Rated #1 Podcast for Entrepreneurs in South Africa in 2023 by Feedspot.
The Founder Files is where founders come to explore proven growth strategies and real en...
How to Scale an Agency That Can Say NO to Clients - Felix Norton, Woww Digital
Felix Norton is the founder and MD of Woww Digital, one of SA’s award-winning marketing agencies. With 40 people across SA, Europe, and the UK, Felix shares how they’ve scaled, niched down, and built a sales process that converts — achieving a 33% website conversion rate!We dive into how Woww stands out in a saturated market, the lessons from working with a sales coach for 2.5 years, and how they’re scaling using the Traction framework.This episode is a must-watch for agency owners and founders looking to grow smarter.---------- Book a curiosity call with Cameron: https://www.metavolve.co/curiosity-callThis episode is brought to you by Metavolve.Metavolve is a team of focused experts committed to helping entrepreneurs like you scale their businesses successfully. Reach out to our team to learn more: https://metavolve.co/---------- To support The Founder Files:🔔 Subscribe and turn post notifications on⭐ Leave a comment to let us know your thoughts💭 Share your thoughts on LinkedIn and tag Cameron Coutts🔗 Connect with Felix:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felixwnorton/🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/---------- 00:00 Introduction03:43 What is Woww Digital?07:36 The Founding Story08:38 Building a Successful Agency with Great Clients11:54 How to Compete and Stand Out as an Agency21:40 The Problem with Trying to Be Everything to Everyone25:16 Landing a Project with Ogilvy29:09 Scaling Woww Digital33:19 Expanding into International Markets40:39 Shifting from Time-Based to Value-Based Pricing44:23 The Strategy Behind Expanding into London47:58 How to Compensate and Retain International Talent56:08 Building a Sales Engine That Lets You Choose Your Clients1:10:34 The Sales Questions That Convert Best1:14:39 Gaining Clarity, Control, and Time Freedom as a Founder1:22:26 What’s Next for Felix and Woww Digital1:27:26 Current Challenges on the Journey1:30:38 The Biggest Lever for Woww’s Success1:32:57 Final Reflections
2025/3/24
1:34:38
How I Turn Market Crashes & Industry Shifts Into Growth Opportunities - Nick Durrant, Bluegrass
In this episode, I sit down with Nick Durrant, founder and CEO of Bluegrass Digital—a Cape Town-based software development firm that started in London 23 years ago. With two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Nick has navigated market shifts, economic crises, and industry disruptions while growing and scaling his businesses.We dive into:- How his side project became one of South Africa’s top 5 publications- Adapting to major economic crises like 2008, COVID, and now AI- Evolving sales models and forging strategic channel partnerships- Lessons from decades of resilience, reinvention, and growthIf you want to learn how to adapt, pivot, and scale in an ever-changing world, this episode is a must-listen.----This episode is brought to you by Metavolve.Metavolve turns highly capable African founders into confident business leaders by helping them develop clear and comprehensive business strategies that make building a great sustainable business less complex. Reach out to our team to learn more:https://metavolve.co/----To support The Founder Files:🔔 Follow The Founder Files EVERYWHERE⭐ Leave a review right here💭 Share your thoughts on LinkedIn and tag Cameron Coutts----00:00 Introduction03:14 What is Bluegrass Digital?10:36 The Scale of Bluegrass Digital15:41 Nick’s Other Businesses18:03 Navigating a Declining Market35:16 How Did The Business Model Change When Moving to Digital?41:40 From A Dying Market to Top 5 Publications in South Africa44:30 The Founding Story of Bluegrass Digital54:02 Pros and Cons of A Partner Channel Model01:01:37 Omni-channel Approach To Generating New Leads01:09:16 How Nick Successfully Navigated The Credit Crisis of 2008 01:20:19 How The World Has Become So Disruptive From A Macro Perspective01:22:45 The Impact Covid Had on The Business and How Nick Adapted to That?01:25:20 The Impact of AI Business01:29:31 The Future of Bluegrass Digital01:31:50 Advice to Other Entrepreneurs
2025/3/17
1:34:29
Why is Entrepreneurship in South Africa So Challenging? - Katlego Maphai, Yoco
What an honour to sit down with a South African fintech, whose hardware most of us have already been in contact with.Katlego Maphai is the CEO and co-founder of Yoco, the market leader for SMB payments in South Africa.Expect to learn:What Yoco doesKatelgo’s insights on the structural and systemic issues preventing entrepreneurs from succeeding in this countryWhat he is optimistic about in South AfricaHow he guides the sense of purpose, meaning and contribution into the values and culture of the companyWhen you should formalise your approach to strategyHow Katlego’s business and role have changed over the years, and also how he has changedThis is a fundamental example of how entrepreneurs evolve as their businesses evolve. As the scale increases, our perspective and our vision change as well.Katlego is an amazing example and role model of what it means to be a leader and CEO of an entrepreneurial business in SA.