4 days ago
Meet Botlhale AI Solutions' Thapelo Nthite, who is making digital services accessible
Thapelo Nthite started his journey with a mechatronics engineering degree from UCT.
The aim of Botlhale AI was to address social issues.
They've formed several connections with strong companies.
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Artificial intelligence is here to stay, as they say.
With many people incorporating it in their everyday routines and workflows, Botlhale AI aims to bridge the gap of African languages in AI.
It breaks the language barriers for African businesses and their customers and unleashes human language technologies in African languages.
We sit with the co-founder, Thapelo Nthite, who gives us insight into his journey.
Inside his journey
You studied for a degree in mechatronics engineering at UCT. What social issues do you aim to address and what career gaps do you aim to fill through your qualification?
My journey into mechatronics engineering was marked by a valuable lesson I learnt from a high school teacher: that my qualifications, grades and achievements are not just credentials but serve as tools for creating a positive impact on society.
With my co-founders, who also graduated from the same department, we set out to build Botlhale AI. We were on a mission to address social issues that mattered deeply to us, which was making digital services more accessible.
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What Botlhale AI Solutions offers
Share with us what services Botlhale AI Solutions offer.
In an age dominated by digital technologies and information, the barriers to entry remain substantial for many people, particularly in Africa.
This stems from a multitude of challenges, such as infrastructure limitations, smartphone accessibility, high data costs and most notably, language barriers.
At Botlhale AI, our mission is to make digital services and information accessible to all, irrespective of the language they speak.
We help businesses engage their customers in languages they understand and trust. And, we do this in three ways: call centre analytics tool, multilingual help desk and virtual assistant builder.
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Growing the business
Share how you got your first clients, and your expansion plan to attract more clients in and outside South Africa.
As word began to spread about our mission and innovative solutions, several businesses reached out to us. They recognised the potential of our services in helping them overcome customer engagement challenges, and this initial interest came from inbound inquiries once our name started appearing in the media.
In addition to expanding our language capabilities, we've also recognised the importance of strategic partnerships.
We've formed strong collaborations with several companies that have a substantial operational footprint across Africa, such as Chenosis by MTN.
These partnerships are invaluable in making our expansion plan smoother.
By working alongside these established entities, we can leverage their expertise and reach to introduce our natural language processing services to a wider audience.
Beyond Botlhale AI Solutions
Apart from your business, what keeps you busy and fulfilled?
While my business keeps me occupied and driven, it's the bonds I share with family and friends, as well as the freedom and satisfaction I experience while running, that contribute to a well-rounded and fulfilling life.
Legacy and dreams
What would you like to be remembered for one day as an entrepreneur and a person?
In a world rife with injustice and inequality, my deepest aspiration is to be remembered as an entrepreneur and as a person who made a meaningful impact by striving to make our society better.
My foremost desire is to leave a legacy as an entrepreneur who dedicated their life's work to improving the lives of others. In a rapidly evolving digital age, I sought to bridge the gaps that exist, ensuring that every person had access to vital information and digital services.
However, I also want to be remembered for the person I am, not just for what I manage to achieve. I want to be remembered as someone who treated others with respect and fairness, offered a helping hand when it was needed, and made a positive difference in people's lives through simple acts of kindness.
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