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Christiaan van den berg and his team have not been tempted by higher margin employment businesses and have instead chipped away at unemployment where it needs to be tackled most, at the grassroots. Kieno Kammies sat down with him to unpack this amazing journey, which lead to a big investment by a South African Corporate. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

When discussing Bothlale AI, an African-born AI startup, terms like LLMs (Large Language Models) and generative AI naturally come up. But at its core, this company shows how artificial intelligence can truly impact the way businesses connect with their customers. Bothlale empowers African businesses to engage with customers in their native languages while also gaining valuable insights. I had the chance to sit down with co-founder Thapelo Nthite to learn more. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

From figuring out how to charge his bank card via computer, and thinking it a party trick, to launching Paystack in 2015 and exiting to international payments giant Stripe in 2020, the co-founder of this African success story Shola Akinlade sat down with Kieno Kammies recently, to tell his story and that of Paystack. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

Hans Otterling was a successful entrepreneur tuned venture capitalist. He was instrumental in the first big investment in Spotify though NorthZone where is a general partner. They also backed legendary Buy Now Pay Later business, Klarna. He recently told his London office that he is taking a long lunch and moving to Africa, which he did. Together with Klarna founder Niklas Adalberth (Founder of the Norrsken Foundation), Hans co-founded the 200m USD Norrsken22 Impact Fund for Africa, and they have already made significant investments. Find out more by listening to my chat with the Investment legend. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

South Africa’s MaxIQ, co-founded by Bjarke Gotfredsen, is inspiring a new wave of STEM engagement worldwide by providing students with space-grade sensors and tools that bring real-world space science into classrooms. These resources, now used in top American universities and high schools, offer students the chance to explore space science hands-on, igniting curiosity and fostering essential STEM skills. Gotfredsen believes South Africa must urgently adopt such transformative tools to nurture its own future scientists and engineers. With space science poised to shape innovation and opportunity, he argues it’s essential for South Africa to equip its youth for this new frontier. In this interview, Gotfredsen shares how MaxIQ is helping make space exploration accessible and inspiring a new generation of explorers. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

In a groundbreaking collaboration set to reshape financial wellness across Africa, Old Mutual’s NEXT176 and Standard Chartered’s innovation and fintech investment arm SC Ventures have launched Vault22, an inclusive financial platform. Led by CEO Benito Mable, Vault22 aims to revolutionise how Africans engage with financial services, bringing unprecedented accessibility and innovation to the continent. Kieno Kammies of Innovate Africa spoke with Mable to explore how this partnership intends to make financial wellness more attainable than ever before, signalling a significant shift in the Pan-African financial landscape. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

In Cape Town’s poorest neighbourhoods, Vincent Mosebe, without any electrical training, set out to provide power to those who needed it most. Driven by sheer tenacity, he aimed to offer the dignity that electricity brings. Kieno Kammies of Innovate Africa sits down with Vincent to explore how Mosebe Enterprises became an award-winning beacon of hope, proving that determination can light up Africa. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

South Africa’s Adbot is making headlines, securing a top 7 spot in the Irish South African Tech Challenge in Dublin. Their AI-driven platform transforms digital marketing, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on business growth while optimising ad spend. Innovate Africa’s Kieno Kammies speaks with CEO Michelle Geere about the company’s vision and its potential to drive job creation across Africa. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za

In South Africa, coal-fired power plants leave behind heaps of fly ash, a harmful byproduct impacting community health and the environment. Samanjalo, a local start-up, is working to turn this liability into a valuable resource. Partly driven by Dr. Tladi Mabagoane, Samanjalo converts fly ash into bricks and other building materials, addressing pollution while creating economic opportunities. Their process promises new jobs, cleaner construction, and a solution to hazardous waste. Kieno Kammies, founder of Innovate Africa, spoke with Dr. Mabagoane about Samanjalo’s mission to “turn a pollutant into progress.” By transforming ash heaps, they aim to foster both environmental recovery and economic growth across South Africa. #SouthAfrica #News www.timeslive.co.za