MASHSTARTUP

• The 10-Year Journey of TSHEPO Jeans: How Tshepo Mohlala Built a South African Icon

  Meet Tshepo Mohlala, founder of TSHEPO—the premium denim brand worn by presidents, royalty, and everyday believers in quality and identity.But this isn’t just a story about jeans.It’s about a young man from Tsakane who dared to dream bigger than the limitations placed on him. It’s about betting on yourself—even when the odds are stacked. And most importantly, it’s about building something that lasts.In this episode, we dive into:• The fabric store gamble that started it all and how Tshepo turned a small purchase into a globally recognized African brand• The pivot that saved his business and why he had to choose between being a designer and being a CEO• Manufacturing in Africa vs. overseas—the real costs, quality trade-offs, and why local production became his competitive advantage• The “president moment”—how one high-profile client changed his brand’s trajectory and what it taught him about premium positioning• Building for legacy, not just profit—his framework for making decisions that compound over decades, not quartersWhether you’re scaling a creative business, navigating manufacturing challenges, or trying to build something that outlasts you—Tshepo’s journey offers hard-won insights you won’t find in business school.This is a conversation about the unglamorous work behind the glamorous brand.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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• Engineering Everyday Solutions: Bootstrapping a Scalable Startup with Ayanda Dladla (Mowash)

  Ayanda Dladla is the co-founder of Mowash – a mobile car wash platform turning everyday inconvenience into innovation. What started as long Saturday waits at local car washes became the spark for a tech-enabled service that connects customers to car washers on demand.In this episode, Ayanda shares how his background in engineering shaped the foundation of Mowash, why he believes township businesses are Africa’s real startup frontier, and how he built a platform with zero funding, using Twitter and hustle.We explore lessons in bootstrapping, customer engagement, and what it takes to turn a side hustle into a formal business that creates jobs and dignity.This is a masterclass in purpose-led building — and why the future of African innovation lives in everyday problems.#Entrepreneurship #TownshipTech #SouthAfricanStartups #Mashstartup

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• Built to Last: A Decade of Walk Fresh with Lethabo Mokoena

  What does it take to build something that lasts — not just in profit, but in purpose?Lethabo Mokoena, the founder of Walk Fresh, unpacks the lessons, phases, and grit behind building a township-born business that’s stood the test of 10 years.What began in a backyard in Daveyton is now a movement, a trusted brand, and a symbol of what’s possible when vision meets relentless execution. Lethabo reflects on how Walk Fresh grew from a local sneaker-cleaning hustle into a nationally respected company with commercial products, collaborative campaigns, and cultural relevance — all while staying rooted in community.This is more than a business story. It’s a story of impact.In this conversation, we explore:​The unseen work and mindset it takes to build over a decade​How township businesses can scale without losing their soul​The culture and economy of sneaker care in South Africa​Walk Fresh’s expansion, product innovation, and ecosystem thinking​The power of building infrastructure in overlooked spaces​Lethabo’s tone is honest, grounded, and clear: greatness doesn’t come from hype — it comes from discipline, community, and staying true to your 'why'. His story is a blueprint for entrepreneurs looking to build something real, relevant, and rooted.If you're serious about business as a tool for transformation, this is the episode to tune into.This is how you build something that lasts.________________________________________________Learn from South Africa's entrepreneurs, solution builders, and opportunity creators.Each episode dives into real stories, hard-won lessons, and the unfiltered realities of building in South Africa. From tough calls to turning points, this is for builders who are serious about the work.We’re not just telling stories—we’re building a home for South Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs.Explore tools, mentorship, and opportunities at www.mashstartup.co.za.New episodes weekly. Subscribe. Share. Leave a review.And if it connects—send it to someone building something that matters.#SouthAfricanEntrepreneurs #StartupSouthAfrica #Mashstartup #SmallBusiness #Podcast

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• From Engineering to Impact: Redefining Success with Kay Matjila

  What does it really take to walk away from stability and build a life on your own terms?In this episode, I sit down with Kay Radebe — a Mechanical Engineer turned Social Media Strategist and Entrepreneur — to unpack the bold pivot that reshaped her career and purpose. After leaving behind a comfortable corporate job, Kay bet on herself and built a platform that educates and empowers young South Africans on money, job hunting, income generation, and digital growth.We talk about:The identity shift and emotional weight of starting overHow failure, trial and error, and side hustles shaped her journeyWhat it takes to build a personal brand that creates real valueAnd why freedom, impact, and authenticity matter more than fancy titlesThis isn’t just a story about social media — it’s about choosing courage over comfort, redefining success, and carving out your own lane in the digital economy.🎙️ Listen now for practical insight, mindset shifts, and real talk from one of South Africa’s most relatable builders.________________________________________________Learn from South Africa's entrepreneurs, solution builders, and opportunity creators.Each episode dives into real stories, hard-won lessons, and the unfiltered realities of building in South Africa. From tough calls to turning points, this is for builders who are serious about the work.We’re not just telling stories—we’re building a home for South Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs.Explore tools, mentorship, and opportunities at ⁠www.mashstartup.co.za⁠.New episodes weekly. Subscribe. Share. Leave a review.And if it connects—send it to someone building something that matters.#SouthAfricanEntrepreneurs #StartupSouthAfrica #Mashstartup #SmallBusiness #Podcast

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• Filtering the Future: Lessons in Impact and Innovation with Murendeni Mafumo

  What does it really take to build a solution that changes lives?Murendeni Mafumo, founder of Kusini Water, a groundbreaking South African social enterprise using macadamia nut shells and nanotech to purify water for communities across the country. From developing his first prototype to scaling an innovation that now produces millions of litres of clean water every month, Murendeni shares the real story behind building a purpose-driven business.We talk about:The messy middle of prototyping and product developmentThe role of grants and pitch funding in getting ideas off the groundWhat it means to be a social entrepreneur in South AfricaAnd why taking care of the whole person—mental health, personal purpose, and inner resilience—is vital for any entrepreneur building something that mattersThis isn’t just a story about water. It’s about vision, grit, and building from the ground up to solve some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.Listen now and learn from one of South Africa’s most innovative builders.________________________________________________Learn from South Africa's entrepreneurs, solution builders, and opportunity creators.Each episode dives into real stories, hard-won lessons, and the unfiltered realities of building in South Africa. From tough calls to turning points, this is for builders who are serious about the work.We’re not just telling stories—we’re building a home for South Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs.Explore tools, mentorship, and opportunities at ⁠www.mashstartup.co.za⁠.New episodes weekly. Subscribe. Share. Leave a review.And if it connects—send it to someone building something that matters.#SouthAfricanEntrepreneurs #StartupSouthAfrica #Mashstartup #SmallBusiness #Podcast

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