Herman Maritz and Dan Southwood-Wells set out to solve one of South Africa’s most frustrating problems: load shedding uncertainty. What began as a simple tool for personal use has evolved into EskomSePush, a platform that now serves millions of South Africans with timely and reliable power outage information. Their journey highlights the power of innovation born from necessity and the impact of technology in solving everyday challenges.EskomSePush started as an inside joke, rooted in push notification technology that Maritz and Southwood-Wells worked on in their corporate jobs. The duo, both software developers, initially created the app to keep themselves informed about load shedding schedules during the December holidays. When friends and family found it useful, they decided to build a proper app. Within weeks, it had spread like wildfire, proving that simple, accessible solutions resonate deeply when they solve real problems.

Scaling From Side Project to Full-Time Startup:
While the app was originally just a hobby, EskomSePush quickly grew beyond expectations. It became South Africa’s go-to load shedding app, winning multiple awards, including the MTN App of the Year Award. By 2023, the app had surpassed 6.7 million users.

The founders juggled corporate jobs and their passion project until early 2023, when they took the leap to work full-time on EskomSePush and related projects. Their move was perfectly timed, as South Africa’s energy crisis deepened and reliable information became even more critical.

Key Features & Evolution:

• Push Notifications: Real-time alerts for load shedding updates.
• User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies complex Eskom schedules for easy understanding.
• Community-Driven: Users can report issues like power outages unrelated to load shedding.
• AskMyStreet: A new hyper-local information platform for tracking electricity, water, road conditions, and other community concerns.

Funding & Business Model:
Unlike many startups, EskomSePush has remained self-funded. While the app itself remains free, the founders have explored monetization through their business API, which serves mobile networks, corporations, and customer support centers needing outage management solutions.

The Impact:
EskomSePush has transformed how South Africans navigate load shedding, bringing clarity to an otherwise chaotic situation. Beyond its functionality, the app has created a cultural moment, with users sharing light-hearted memes and celebrating small wins—like a rare day without load shedding.

Maritz and Southwood-Wells have proven that a side hustle can grow into a national necessity, showing that technology, when used effectively, can empower communities and improve daily life.

What’s Next?
With load shedding showing no signs of disappearing, EskomSePush continues to evolve. The founders are focusing on:

• Expanding AskMyStreet into more service categories.
• Enhancing the business API for corporate and municipal use.
• Exploring opportunities to use their expertise in real-time information services beyond power outages.

Their journey is a testament to how builders can create lasting impact by solving everyday frustrations with simple, effective solutions. EskomSePush is more than an app—it’s a necessity in South Africa’s energy landscape.