The Founder Files

This week, we welcome Nic Frangos, whose fingerprints are all over some of South Africa's biggest business moments—yet you've probably never heard his name.

Nic became Unilever's youngest senior manager in the world before stepping into entrepreneurship to build Mercedes Information Technology (MIT), the country's most successful technology group. He went toe-to-toe with IBM and global giants, pioneered the biometric payment system that ended up in the Smithsonian, and pulled off the legendary "sardine eating the whale"—acquiring Unisys, a company 3-4x MIT's size, and paying it back in just four years.

But this conversation goes far beyond the deals. We dive into the moment three directors confessed to fraud on his first day as CEO and how he handled it, why customer obsession beats product attachment every time, and the brutal reality of "you don't know what you know until you know what you don't know."

After three decades as an operator, Nic distilled his experience into the All-In Strategy methodology. We explore why most CEOs struggle with strategy, how to actually structure your time to think strategically, and why the real fun of entrepreneurship is in applying yourself and learning, not just executing on intuition.

Tune in for a masterclass in strategic thinking, integrity-driven leadership, and building businesses that last.

---------- 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 Nic:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-frangos/🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/

In this episode of The Founder Files, we sit down with Stephen Walker, founder and CEO of Ground 2 Tap, the South African engineering company transforming how homes and industries access clean water.From brewing beer in his parents’ garage to building one of the country’s most trusted water-engineering brands, Stephen shares how he bootstrapped Ground 2 Tap from scratch, with no investors, no shortcuts, and a relentless focus on systems, people, and purpose.He opens up about early failures (and leaking pipes), designing his business to scale from day one, and why he believes real success isn’t measured by funding rounds but by freedom, faith, and impact.This conversation is a blueprint for founders who want to build something that lasts; intentionally, sustainably, and on their own terms.We dive into:• How a home-brewing experiment sparked Ground2Tap• Early failures and the lessons that built resilience• Designing scalable systems before scaling revenue• Using AI to personalize sales and build customer trust• Building a purpose-driven business that blesses others• Why freedom is worth more than fundingIt’s practical, honest, and proof that purpose-driven engineering can change lives, one drop at a time.---------- 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 Stephen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-walker-g2t/🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/---------- Chapters00:00 Introduction01:00 Growing up with entrepreneurial parents03:30 From UCT engineer to Bain consultant06:00 The beer experiment that sparked Ground2Tap09:15 Simplifying complex engineering for everyday people14:30 The first leaking prototype & break-even beginnings18:50 Early clients, Day Zero, and the first wave of growth26:30 Building systems that scale from day one33:40 Why his second hire was a salesperson41:20 Cloning his voice with AI to personalize every proposal47:00 Qualifying clients through empathy and education59:40 Managing two markets, residential vs commercial1:08:45 Bootstrapping, control, and saying no to investors1:17:10 Defining success: freedom, faith, and purpose1:23:50 Building a business that’s a blessing to others1:42:30 Creating culture, trust, and people-first leadership

How do you build a business that runs without you?

In this episode of The Founder Files, we sit down with Stephen Walker, founder and CEO of Ground 2 Tap, the South African engineering company transforming how homes and industries access clean water.

From brewing beer in his parents’ garage to building one of the country’s most trusted water-engineering brands, Stephen shares how he bootstrapped Ground2Tap from scratch, with no investors, no shortcuts, and a relentless focus on systems, people, and purpose.

He opens up about early failures (and leaking pipes), designing his business to scale from day one, and why he believes real success isn’t measured by funding rounds but by freedom, faith, and impact.This conversation is a blueprint for founders who want to build something that lasts; intentionally, sustainably, and on their own terms.

