Young tech enthusiasts, digital natives, stakeholders, and mentors immersed themselves in eye-opening conversations at the Youth in Tech Showcase, hosted by Invest Cape Town and the City of Cape Town in partnership with UVU Africa.
The memorable event that took place at the iconic Cape Town City Hall where young entrepreneurs took center stage to talk about their innovative digital solutions and stakeholders in the ecosystem reflected on the vibrant tech ecosystem in the city. Here are highlights from the conversations:
Opportunities in the digital economy
Ian Merrington the Group CEO of UVU Africa, encouraged young people to explore opportunities in the digital economy. With the growth of globalisation, online learning and artificial intelligence, there are many business opportunities for young people to explore. “Have the bravery to back up your idea, be resilient and don’t give up,” he said encouragingly.
Introducing digital tools to spaza shops and informal traders
Young tech entrepreneur Lunga Momoza was inspired to start his business, Basket E-Commerce because he noticed that informal traders and spaza shops were struggling to connect with their suppliers. This challenge inspired him to find a solution using technology. He created a digital platform that connects street vendors with wholesalers and farmers. “My tech business is focused on helping informal merchants because they have many problems which gives me an opportunity to innovate and accelerate,” he said. Today, his successful digital business is boosting the township economy by helping spaza shop owners and informal traders work together. Lunga and his team were the winners of the 2022 Township Tech Hackathon’s Fintech/Commerce, run by UVU Africa.
Recession proof business models
With the rise of digital entrepreneurship, young people were encouraged to prepare for threats that might negatively affect their business in future. “Nowadays you must build a recession and pandemic proof business”, said Mandisa Makubalo, CEO of The Unlimited Experiences SA Group Consulting Firm and The South African Black Women Think Tank (SABWTT). As an experienced business growth specialist that’s also an UVU Accelerate mentor, she urged young entrepreneurs to use design thinking to prepare their businesses for the worst-case scenario.
Learning app is helping pupils access educational materials
The lack of textbooks in schools inspired Lesego Finger to create an educational app to help pupils access learning materials and tools online. His business, Matric Live is a digital platform that provides educational support for over 16 subjects. As the demand for digital educational tools grew, so did his business. “When I was struggling to access textbooks, I downloaded learning materials online, and this helped me do exceptionally well. My success inspired me to find a solution to help other students,” he said. Matric Live was one of the 12 high growth ventures selected for the inaugural Injini Mastercard EdTech Fellowship programme in 2023. Through his business, Lesego is bringing much needed digital solutions to communities and continues to be a proud member of the education ecosystem across the country.
Young Tech Entrepreneurs awarded for their innovative ideas
The three featured entrepreneurs were announced as recipients of the Invest Cape Town Youth in Tech promotional partnership. They were selected as winners for their innovative technology businesses that are solving the country’s challenges. During the awarding of the certificates, the City of Cape Town Economic Development and Investment Department emphasised its commitment to helping them access market opportunities. “We will provide them with resources, mentorship and promotional opportunities over the next few months. They will also be featured on our website and social media channels,” said James Vos the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
Youth encouraged to find mentors
Nowadays, the internet has made it easier to access information, however many young people still need hands on advice. Chesarae Pillay, the Head of Digital at CAPACITI identified mentorship as a solution to help young people get the advice they need. Over the years, he’s worked with many candidates that benefited from having a mentor.
“I encourage everyone to find a mentor because we all need someone to give us good advice and to help us better understand all the information that’s available,” he said.
A recent CAPACITI candidates survey found that 82% of candidates feel that mentorship elevates what a formal or traditional “lecturer” role would be. The positive responses from candidates in attendance underscored the importance of mentorship in accelerating career growth.
The event was a success, and it was clear that the digital future is in safe hands because Cape Town’s vibrant ecosystem is committed to empowering young people with digital skills. With stakeholders such as Invest Cape Town, the City of Cape Town and UVU Africa vowing to continue backing young tech entrepreneurs, the digital future will be filled with opportunities.
For more, watch the Invest Cape Town Youth in Tech Showcase event recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9WUnU7XQSw
