James Reed: all about business 38. The chemistry of growth: turning a mould problem into a thriving business | Byron Dixon, OBE
Five years. Zero sales. No paycheck. Most people would’ve given up. Byron Dixon didn’t. Instead, he turned his chemistry knowledge and desire for change into Micro-Fresh. A breakthrough technology now used globally to fight mold, bacteria, and bad smells in everything from school shoes to hospital bedding.
In this episode of All About Business, we meet Byron Dixon, scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of Micro-Fresh. He shares how he went from a council estate in Leicester to living in Denmark and learning from the Scandinavian way of life, to building a global brand that’s protecting lives, championing sustainability, and changing how retailers think about product longevity.
Byron reveals the untold truth about bootstrapping a science business, the resilience it takes to go years without revenue, and how one unexpected call changed everything. He also shares how Micro-Fresh is tackling mold in homes, and why “Home-Fresh” might be his most important innovation yet.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself, struggled to stay motivated, or wondered if your idea could really make a difference, this episode is for you.
03:16 Why Did Byron Start MicroFresh?
07:27 MicroFresh's Sustainability, Waste Reduction
10:40 Designing A Non-Hazardous Environmentally Friendly Product
18:46 Starting Without Advantages
20:09 Open University
25:18 Determination & No Fear of Failure
26:25 The First Breakthrough
28:40 Domino Effect - Competition Doesn't Want To Be Left Out
31:00 Big Growth & Market Validation
36:51 How Does A CEO Prioritize and Achieve Goals?
39:59 Moving to the USA?
47:03 Why Young People Feel They Can't Do This
49:24 Switching Off The Phone
51:00 Boredom as a source of creativity
52:42 Putting the Phone and Social Media Away
54:54 Top 3 Things We Should Import From Scandinavia
59:41 Interview Round
Check out Microfresh’s website
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