Dyslexia, Deals & Devastation: Jez Williman on the Highs and Lows of Building Physical Products

In this episode, we sit down with Jez Williman, a British entrepreneur whose journey has seen him build a business from $3 million to over $100 million in sales across 120 countries and then lose a second venture after years of development and personal investment.Jez shares a candid, unfiltered story of the highs and lows of product entrepreneurship: from building an iconic (if invisible) product seen in airports and films everywhere, to the brutal lessons of raising capital, dealing with lawyers, and losing control to an investor. This one is packed with wisdom for founders who’ve ever put everything on the line.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Jez scaled a niche product into a global industryWhat dyslexia taught him about resilience, learning, and creative problem solvingThe harsh realities of hardware development, investment, and prototypingWhy big design firms aren’t always the right answer and what to do insteadThe devastating consequences of trusting the wrong lawyerHow to validate your product cheaply (before spending big)The mindset and sacrifices needed to succeed across business and elite sportWhy Jez is starting again with a new venture in smart crowd control systemsSponsor Details:This episode is sponsored by MIKA Group – global experts in taking your product from concept to mass production. With over 45 years of experience in NPI, engineering, quality assurance, supply chain, and cost reduction, MIKA Group supports entrepreneurs and businesses with everything from design and tooling to final assembly and logistics. If you're serious about scaling your hardware product, visit rc-mikagroup.com to find out how they can help.Episode Timestamps:[00:00] Welcome and intro to Jez Williman[01:25] From engineering apprentice to global entrepreneur[04:30] School struggles and discovering the power of dyslexia[13:32] Buying a company with nothing but a mortgage[17:12] Lessons in entrepreneurship, capital, and exit planning[26:35] Creating a new electric mobility product—and what went wrong[38:21] The big mistake: trusting a major design firm[43:33] Losing a business to a minority investor takeover[57:11] Why he’s rebuilding the crowd control industry with smart tech[1:02:59] Common threads between elite athletes and top entrepreneurs[1:08:04] Final reflections on joy, purpose, and why he still buildsAbout the Guest:Jez Williman is a British entrepreneur who helped revolutionise the global crowd control industry. His work is embedded in everyday life, from airport barriers to supermarket checkouts. After selling his business for a significant exit, Jez launched a second venture in electric mobility only to lose control of it to investors. Today, he’s back building a smarter, digital-first approach to crowd control systems.Meet the Hosts:Phil Staunton is the founder of D2M, a product design consultancy with over 20 years of experience bringing physical products to market. He blends deep design knowledge with commercial realism:🔗 Visit D2M Website📸 Follow Phil on LinkedIn📺 Check out D2M’s YouTube ChannelTom Constable is a former British Army officer turned entrepreneur and podcast producer. Tom brings curiosity and challenge to every conversation, making sure no lesson goes unshared.About the Show:It’s Only a Prototype uncovers the real stories behind physical product innovation. No polish. No sugar-coating. Just raw, insightful conversations with people who’ve built (and broken) real things.Perfect For:Product innovators & hardware entrepreneursFounders scaling physical product businessesHeads of product, design and R&DCommercial leaders navigating NPD and manufacturingStay Connected:🌍 Website: https://www.design2market.co.uk/its-only-a-prototype/📱 LinkedIn: Follow us here🎥 YouTube: Watch full episodes and clips🎧 Subscribe: On Apple Podcasts, Spotify & more⭐️ Enjoyed the Episode?Tap Follow or Subscribe so you never miss a dropLeave us a 5-star review to help others find the showShare this episode with a founder, maker, or product nerdScreenshot your favourite moment and tag us on social