Most Startups Build Apps. He Built a Toilet - Jonny Harris, Arumloo

n this Born to Build episode, Jonny Harris shares his journey from civil engineering in the UK to building innovative sanitation solutions in Africa. He unpacks the founding of Isidima, the lessons learned from launching a consultancy with a purpose, and the five-year journey of developing Arumloo — an ultra-low flush toilet inspired by the Arum Lily.Jonny also explains how nature-based engineering, water-sensitive cities, and decentralized infrastructure could reshape the future of water and sanitation. Along the way, he offers honest insights into entrepreneurship, product development, patents, cash flow challenges, and why no founder succeeds alone. It's a fascinating conversation about solving real-world problems, building with purpose, and creating practical innovations that improve both human dignity and environmental sustainability.Chapters:(00:00) Welcome & Jonny's Journey into Water and Sanitation(05:07) Starting Isidima and Building with Purpose(09:04) The Problem That Inspired Arumloo(13:35) Nature, Biomimicry & The Arum Lily Breakthrough(16:34) Five Years of Product Development and Prototyping(18:05) Patents, Manufacturing & Startup Challenges(23:19) Why They Couldn't Give Up on Arumloo(24:08) Bringing Arumloo to Market(26:32) Expanding into Africa, the Middle East & Beyond(29:39) Patents, Protection & Global Growth(32:31) What Water-Sensitive Cities Could Look Like(36:03) Living Off-Grid and Turning Home into a Living Lab(37:47) Entrepreneurship, Faith & Building in Community(40:25) Marketing, Awareness & Commercializing Innovation(41:14) Rapid Fire Questions & Closing ThoughtsCheck them out:https://www.arumloo.comhttps://www.isidima.netAbout 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.