The Mentor with Mark BourisSimon Griffiths is the co-founder and CEO of Who Gives a Crap, a toilet paper subscription startup that builds toilets in the developing world. Simon launched the business in 2012 with a crowdfunding campaign where he live-streamed himself sitting on a toilet for 50 hours, which attracted global media attention and generated 2.5 million social media hits. Since launching, Who Gives A Crap has tripled in size year-on-year, largely relying on word-of-mouth to fuel its growth.
This year they had an incredible 1000% spike in sales due to Covid-induced panic buying and have donated nearly $6 million to charities that provide access to clean water and sanitation in developing countries. I ask Simon how in many ways 2020 has been the perfect storm for Who Gives a Crap, in terms of the demand for the product, the fact that they’re a direct to consumer business and that the company was set up to allow the team to work remotely, and how he has democratised philanthropy through his business.
