Growing The Agriculture Economy with Karidas Tintswalo
This is more than just a funding announcement—it’s a story of impact, resilience, and the future of Africa’s agricultural economy.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1u8jsBzM1SejAl5yCtENQ4?si=rJL4mvQbRxyMP7knHlDULg
How To Build A Beauty Brand with Mathebe Molise
In the ever-evolving world of beauty, it takes a visionary to identify a gap in the market and turn it into an opportunity. Mathebe Molise is one such visionary. As the founder of Beauty on TApp and Pastry Skincare, she is not only redefining beauty retail in South Africa but also proving that homegrown brands can thrive in an industry often dominated by international players. In a recent conversation on my podcast, Connect South, Mathebe shared the lessons, challenges, and triumphs of her entrepreneurial journey.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/79S3EE8uX4EhNRLpvRfHCA?si=IkPaamn0Q5KXgw4Lp87CRA
Finding the Gap: Beauty for a Market That Matters
Mathebe’s journey into the beauty space wasn’t purely passion-driven—it was problem-solving at its core. She saw a massive consumer base of Black women, the highest spenders in the beauty industry, yet significantly underserved by mainstream brands. Instead of waiting for existing brands to step up, she built one herself.
It all started in 2015 with a simple idea: an app to help people find beauty services in their area. But as customer needs evolved, so did the business. Users began requesting beauty products, and before long, the platform expanded into e-commerce, giving birth to Beauty on TApp as we know it today.
Corporate to Creative: Banking on Business Smarts
Unlike the typical beauty founder narrative, Mathebe comes from a financial background. As a chartered accountant and former investment banker, she didn’t just bring creativity into her business—she brought structure, strategy, and discipline. Her financial expertise allowed her to scale Beauty on TApp sustainably, ensuring that growth was backed by sound financial planning.
“The skills I learned in banking—understanding financial metrics, managing risk, and implementing solid processes—are things that have been critical to running a business,” she shared.
The Pivots That Made Beauty on TApp a Success
Starting with a mobile app seemed like a smart move, but monetization proved challenging. Recognizing this early on, Mathebe pivoted to an e-commerce model, launching a platform that brought beauty products directly to consumers. The shift worked, turning Beauty on TApp into a go-to online destination for skincare and cosmetics.
But Mathebe wasn’t done yet. In 2021, she took another bold step, launching Pastry Skincare—her own line of skincare products designed with African consumers in mind. What started as a niche product offering quickly gained traction, proving that her ability to listen to customer needs was one of her biggest strengths.
Betting on Brick-and-Mortar: Taking Beauty Offline
Many would argue that the future of retail is online, but Mathebe saw things differently. She believed that South African consumers still valued in-person shopping experiences—especially for beauty products. Despite the risks and costs associated with opening a physical store, she took the leap and launched Beauty on TApp’s first retail location at Mall of Africa.
“It was a huge risk, but the market was missing a store where people could shop niche and well-known beauty brands while receiving expert advice in a premium yet accessible setting,” she explained.
The bet paid off. The store performed well in its first few months, proving that a hybrid online-and-offline strategy was the way forward.
Challenges, Setbacks, and Lessons
Like any entrepreneur, Mathebe has faced her fair share of challenges. From losing her co-founder early on to dealing with brands that left the platform due to initial low sales, she has had to navigate difficult moments. More recently, factors like high shipping costs, load shedding, and the complexities of running both an e-commerce and brick-and-mortar business have tested her resilience.
https://youtu.be/GCgxpzsK5CM?si=h96uO5NTo3JN0Dvf
Purpose in Every Drop with Murendeni Mafumo
In a world where access to clean water remains one of the most pressing challenges, innovation often emerges from necessity. Murendeni Mafumo, the founder of Kusini Water, has taken an unconventional approach to solving this crisis—using macadamia nut shells to purify water. His mission is simple but ambitious: to bring safe, drinkable water to underserved communities across South Africa and beyond.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xpso11KXyg1HVuqg8FdjB?si=24sfuiLtSOempaBSGLoPqQ
In this episode of The Mashstartup Podcast, we sit down with Murendeni to explore his journey from a small village in Limpopo to leading a groundbreaking social enterprise. With a background in chemistry and years of experience in water research, he has pioneered a sustainable, low-energy filtration system that is changing lives. Kusini Water isn’t just about clean water—it’s about empowerment, economic development, and a new way of thinking about resource management.
