OST's programs are fostering innovation and...

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, nearly 92 million eligible voters chose not to cast their ballots. Similarly, the 2014 midterm elections saw around 143 million eligible Americans abstaining from voting, marking the lowest participation in 72 years. These statistics underscore a significant challenge in democratic engagement. A healthy democratic process requires active participation from i...

Join us as we delve into the inspiring story of Xavier Dikor Mbouma, CEO of DATAFRET. From selling holly at six years old to founding a groundbreaking supply chain SaaS company, Xavier's journey is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of pivoting. Learn about his multicultural upbringing, the lessons from his early ventures, and the pivotal moments that shaped DATAFRET's success. T...

In the latest episode of "From Garage to Growth", Dr. Salma Tammam, Founder and CEO of Reme-D Inc. Dr Salma shares her path from academia to entrepreneurship, driven by a mission to revolutionise molecular diagnostics in underserved regions. This episode highlights the critical role of innovative diagnostics in improving healthcare accessibility and affordability, particularly in the Middle East a...

In the latest episode of "From Garage to Growth," Benjamin Wilkening, a seasoned executive boasting over 25 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, strategy consulting, and startup acceleration, delves into the transformative power of entrepreneurship. Benjamin shares his insights on his work with Earlybird, specifically focusing on Vision Lab, a dynamic hub within Earlybird that c...