Cell C : Business Launch

Economist Xhanti Payi and AI innovator Simukayi Mukuna explore how AI is exposing the limits of traditional policymaking, revealing data gaps, institutional weaknesses and risks for inequality. We discuss what a modern, AI-enabled policy environment should look like — and the skills South Africans need to thrive in a tech-driven…

From a WhatsApp group to a national movement, Darkies in Tech is reshaping access, networks, and opportunity for Black tech entrepreneurs. Founder Ntsako Mgiba discusses origins, mission, impact, and expansion into Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Start-Up Culture CEO Tervern Jaftha discusses the surge of over 2,000 applications to the National Cleantech Innovation Challenge and what it reveals about South Africa’s innovation momentum. We explore grassroots entrepreneurship, township-to-tech pathways, and how TIA partnerships are helping innovators commercialize solutions in energy, water, agriculture, and waste.

The Shoprite Foundation is rolling out AI, coding, and robotics labs across townships and rural schools — from Khayelitsha to Mpumalanga. Director Maude Modise explains how the programme is transforming digital skills, boosting learner confidence, and preparing South Africa’s youth for an AI‑driven future.

ALX has trained 347,000 young Africans, placed 258,000 into work, and empowered 43,000 entrepreneurs—with 55% of graduates being women. ALX SA GM Aisha Jackson explains how the organization is creating pathways into the digital economy.