We dive into:

• How a home-brewing experiment sparked Ground2Tap

• Early failures and the lessons that built resilience

• Designing scalable systems before scaling revenue

• Using AI to personalize sales and build customer trust

• Building a purpose-driven business that blesses others

• Why freedom is worth more than funding

It’s practical, honest, and proof that purpose-driven engineering can change lives, one drop at a time.---------- 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 Stephen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-walker-g2t/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdurrant/🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/----------

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Growing up with entrepreneurial parents

03:30 From UCT engineer to Bain consultant

06:00 The beer experiment that sparked Ground2Tap

09:15 Simplifying complex engineering for everyday people

14:30 The first leaking prototype & break-even beginnings

18:50 Early clients, Day Zero, and the first wave of growth

26:30 Building systems that scale from day one

33:40 Why his second hire was a salesperson

41:20 Cloning his voice with AI to personalize every proposal

47:00 Qualifying clients through empathy and education

59:40 Managing two markets, residential vs commercial

1:08:45 Bootstrapping, control, and saying no to investors

1:17:10 Defining success: freedom, faith, and purpose

1:23:50 Building a business that’s a blessing to others

1:42:30 Creating culture, trust, and people-first leadership

How do you scale a global brand without losing your purpose?

In this episode of The Founder Files, we sit down with Samantha Skyring, founder and CEO of Oryx Desert Salt, the South African brand turning a natural Kalahari resource into an international success story.

From selling her home and starting in a Wendy house to landing on shelves in Whole Foods USA, Samantha shares the deeply human story behind building a purpose-driven brand that refuses to compromise on integrity or sustainability.

She opens up about surviving cash-flow crises, manifesting opportunities through intention, and why she believes gratitude and clarity are her ultimate business tools. This conversation is a blueprint for founders who want to grow globally while staying grounded in their values.

We dive into:

• Turning 34 tons of salt into a global business

• Surviving early crises and finding the right investors

• The power of intention and long-term vision in entrepreneurship

• How Oryx got into Whole Foods and scaled to 23 countries

• Building a sustainable brand: “Refill, not landfill”

• Why meditation, gratitude, and mindset are the real growth strategy

This episode is packed with lessons on building with belief, leading with heart, and proving that purpose and profit can grow together.

---------- 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 Samantha:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaskyring/🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/----------Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

10:20 The real story behind salt

17:00 From NGO to selling her house for 34 tons of salt

23:00 Finding partners, crises & networking to survive

27:00 Scaling to 23 countries & Whole Foods

30:00 Building a sustainable brand: “Refill not Landfill”

38:00 The COVID shock & the power of intentional focus

46:00 Running a low-margin, high-volume business

59:30 Vision, focus & meditation as a founder tool

1:17:00 The power of long-term intention

1:23:00 Gratitude as a founder superpower

How do you scale a business without selling out its soul?

In this episode of The Founder Files, we sit down with Andrew Nel, co-owner of Frankie Fenner Meat Merchant, the Cape Town butchery redefining what ethical meat means in South Africa.

From leaving a stable career in finance to leading one of the country’s most respected food brands, Andrew shares the raw realities of building a purpose-driven business in an industry known for its shortcuts.

He opens up about how Frankie Fenner survived the chaos of COVID, what it takes to grow without losing quality, and the personal cost of entrepreneurship; from ownership transitions and burnout to rediscovering purpose. This is a masterclass in building with integrity, resilience, and heart.

We dive into:

• How Frankie Fenner redefined South Africa’s meat industry • The leap from finance to food and finding meaning in work

• Surviving COVID through innovation and community support

• The realities of co-founder transitions and leadership trust

• Balancing growth, guilt, and the grind of entrepreneurship

This episode is packed with lessons for founders on scaling sustainably, protecting your values, and leading with purpose.

----------

This 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 Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-nel-57434813a/

🔗 Connect with Cameron:

Instagram:   / thefounderfilespodcast 

LinkedIn:   / cameron-metavolve  ---------- Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:00 The mission behind Frankie Fenner Meat Merchant

09:01 Scaling ethically and staying Cape Town-focused

14:13 From finance to food: Andrew’s personal journey

25:18 How they survived COVID through community

28:17 Becoming a co-owner and leading with trust

51:32 The chaos of growth and saying “yes” to everything

59:09 Working on vs in the business

01:14:13 Founder guilt and burnout

01:27:46 Finding happiness and doing business the right way

What does it take to build a tech company that literally saves lives, and scale it from South Africa to the world?