Join us as we discuss the science behind Kusini’s innovative filtration technology, the impact of water scarcity on communities, and the power of entrepreneurship to drive real change. Murendeni shares the lessons he’s learned along the way, the challenges of scaling a purpose-driven business, and why he believes solving Africa’s water crisis is a collective responsibility.
Scaling Impact with Thembiso Magajana
In a rapidly evolving digital world, Thembiso Magajana is pioneering a movement to bridge the digital divide in South Africa’s rural communities. As the Founder and Chairwoman of Social Coding, Thembiso is dedicated to equipping young people with the digital skills necessary for the future of work. By integrating computer literacy, coding, and STEM education into rural high schools, she is ensuring that the next generation is prepared for a technology-driven economy Social Coding is more than just a training initiative—it is a holistic program designed to reform education, empower teachers, and foster business engagement in digital upskilling. The program aims to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where businesses invest in the digital education of their future workforce, ensuring long-term impact.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SZmlvlK68oolhJHrXmcte?si=585D54NER7iMNnst-AW0lQ
Revolutionizing Education with Social Coding
Social Coding is the first of its kind in South Africa—a public education reform initiative designed to equip rural youth with the necessary technical skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy. The program runs over four years, targeting students from grades 8 through 12, providing them with six hours of weekly hands-on training in computer literacy, coding, and problem-solving. Businesses play a crucial role in financing this initiative, recognizing it as an investment in the future workforce.
Beyond coding, Social Coding ensures that rural schools have access to high-speed internet and shared digital resources, addressing systemic issues that have long hindered progress in underprivileged areas. Classes are conducted on weekends, but the program also provides support and digital training for weekday teachers, ensuring that digital literacy becomes an integral part of the learning experience.
Addressing Systemic Challenges in Education
South Africa faces one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, with 43% of individuals aged 25-34 struggling to find work. This issue is compounded by an education system plagued by historical inequalities and chronic underfunding. Many rural schools still operate without basic digital resources, leaving students unprepared for modern careers.
While the government has made strides in advocating for coding and robotics in schools, limited funding and inadequate teacher training have hindered meaningful progress. Social Coding has stepped in to fill this gap by forging partnerships with businesses, securing funding, and providing a clear pathway from education to employment. The initiative transforms schools into digital hubs, empowering students with the tools and confidence to pursue careers in STEM fields.
A Strategic Approach to Digital Literacy
Thembiso’s model tackles multiple educational challenges simultaneously. The program is structured into three key phases:
- Junior Pioneers (Grades 8-9): Introduces students to coding, robotics, and digital literacy before they select their high school specialization subjects.
- Next Grad (Grades 10-12): Provides advanced training in coding, network technologies, and systems design, preparing students for university or direct entry into the workforce.
- Untapped: A pioneering initiative that ensures program graduates have accredited training, enabling them to secure employment in the tech industry.
To support teachers, Social Coding offers training in basic computer literacy and online tools, ensuring educators are equipped to guide students effectively. The program also incorporates virtual reality (VR) simulations, addressing the lack of lab equipment in rural schools and providing students with immersive learning experiences.
Scaling Impact: From Schools to the Workforce
Since its inception, Social Coding has impacted over 5,900 students across 45 schools. Thembiso’s vision is to expand this reach to 3,000 schools by 2035 through the establishment of Pioneer Centers—technology-equipped hubs that serve multiple schools within a district. These centers will be supported by corporate partners, ensuring consistent funding and resources.
Furthermore, Social Coding is piloting an innovative employment model where alumni who do not pursue tertiary education can engage in data annotation services—a booming global industry. By leveraging the technical skills acquired through Social Coding, these graduates can provide valuable services to major tech companies, ensuring sustainable employment opportunities.
