In this conversation, Sam interviews Ashley Skippers, the founder and CEO of GovERP, a platform aimed at modernising government operations in South Africa. Ashley shares his journey from a technical background in banking to founding GovERP, driven by frustrations with existing government processes. He discusses the challenges of building a business in the public sector, the importance of subject matter expertise, and the integration of AI into their solutions. Ashley emphasizes the significance of hiring the right people and balancing technical and business roles as a founder.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to GovERP and Ashley Skippers
(01:17) Ashley’s Journey into Government Tech
(03:52) The Spark Behind GovERP
(06:14) Building GovERP: Early Days and Challenges
(08:36) First Customers and Transition to Business Owner
(10:30) Taking the Leap: Resigning from Full time employment
(12:51) Overcoming Initial Challenges
(14:08) Unique Challenges in Public Sector ERP
(16:58) Success Stories from GovERP
(18:55) The Importance of Subject Matter Expertise
(20:35) Team Dynamics and Hiring Practices
(22:23) Balancing Technical and Business Roles
(24:21) Sales and Marketing Lessons Learned
(26:52) Barriers to Scaling ERP in Government
(29:03) Integrating AI into GovERP
(33:16) Building Local AI Solutions
(34:12) Leadership and Vision for GovERP
(37:49) Finding the Right Business Partner
(41:23) Lessons in Leadership
(43:30) Advice for Aspiring Founders
Check them out: https://goverp.co.za
About Born to Build:
Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.