Portable Power and Purpose-Driven Building - Weyers Marais, Helt

In this episode of Born to Build, Weyers Marais, co-founder of Helt, shares the story behind building a South African energy tech company focused on ultra-rugged portable power systems and the bigger vision driving it all. From early Frankenstein-style prototypes and engineering setbacks to building proprietary battery systems and learning how to earn trust in the market, Weyers gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to build hard-tech products from the ground up.It’s a thoughtful conversation about engineering, purpose-driven business, long-term thinking, and why building both the product and the business matters if you want to create real impact.Chapters:(00:00) Welcome & The Mission Behind Helt(00:49) The Fossil Fuel Problem That Sparked Helt(03:26) From Electric Tuk-Tuks to Portable Power(06:05) The Earliest Prototypes & Building an MVP(08:52) Manual Prototyping, CNC Machines & Iteration(14:00) The Hardest Engineering Challenges(19:27) Making Decisions Through Data & Uncertainty(24:03) Building the Business Around the Product(25:49) Brand, Storytelling & Preparing for Launch(29:03) The Meaning Behind the Name “Helt”(31:19) Building Trust vs Building the Product(34:03) Lessons Learned & The Lean Startup Mindset(35:52) Advice for Engineers & Technical Founders(38:28) Rapid Fire Questions & Final ReflectionsCheck them out: https://helt.co.zaAbout 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.