In this episode of The Founder Files, Cameron Coutts sits down with Ryan Green, Co-Founder and CPO of AURA, the emergency-response platform transforming how people access help anywhere, anytime.

Ryan shares the story behind AURA’s rise from an idea inside a security company to a global safety platform trusted by insurers, banks, and e-hailing giants:

• How AURA started by solving South Africa’s broken emergency-response system

• The decision to go B2B instead of B2C, and why it changed everything

• Building a marketplace that connects users to the nearest vetted responders in seconds

• Expanding from South Africa to Kenya, the UK, and the US

• Working with government to use data to predict and prevent crime

• The culture, systems, and leadership mindset behind scaling a mission-driven company

If you’re a founder, operator, or visionary building in tough markets, this episode will challenge your idea of scale, focus, and purpose, and remind you what it really means to build something that matters.

----------

Book a curiosity call with Cameron: https://www.metavolve.co/curiosity-call

This 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 Ryan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-green-48b47952/

🔗 Connect with Cameron:

Instagram:   / thefounderfilespodcast  

LinkedIn:   / cameron-metavolve  

---------- Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:19 The Problem That Sparked AURA

08:47 Security Meets Medical: Expanding the Vision

11:20 Inside AURA’s Business Model & Scale 

15:06  The “Powered by AURA” Ecosystem

26:10 Scaling to 1.5 Million Users in SA

31:08 Building Radical Convenience for Users and Responders

46:35 Turning Data into Real-World Impact

01:00:54 The Truth About Crime in South Africa

01:09:16 Going Global: From SA to the UK & USA

01:20:11 Culture, Leadership & Scaling a Mission-Driven Team

01:35:19 Founder Reflections: Motivation, Mindset & Smart Hustle

What does it really take to build a business from nothing: no experience, no funding, and no plan, and still make it work?

In this episode of The Founder Files, Cameron Coutts sits down with Shaun Raaff, the co-founder and CEO of Humanity SA, a people-first talent and consulting group that’s reshaping the way recruitment and employer branding is done in South Africa.

Shaun shares the real story behind Humanity SA’s journey:

• How he went from PE teacher to entrepreneur with no business background.

• The eight years of no profit before their hockey-stick growth.

• The power of ADHD, sport, and resilience in business.

• Why Humanity wins by playing the long game, putting people and relationships before quick wins.

• The founder breakup lessons that shaped the company’s future

If you’re a founder, business owner, or builder who’s stuck in the trenches, this episode will give you perspective, patience, and practical lessons to keep going.

----------

Unlock Your Scale-Ready Score: https://playbook.metavolve.co/

Book a curiosity call with Cameron: https://www.metavolve.co/curiosity-call

This 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 Shaun:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-raaff-98257230/

🔗 Connect with Cameron:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/

----------

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:28 How Humanity SA Started

07:21 Hockey Stick Growth: 8 Years, No Profit

14:18 How Sports and ADHD Shaped My Mindset as a Founder

26:14 The Real Reason Humanity SA Finally Scaled

49:54 From Four Founders to One: The Shareholding Journey

1:10:47 Crucial Conversations: Lessons in Conflict, Clarity, and Leadership

1:27:32 The Future of Humanity SA: Betting Big on People

What really happens after you sell your company?

In this episode of The Founder Files, Ariel Navarro (Past co-founder of OneCart, acquired by Massmart/Walmart) opens up about life after exiting his business: the highs, the lows, and the lessons he wishes every founder knew.

We dive into the emotional rollercoaster of stepping away, the reality of burnout, the money mistakes no one talks about, and how Ariel is rebuilding his life and career with new clarity and purpose.

If you’re an entrepreneur chasing an exit (or recovering from one), this conversation is packed with hard truths and practical wisdom about wealth, identity, and what comes next.

