What does it take to build not one, but two successful startups in South Africa’s tough market?
In this episode of How Would You Build It, we sit down with David Torr, co-founder of Faro and former co-founder of Ucook, to talk about the highs, lows, and realities of building in South Africa.
We unpack:
• How Faro raised $6M to tackle unsold fashion inventory using AI & machine learning
• Why TAM (Total Addressable Market) and team are the ultimate startup success formula
• The hard truth about corporates holding back innovation in SA
• How navigating VC challenges in a small market shapes growth strategy
David’s journey proves that even in the chaos of startups, execution and focus can turn your startup into a success.
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Or skip to the highlights:
00:51 Building FARO
02:49 SA VC Landscape vs The US.
08:23 The impact on AI for startup ventures
16:12 Unpackng how AI assists Faro's operational model.
24:05 The TikTok viral loop
25:53 From Online to brick n mortar
32:24 Tech foundations at Faro
38:06 Having a mission critical team
41:35 Th role grit plays
45:14 Bootstrapping stories
46:59 Dynamics of an early-stage startup in SA
49:11 How corporate SA is hurting startup innovation
Until next week,
Bobby and Renier