Latest news with #ProLink
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SMME Focus — Youth Tech Programme sparks jobs and innovation from code to community
Liquid Intelligent Technologies' programme is equipping young innovators with digital skills, funding and mentorship. From the digital hubs of North West to the townships of the Eastern Cape, young South Africans face a daunting reality. According to Stats SA, youth unemployment reached 62.4% nationally for those aged 15 to 24 in the first quarter of this year. However, the Liquid Intelligent Technologies Youth Tech Entrepreneurship Programme is equipping young innovators with digital skills, funding and mentorship. Last month, the programme celebrated 20 graduates at Liquid Intelligent Technologies' Johannesburg headquarters. The event featured a pitchathon where four standout start-ups presented their innovations to a panel of industry judges. ProLink, a digital platform connecting users with verified contractors in Mthatha, won the top prize of R100,000 in seed funding and a 12-month business support package. 'We have created employment opportunities by hiring two interns who are actively involved in platform development and community engagement,' said Qhawe Mlengana, chief project director at ProLink. Mlengana added that the startup was founded with the vision of not only connecting clients with certified professionals, but also empowering those in the informal sector who lack formal qualifications. Over the next year ProLink plans to launch their platform and scale their presence across the Eastern Cape. Tracking down livestock theft Other finalists included HerdTrace, which uses GPS-enabled ear tags and health monitoring to combat livestock theft; Otomex Innovations, leveraging AI to address mental health challenges; and The Eye of Tech, focused on expanding digital skills in rural communities. 'We started HerdTrace because we come from communities where livestock isn't just income; it's survival, education and legacy,' said Zusiphe Makeleni, head of marketing at HerdTrace. Makeleni shared the heartbreak of witnessing farmers losing livestock they rely on, with no safety net to fall back on. This growing crisis has also caught the attention of political parties like the DA which highlighted a worrying increase in stock theft across the Eastern Cape. Recent figures show that stock theft cases have risen by 8.5%, with 1,628 incidents reported in the latest quarter alone. For Makeleni, stock theft is more than a crime, 'it threatens education, generational progress and dignity'. HerdTrace addresses this by using GPS-enabled ear tags, tamper alerts, health monitoring and geofencing to give farmers real-time updates and peace of mind. Before joining the Youth Tech Entrepreneurship Programme, the team had passion and a clear problem but lacked the full business picture. The programme helped them to validate their market, sharpen their pitch and build a sustainable business model. Mindful innovation Meanwhile, Okuhle Badli, COO of Otomex Innovations, said their invention of MindPal isn't 'just a tech product'. 'It's a culturally attuned, locally designed mental health platform built for Africa's realities,' he said. Badli added that gaining recognition and funding in the mental health sector had been challenging. To overcome this his team focused on purpose-driven innovation, building partnerships and creating their own pathways through bootstrapping and incubators. MindPal is designed to be flexible and accessible. It also offers offline USSD access and scalable NGO and school partnerships, making it a trusted platform tailored specifically to the needs of African communities. What this means for you If you're a young person with tech ambitions, the Youth Tech Entrepreneurship Programme could be your gateway. The programme runs annually, with applications usually opening around March and April. Announcements are made on the Liquid Intelligent Technologies SA LinkedIn page and through their implementation partner, Deviare. The programme lasts 12 months, followed by an additional 12 months of support for winning entrepreneurs to help them grow their start-ups. Application criteria: Unemployed youth aged 18 to 35. Matric certificate required; tertiary qualification is a plus. An entrepreneurial mindset is essential. Selection includes aptitude testing. Turning challenges into opportunities The programme offers a year-long, MICT Seta-accredited curriculum in artificial intelligence and software development, combined with comprehensive mentorship, business development support and access to funding. Building a tech ecosystem The programme's holistic approach ensures participants not only gain technical skills, but also develop the entrepreneurial acumen necessary to launch and scale their ventures. This includes pre-incubation support, networking opportunities and access to cloud resources through Microsoft's Founders Hub, enabling start-ups to build robust, market-ready solutions. DM
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
ProLink liquidation: 60 workers gain new visas, jobs amid $3.8m deficit