----This episode is brought to you by Metavolve.Metavolve turns highly capable African founders into confident business leaders by helping them develop clear and comprehensive business strategies that make building a great sustainable business less complex. Reach out to our team to learn more:https://metavolve.co/----To support The Founder Files:🔔 Follow The Founder Files EVERYWHERE⭐ Leave a review right here💭 Share your thoughts on LinkedIn and tag Cameron Coutts----00:00 Introduction03:59 What is Yoco?10:06 Breaking Down The Yoco Hardware20:53 Getting A Cash Based Economy To Move To Digital Payments28:33 A Big Mistake Founders Make34:11 Why is Entrepreneurship in SA So Difficult?43:41 Structural Challenges Holding South African Entrepreneurs Back53:21 How Yoco is Breaking Down The Barriers to Entrepreneurship56:23 Katlego’s Pessimism and Optimism About Entrepreneurship in SA01:07:20 Translating The Company Vision Into The Culture01:22:06 Moments When Everyone Doubted Katlego01:27:11 When is The Right Time to Formalise Your Strategy?01:30:51 How Has Yoco, Katlego And His Role Changed Over The Years?01:42:31 Where is Yoco Going as a Company?01:46:36 Reflection
2025/3/10
1:49:16
From Losing 95% of Revenue to Scaling a Successful Fintech - Chris Ball, Finch Technologies
Every founder who’s scaled beyond product-market fit knows the challenge: where do we focus our attention next?In this episode, I sit down with Chris Ball, co-founder of Finch Tech, to unpack how his team is navigating this exact question.We dive into how Finch scaled their products and built their business model, the tough decisions around which growth strategies to pursue, how Chris and his co-founders protect their team from the noise and the biggest challenges they're facing right now in their growth journey.This conversation is a must-listen for anyone facing the overwhelming options of what got you here vs. what will get you there. If you're in the scale-up phase, you'll find huge value in how Finch is approaching this pivotal stage of business growth.----This episode is brought to you by Metavolve.Metavolve turns highly capable African founders into confident business leaders by helping them develop clear and comprehensive business strategies that make building a great sustainable business less complex. Reach out to our team to learn more:https://metavolve.co/----To support The Founder Files:🔔 Follow The Founder Files EVERYWHERE⭐ Leave a review right here💭 Share your thoughts on LinkedIn and tag Cameron Coutts----00:00 Introduction02:41 What is Finch Technologies?13:23 Where is Finch At Now?16:12 Understanding The Business Model21:40 How Does Finch Get This Data?39:10 Expanding Further Along The Value Chain43:26 Product-Market Fit Journey47:43 Current Scaling Challenges53:57 Splitting Focus Among The Team01:00:10 Do We Really Want To Build a Large Team?01:06:58 Struggling to Get Out of Customer Service01:14:17 Which Direction Should Finch Grow Into?01:22:54 What Does The Future Hold For Chris and Finch?01:25:45 Why be an Entrepreneur?01:27:51 Reflection
2025/3/03
1:29:23
Pineapple's Genius Strategy to Disrupt The Insurance Industry - Ndabenhle Ngulube, Pineapple
Pineapple Insurance has taken the South African insurtech space by storm, and today, we’re diving deep into their journey with co-founder Ndabenhle Ngulube.From their viral marketing campaigns to their unconventional branding strategies, we explore how Pineapple carved out a unique position in the market. Ndabenhle shares insights into their customer segmentation, growth strategy, and the genius behind their long-term vision.We also break down how they scaled to a 215-person team, the evolution of their company structure, and how they use OKRs to drive execution across all levels. Plus, the challenges of building a strong middle management team—and much more.This episode is packed with actionable insights for any founder looking to scale fast and stand out.----This episode is brought to you by Metavolve.Metavolve turns highly capable African founders into confident business leaders by helping them develop clear and comprehensive business strategies that make building a great sustainable business less complex. Reach out to our team to learn more:https://metavolve.co/----To support The Founder Files:🔔 Follow The Founder Files EVERYWHERE⭐ Leave a review right here💭 Share your thoughts on Linkedin and tag Cameron Coutts----00:00 Introduction03:06 What is Pineapple?07:21 The Founding Story12:16 10 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Customer Experience14:59 Ndabenhle’s Super Power21:14 Buying 60k Pineapples for the New Product Launch25:41 What Scale is Pineapple at Right Now28:08 Making Insurance Affordable for Lower-Income Individuals37:10 The Genius Growth Strategy Allowing Pineapple to Take Market Share59:11 Managing Company Identity While Evolving Product Offering01:06:36 Handling Competition in an Oligopoly01:12:05 Pineapple’s Team Structure and Execution System01:28:46 Challenges in Building Out Management Layers01:33:27 What Does The Rest of 2025 Hold For Pineapple01:34:57 The Future of Insurance in South Africa01:36:41 Reflection
Rated #1 Podcast for Entrepreneurs in South Africa in 2023 by Feedspot.
The Founder Files is where founders come to explore proven growth strategies and real entrepreneurial challenges.
Hosted by Cameron Coutts, each episode unpacks the complex journeys of scaling businesses, delivered by entrepreneurs who've walked the path. No script, no filter – just a fireside chat between growth-driven founders.
If you’re seeking practical advice and relatable stories to fuel your growth journey, this is your go-to resource. Subscribe now!
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