Success in entrepreneurship is about much more than launching one great company and riding that wave forever; it’s about resilience, adaptability, and knowing when to pivot. Johann Ungerer, a Serial Entrepreneur who has spent over three decades building, scaling, and reinventing businesses across multiple industries, knows this better than most.
From surviving the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, and the upheaval of COVID to launching a game development studio at 50, his story is one of perseverance, strategic adaptation, and always following your passion.
He has learned many invaluable lessons along the way that provide a real-world guide for entrepreneurs looking to build and sustain their businesses, regardless of their area of expertise, whether they’re just starting out or are deep into their career.
Here are the four most important.
Lesson 1: Adapt Your Skillset and Products to Changing Industry Needs
Markets shift, industries transform, and businesses that don’t adapt get left behind. Rather than resisting change, Johann has always embraced it, constantly adjusting his business models, technologies, and leadership strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
For instance, during COVID, while many companies terminated contracts or paused them to wait out the deep uncertainty of the time, but Johann wanted to provide opportunities for his team and brought his adaptable spirit to bear on these challenges. Pivoting his software consultancy, he launched a live streaming platform during a time when performing artists were struggling to make ends meet and people were missing the opportunity to see live music.
When the need for live streaming tapered off as lockdown restrictions eased, Johann shifted again by pivoting to offer a hybrid service, providing in-person ticketing and live-streaming and recording of these events.
Early in his career, Johann built on-premises enterprise software, but as Cloud computing gained traction, he recognised the coming shift and became an early adopter of Cloud-based platforms before they became the industry standard. This kept his business competitive and positioned him as a leader in scalable, cost-effective solutions.
Lesson 2: Challenges Are a Constant Given — Perseverance is What Matters
Entrepreneurship is definitely exciting, but with that excitement comes risks and challenges. Entrepreneurs must have the ability to see through the challenges to the next opportunity.
Johann has definitely had his fair share of setbacks. He knows what it’s like to lose clients overnight or to be forced to restructure a business. Each time, instead of walking away, he found a way to adapt and rebuild.
His first company, PyroGenesis Software, began as a game development incubator, but it soon became clear that the business model wasn’t sustainable. Instead of shutting down completely, Johann pivoted the company into software consulting, where he knew his skills were in demand and he could leverage his technical expertise to secure contracts with corporate clients.
He persevered, knowing that his work was worthwhile, and it was exciting to build high-quality, valuable software and assist teams to implement it effectively.
“I recall one Christmas in 2007 when my old manager called me to tell me that all the other pieces of software in the chain had failed under the load and my little integration tool just kept on chugging,” Johann recalls.
From integration helper libraries that have been used thousands of times by other software developers to his talks with industry leaders about software principles and how to deploy them in a corporate setting, Johann has found many bright points of success and synergy despite having new challenges to overcome.
Lesson 3: Tackle One Solvable Problem at A Time in a Crisis
Entrepreneurs must find a balance between focusing on the big picture and the fine details. Never is this more important than in moments of crisis. Johann takes a wide view, always aiming to innovate, but narrowing his scope and handling the task in front of him when the time comes.
Johann faced the challenge of widespread cutbacks in software investments due to the 2008 financial crisis by pivoting again and forming Azuro Business Solutions, a software solutions provider and Gold Microsoft Partner. A level head and a practical outlook helped him weather the changes in client needs during that tumultuous time.
“At the worst of times, the best approach is to reduce the scope of the issue to one solvable problem at a time, and just focus on making it through to the next solvable problem. Looking at too big a scope may become paralysing, so being very deliberate about which problems to tackle helps you to keep moving,” he explains.
Johann’s experience highlights an unavoidable truth about business: setbacks are inevitable. What separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest is the ability to push forward even when the odds seem stacked against them.
Lesson 4: It’s Never Too Late to Pivot and Focus on What You Love
At 50, Johann is making his boldest career shift by returning to game development, his first love. He began programming at the age of nine, initially drawn to coding because of his fascination with games, but life had other plans, and he spent the next few decades working with major financial institutions and corporations in enterprise software and consulting.
Initially returning to the field as a hobby, Johann made a full commitment by enrolling in a B.Sc. in Computer Science (Game Development) at the University of London. He went on to found Infinitely Loom (formerly named Digital Puppetry Inc.), a studio focused on immersive storytelling and game design, where his knowledge of entrepreneurship fundamentals has helped him grow the studio strategically.
The studio’s first commercial game started as an Unreal Engine-based prototype developed during a GameJam. He has attended the Game Developer Conference several times and became more active in the South African game development community: “Although the local industry is small, I was surprised by how vibrant the community is. I have made many new connections in the local industry and am excited to continue participating and contributing to the growth of the SA games industry.”
For Johann, this pivot wasn’t just about starting a new business, it was about aligning his work with what truly excited him. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or decades into your career, if you have a passion, it’s never too late to pursue it!
Entrepreneurship as Constant Reinvention
Johann’s career proves that success isn’t about luck, it’s about adaptability, perseverance, and passion. Entrepreneurship isn’t a straight path. There will be failures and reinventions, but those who stay the course, tackle problems head-on, and embrace change will thrive.
His story is a reminder that no matter where you are in your career, reinvention is always possible. Whether you’re launching your first business or pivoting into something new, the secret to success isn’t just about what you build, it’s about how you evolve along the way.
