What if public safety could be crowdsourced and improved with the power of AI?

In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Michael Houghton - entrepreneur and co-founder of Community Wolf - about his journey from corporate engineering to building a mission-led startup tackling public safety challenges in South Africa.

They discuss the lessons learned from navigating early career pivots, embracing naivety while building expertise, and creating a platform that empowers communities to participate in safety reporting through WhatsApp and AI tools.

💡 Highlights include:

• How curiosity, obsession, and “happy buckets” guide entrepreneurial decisions
• The journey from corporate engineering to mission-led entrepreneurship
• Building trust at scale while crowdsourcing sensitive public safety data
• Turning mission-first thinking into a sustainable business model
• Lessons in leadership, risk-taking, and learning through discomfort

If you’re a founder, leader, or innovator looking to solve real-world problems and build a mission-driven business, this one’s for you.

🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories, insights, and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.

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