Notes from the lab on SolaLabs

Stop Complaining, Start Building: How I Used AI to Fix a Frustrating Experience

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Problem That Started It All

We’ve all been there. You just need to do one simple thing online and somehow it turns into a fifteen-minute ordeal.

For me, it was buying electricity. Every month, I’d go to my provider’s website, click through screen after screen, navigate multiple flows, just to get to the part where I enter my card details and pay. Too many pages, too many clicks, too much friction for something that should take thirty seconds.

How AI Tools Are Lowering Barriers for South African Entrepreneurs

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The New Reality for SA Entrepreneurs

Starting a business in South Africa has traditionally required significant capital, technical expertise, or both. But AI tools are changing this reality. Today, a solo entrepreneur with a laptop can compete with established companies using AI-powered solutions that cost little to nothing.

This isn’t theory - it’s happening right now across South Africa.

Real Success Stories

SweepSouth: From Struggle to Success

Aisha Pandor and Alen Ribic faced a simple problem: finding reliable domestic help. Rather than accepting this pain point, they built SweepSouth in 2014.

Custom vs Off-the-Shelf Software: What Really Works for SA Businesses

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Real Question SA Businesses Face

You’re running a business in South Africa and you know software could help you grow. But should you pay R2,500/month for an off-the-shelf solution or invest R150,000+ in custom software?

Let’s cut through the marketing hype with real numbers and real South African examples.

Understanding the SA Context

Before comparing solutions, acknowledge what makes SA businesses unique:

Our Challenges

Currency fluctuations make international subscriptions unpredictable
Local regulations (POPIA, tax requirements) that foreign software doesn’t handle
Mixed tech literacy among staff and customers
Data costs make cloud-heavy solutions expensive
Payment processing complexity with local banking systems

These factors completely change the equation.

From Idea to Reality: Building Your First Web App in South Africa

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

You have an idea. You can see exactly how it would work and who would use it. But then reality hits:

“I’m not a developer”
“This will cost millions”
“It will take years”
“I need investors first”

Let me show you why none of that is necessarily true, using real South African examples.

Part 1: Is Your Idea Actually Good?

Before spending money, validate your idea. Most fail not because they’re badly built, but because nobody wants them.