FROM GARAGE TO GROWTH

Embark on a thrilling ride with “From Garage to Growth,” the podcast that bridges continents, connecting African intrapreneurs with global insights. Discover the secrets of success, strategies, and key players transforming the intrapreneurial landscape. For visionaries across Africa and beyond, this dynamic platform fosters a global exchange of knowledge. Dive into a wellspring of inspiration and guidance tailored for founders worldwide. Join me in unlocking the power of intrapreneurial success on a truly global scale!

FROM GARAGE TO GROWTH is a business podcast hosted by O'brien Phiri, with 42 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

O'brien Phiri hosts FROM GARAGE TO GROWTH, a business show with 42 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #40

  #40 Who's Really On The Other Side Of The Screen?

  Jul 30, 202637 minS1

  How much of you would a scammer actually need, your voice, your face, a few seconds of video to fool the people who trust you most? For Richy Emah and Chantal Lamprecht of Sumsub, that's not a hypothetical. It's their job. In this episode of "From Garage to Growth," we go deep into the AI fraud epidemic reshaping Africa's digital economy, deepfakes surging by as much as 967% year-on-year in some markets, SIM-swap attacks hijacking phone numbers in seconds, and a retired teacher who lost R1.2 million without ever giving up a single password. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Have You Ever Been Scammed? 00:41 - The "Sophistication Shift": Fraud Up 180% Year-on-Year 01:06 - Deepfake Exposure in Africa Is Almost Universal 05:41 - What Sumsub Actually Solves for Founders 06:52 - "Growth Without Trust Is Dangerous" 08:25 - Breaking Down KYC, AML & Fraud Detection 14:12 - iGaming's Fraud Problem: 97% Happens at the Liveness Check 16:11 - Deepfakes, Synthetic Images & Fake Masks 19:48 - 269% and 967%: The Deepfake Surge Across Africa 20:37 - SIM Swaps & Money Muling Explained 22:09 - The Retired Teacher Who Lost R1.2 Million 22:51 - How Fraud Actually Starts: WhatsApp, Telegram & Instagram 27:44 - A Real SIM-Swap Story 29:26 - How to Protect Yourself Before Clicking That Link 33:44 - How Do You Safeguard Against Deepfakes & AI Fraud?34:59 - The One Question Every Business Should Be Asking 35:33 - The Final Word: Verify ️ ABOUT THE PODCAST: From Garage to Growth features raw conversations with the founders and builders behind today's most innovative companies. We uncover the playbooks, mindset, and strategies they used to turn an idea into a successful venture. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE FOUNDER STORIES: CONNECT WITH US:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106259356/admin/dashboard/ Website: https://fromgaragetogrowth.co.za/ Have you ever been targeted by a scam? Tell us your story in the comments below! #AIFraud #Deepfakes #Cybersecurity #Sumsub #FraudPrevention #FinTech #StartupPodcast

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  Episode #39

  #39 From a $5,000 Problem to a $100 Solution: Reinventing Hearing

  Sep 18, 202532 minS1

  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 ultimate bootstrapper’s story. In this episode of "From Garage to Growth," Ishan Patel shares the raw, in-the-trenches playbook he used to turn a personal mission into a company that has helped over a million people. He reveals how he survived going 10 months without a paycheck, battled industry giants, and built a brand that truly matters.🕛 CHAPTERS:00:00 - The $5,000 Problem02:01 - The Personal Story: Why He Started Audien Hearing04:34 - Inside the "Garage Phase": Building a Company in 47°C Heat06:52 - The #1 Skill Founders Must Learn to Succeed08:03 - Facing Failure: 10 Months with No Paycheck10:15 - How to Handle Industry Pushback & Naysayers13:40 - The Truth About Manufacturing Costs vs. Retail Price18:37 - Designing for Humans & Removing the Stigma of Hearing Aids28:17 - The Future: Global Expansion & Helping Millions More30:31 - Ishan's Final Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST: From Garage to Growth features raw conversations with the founders and builders behind today's most innovative companies. We uncover the playbooks, mindset, and strategies they used to turn an idea into a successful venture.🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE FOUNDER STORIES: https://www.youtube.com/@Garage2GrowthCONNECT WITH US:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106259356/admin/dashboard/Website: https://fromgaragetogrowth.deWhat was your biggest takeaway from Ishan's journey? Let us know in the comments below! 👇#FounderStory #Bootstrapping #Entrepreneurship #Startup #Disruption

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  Episode #38

  #38 The Social Network for Musicians: Why Tribe is Your Greatest Asset

  Sep 12, 202533 minS38

  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 of the company that acquired it. Josh also dives deep into the future of the music industry and reveals how AI is set to become every artist's newest bandmate. 🎸 About the Guest Josh Simons is the CEO of Vinyl Group and the founder of Vampr, the world's largest social-professional network for musicians. He's a seasoned entrepreneur who has navigated multiple funding rounds, a major acquisition, and the transition from private founder to public company CEO. Connect with Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonsjosh/ Learn more about Vinyl Group: https://vinyl.group/ From Garage Growth: Subscribe for more interviews with top founders and operators: [Insert Subscription Link] Watch our episode on: https://youtu.be/Zr9hecO84vU Visit our website for more resources: https://fromgaragetogrowth.de/ #MusicTech #Entrepreneurship #StartupStory #Vampr #MusicIndustry #Leadership #AIinMusic

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  Episode #37

  #37 The Secret to Global Expansion: The Taxi Driver Test

  Sep 2, 202526 minS1

  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 executive with over a decade of experience in scaling businesses across dozens of countries. Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-o-connor-54766048/Learn more about Gear Inc.: https://www.gearinc.com/ Timestamp 01:34 - Introduction 02:07 - The Journey from Hotel Security to the C-Suite 03:10 - Delegating Outcomes, Not Tasks: A Leadership Masterclass 03:55 - Breaking Your Own Systems: The Conflict Between Sales and Operations 05:24 - The "Bad English Accent" Story 07:26 - Teaching in the workplace 08:33 - How to Build a Cohesive Global Culture 09:34 - The 'Taxi Driver Test' for Market Entry - The Art of Scaling 17:38 - AI as an Amplifier: How to Implement it Right 21:50 - Building, Breaking, and Rebuilding Your Systems for Scale 22:50 - What It Really Costs to Reach the Top From Garage Growth: Subscribe for more interviews with top founders and operators: Watch our episode on: https://youtu.be/bLnfpQFGReg Visit our website for more resources: https://fromgaragetogrowth.de/ #GlobalScaling #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Startup

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  Episode #36

  #36 The SA Startup Act: A Founder's Game-Changer or Just More Red Tape?

  Aug 22, 202528 minS1

  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 funding comes from offshore and the legacy laws creating this capital crunch.🔹 The Plan to Unlock Local Capital: How the Act’s proposed tax incentives, inspired by the UK's successful model, could unleash a new wave of angel investment.🔹 Bridging the Great Divide: A look at how the Act aims to fix the deep "misalignment" between government and founders, starting with exchange controls.🔹 Why Defining 'Startup' is Step Zero: We explore the critical need for an official definition to build a truly supportive ecosystem—a problem officially recognised by Parliament. 🚀 This episode is a must-listen for every South African founder, investor, and policymaker passionate about building a world-class local tech ecosystem. ✅ Subscribe to "From Garage To Growth" for more deep dives into the strategies shaping African entrepreneurship. #SouthAfrica #StartupAct #VentureCapital #TechPolicy #SAInnovation #Entrepreneurship #fromgaragetogrowth

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