A Legacy of Leadership and Innovation
Thembiso’s passion for education and technology stems from her own experiences growing up in rural communities. Inspired by her mother’s philosophy that a dream is only meaningful when shared with the community, she left a career in investment banking to pursue her mission of educational transformation.
Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in Tech and the recipient of the Margaret Hirsch Heroine Award. She is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a TEDx Speaker, and a Spark International Alumnus.
Building a Future-Ready South Africa
Thembiso Magajana’s Social Coding is more than just a training program—it is a movement to redefine the role of technology in education and economic empowerment. By ensuring that rural students gain access to world-class digital training, she is not only transforming lives but also shaping the future of South Africa’s workforce. As Social Coding continues to scale, its impact will be felt far beyond the classroom, influencing industries, communities, and the nation at large.
Shifting coffee, habits and culture with Lulu Larché
This conversation is with Lulu Larché, Co-Founder at 4WKS.4WKS is a brand of compostable coffee pods that are made from plant-based materials and are compatible with Nespresso machines. The pods are filled with coffee from South African micro-roasters. Learn more https://4wks.com/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3enUaXI3d8xcRzyOvsEdoM?si=4Bx-j3MRSriqvrFKcnKgKQ
Entrepreneurship Is Meant To Be Hard with Katlego Maphai
This is a conversation with Katlego Maphai, co-founder of Yoco. Yoco supports 200 000 businesses in South Africa with payment solutions and easy-to-use business tools. Learn more https://www.yoco.com/za/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sUYx5i05Hda7onZnvR8af?si=lp34YWpZQWC05YG9gLdlZQ
Becoming GODLIKE with David Donde
David Donde introduced Speciality Coffee Roasting to Cape Town and South Africa. Opening his first public roasting venture in 2006 and of course establishing Truth Coffee in 2009, with it’s Flagship HQ cafe being touted as the Best Coffee Shop in the world by renowned travel writer Tom Midlane, as reported in the English Guardian Newspaper. He co-founded and was inaugural chair of SCASA (Speciality Coffee Association of Southern Africa) and brought the World Barista championship to South Africa. He gives talks on Coffee and Entrepreneurship regularly. Working as a Photographer Motoring and Technology Journalist fills his “free” time and has been a talk show host on Cape Talk and radio 702. Mashstartup Learn more https://truth.coffee/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bls18UdbxJ0y4eHmqnLvG?si=pWiCXw-cTHmV-GaxulXV3g
Democratising Access To Investing with Thomas Brennan Sebastian Patel
This weeks' episode is with Thomas Brennan (CEO) Sebastian Patel (COO) of Franc. Investing is for rich guys in suits and fancy cars, right? Absolutely not! Franc believe that investing is for everyone. Franc was born in 2018 when an engineer, an actuary, an investment guru and a tech wizz shared a common idea of making investing affordable, accessible and social. With the Franc app, anyone can invest in leading cash and equity funds in just a few minutes. No minimums. No paperwork. No fine print. Just the way investing should be: smart, simple and Franc.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SRjlELjQ8V2WqiMf6Zup9?si=kf3FOeJqR8S_qtH7pKgb9Q
The Power of Community with Ntsako Mgiba
This is a conversation with Jonga co-founder Ntsako Mgiba. Jonga's mission is to make home security affordable and accessible to the millions of people who live in townships. Learn more: http://www.jonga.co/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6b2Mw5CW7iriH9LZe3CCFy?si=HQH7FL8WT2ONdTuN9BMj2A
Let's Talk About Tax Baby with André Bothma
This is a conversation with Tax Maverick founder André Bothma. Tax Maverick is a Tax services company that specialises in crypto and digital assets (amongst other things). Learn more https://taxmaverick.co.za/
https://youtu.be/0YxnU5zaNnk?si=PGPtCaxdWn7nGgvo
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ghTS2ehYLmC3W335PCptL?si=73JxG99lRIaqKRAUvv8qDA