----------

Unlock Your Scale-Ready Score: https://playbook.metavolve.co/

Book a curiosity call with Cameron: https://www.metavolve.co/curiosity-call

This 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 Ariel:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielnavarro/?originalSubdomain=za

🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/

----------

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

08:16 How Ariel’s Business Philosophy Changed After His Exit

22:20 The OneCart Exit: Relief, Accomplishment, and the Next Mountain

41:45 Money Mistakes & Lessons After Exit

58:19 From Exit Cash Mistakes to a Smarter Investment Playbook

01:18:38 Ariel Navarro’s Vision: The Next 6–18 Months

How do you take a renewable energy startup and scale it into one of Africa’s leading clean power providers?In this episode of The Founder Files, we sit down with James Irons, as the past co-founder of SolarAfrica, how he grew it into one of SA’s leading energy players before exiting. From early struggles with cancelled projects to raising capital and powering mines, factories, and communities, James shares the behind-the-scenes journey of scaling a business at the heart of Africa’s energy future.We dive into: • Why Africa’s energy crisis is also its biggest opportunity • The challenges of regulation, funding, and market trust • Lessons in resilience, leadership, and navigating the rollercoaster of entrepreneurshipIf you’ve ever wondered what it takes to solve some of Africa’s toughest infrastructure challenges, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

----------

Unlock Your Scale-Ready Score: https://roadmap.metavolve.co/

Book a curiosity call with Cameron: https://www.metavolve.co/curiosity-call

This 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 James:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-irons-89299b36/

🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefounderfilespodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-metavolve/

----------

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

08:10 How Solar Africa started in Kenya: The early challenges

21:20 First Major Joint Venture: Managing R300–400 million in CapEx

36:23 The Wheeling Revolution Explained

54:42 Open Access Energy’s role in Simplifying a Complex Industry

01:00:05 An existential founder moment: Why James Stepped Away from Solar Africa

01:01:24 Visionary vs. Integrator Partnerships

01:08:14 Entrepreneurship & Motivation Shifts

01:30:00 The origin story of Open Access Energy 

01:36:23 James’s new role as Executive Chairman

01:45:38 Future of Open Access & Energy Markets

How do you turn debt and risk into global growth?

In this episode of The Founder Files, we sit down with Uzair Essack, founder of Riyp one of South Africa’s fastest-growing exporters in agriculture and logistics. From being a million rand in debt in his early 20s to building a business that ships fresh produce across the globe, Uzair shares the raw realities of scaling under pressure.

He opens up about why he risked his last money to fly to Qatar in search of opportunity, how he reinvented the exporter–farmer model, and why he believes outsourcing beats in-house hiring for scale. This is a masterclass in resilience, strategy, and spotting opportunity in tough markets.

We dive into:

• How Uzair went from R1M in debt to exporting globally

• The leap of faith that changed his life in Qatar

• Why the old export model was broken and what he built instead

• The power of outsourcing vs. hiring internally

• Lessons from scaling one of SA’s fastest-growing exporting company

This episode is packed with lessons for founders about risk, resilience, and building scalable systems that last.

----------

Unlock Your Scale-Ready Score: https://roadmap.metavolve.co/

Book a curiosity call with Cameron: https://www.metavolve.co/curiosity-call

This 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 Uzair:LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/uzairessack/

🔗 Connect with Cameron:Instagram:  

 / thefounderfilespodcast  

LinkedIn:

  / cameron-metavolve  

----------Chapters:00:00 Introduction04:14 How Uzair Built a Global Export Business Alone11:19 The Hidden Cost of Scaling Solo: Burnout & Bottlenecks13:27 Why Growing Up With Less Sparked Uzair’s Drive18:17 University Struggles: Choosing Hustle Over Assignments25:18 Pineapples, Persistence, and the First Steps Toward RIYP35:33 Breaking the Old Model: How Uzair Won Farmers’ Trust47:27 At 23 A Million Rand in Debt: From Suicidal Thoughts to Lessons in Resilience55:34 The Sheikh, The Deal, The Funding: Riyp’s First Big Break01:18:06 Outsourcing + Systems: How Ripe Scaled Solo01:37:28 What Does The Future Look Like For Riyp