Patel said he had secured another accredited employer to take on almost all the employees contracted to work for companies via ProLink after the liquidation was announced. ProLink was a labour recruitment business where staff were hired to work at other companies. Photo / Supplied 'I'm a migrant from Fiji. At all times, the welfare of these ProLink employees was paramount to me. You've got to have a heart.' Of the 60 employees, about 45 had new visas and new jobs, while a further 15 would soon go to a new accredited employer, he said. He hopes to be able to distribute holiday pay to all 190 laid-off workers, plus the further 60. Those 60 were contracted to Gilmours Manukau and North Shore, All Office Furniture, Moana Fisheries, Westpac Mussels, FT Logistics, Trugene Laboratories, Forty Thieves/Nut Butter Company and Paramount Merchandise, according to the latest report. Patel hired a Mandarin-speaking lawyer to assist him with the liquidation. ProLink NZ was at 349 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden. Westpac Mussels Distributors has taken on some of the workers. Photo / Alan Gibson It was established in 2018 and specialised in hiring Asian immigrants, saying it worked with Immigration New Zealand. Patel was appointed by shareholder Haiyan (Shirley) Luo of Three Kings. In December, Patel said he was particularly concerned about the workers, given the timing. He sent them letters with advice about where to turn for help. 'I've arranged a Chinese-speaking lawyer to assist them with their visas and immigration. I've also contacted Rotary at Botany Downs to organise food parcels. This is so sad, just before Christmas,' Patel said last year. In 2017, the Herald reported ProLink director Luo was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges brought under the Immigration Act and Tax Administration Act. She used fake birth documents to bring a child here from China and three companies evaded $423,000 in taxes. A spokeswoman for Immigration New Zealand said the agency had received complaints about Prolink NZ. The latest six-monthly ProLink statement of affairs projects a $3.8 million deficit. Inland Revenue is owed approximately $2.4m alone but a full tax audit is still pending. Wages and holiday pay of $83,000 is a liability along with $1.5m owed to unsecured creditors. Patel said he was satisfied he could help so many of the employees who might have otherwise had to leave New Zealand. Anne Gibson has been the Herald's property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa's Youth Tech Entrepreneurship Programme celebrates 20 graduates and crowns the winner of its tech start-up pitchathon
Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid) ( a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has announced that twenty young entrepreneurs have graduated from its Youth Tech Entrepreneurship Programme. The year-long programme, currently running in the Eastern Cape and North West Province, aims to address youth unemployment through advanced digital skills development and entrepreneurial support. The graduates received their certificates of completion at Liquid's head office in Johannesburg on 25 June. The event culminated in four technology start-ups pitching their businesses to a panel of industry judges. ProLink ( a digital platform for connecting users with verified contractors in Mthatha, emerged as the winning start-up, securing R100,000 in seed funding and a 12-month business support package. 'This programme proves the impact of investing intentionally in South Africa's youth. By equipping young people with future-fit skills and entrepreneurial capabilities, Cassava Technologies is proud to support grassroots innovation that addresses real-world challenges. For us, it's about empowering the country's youth, not only to participate in the digital future, but actively shape it. Well done to all the graduates and the pitching start-ups, and congratulations to ProLink,' said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies in South Africa and Botswana. The programme has already begun delivering tangible results. ProLink has created two new employment opportunities, and Okuhle Badli, COO of Otomex Innovations and founder of Nhanha Technologies, has been appointed Co-Chair for AI, Digital Innovation, Education, and Future of Work for Y20 South Africa 2025, the official youth engagement group of the G20. 'This graduation and pitchathon represent the unlocking of potential and the enabling of a generation of digital entrepreneurs. These young innovators are building solutions that have the potential to scale nationally and across the continent. Along with our implementation partner Deviare, Liquid South Africa is proud to provide the resources to enable this,' said Valencia Risaba, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa. The other start-ups pitching their businesses were Otomex Innovations, which leverages AI to support mental health and well-being; The Eye of Tech, which expands access to digital skills in rural areas; and HerdTrace, a female-led agritech solution transforming livestock management. Participants received MICTSETA-accredited training in artificial intelligence and software development, along with comprehensive pre-incubation support designed to translate innovative ideas into commercially viable enterprises. All the start-ups secured Azure credits via the Microsoft Founders Hub. Initiatives like the Youth Tech Entrepreneurship Programme underscore Liquid South Africa's unwavering commitment to equipping young people with the technical and business skills necessary to thrive in the digital future. As South Africa celebrates Youth Month, it also represents a firm commitment to ensure that the country's youth can contribute meaningfully to the empowerment of themselves and their communities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies. About Liquid Intelligent Technologies: Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a technology company of African heritage with operations in 40-plus markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where the Cassava group companies operate. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 110,000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent. For more information, visit
