UL Digital Hub empowers local entrepreneurs to innovate, create multiple streams of income
The University of Limpopo’s (UL) Digital Hub serves as a comprehensive resource hub, providing both ‘Studentpreneurs’ and local community members with abundant entrepreneurial opportunities
Established in 2017, the UL Digital Hub creates an innovation-driven ecosystem that exposes the youth, students, and community-based Small, Medium, and Macro Enterprises (SMMEs) within the Limpopo Province to new technologies and value-added services, fostering entrepreneurial growth.
Over the years, the UL Digital Hub has diligently addressed the needs of community and student development. In support of the business initiatives of its participants, fifteen entrepreneurs enrolled in the UL Digital Hub incubation programme were invited to showcase their businesses during the 2024 autumn graduation ceremonies in April at UL, with each entrepreneur setting up their business stall near the Onkgopotse Tiro Hall. This initiative allowed them to generate revenue by selling to the graduates and their families.
Bongani Mehlape, owner of Bongani’s Joint, credits the UL graduation ceremony for exposing him to new growth opportunities for his business, thanks to UL Digital Hub
Among those invited to showcase and sell items during the graduations, Bongani Mehlape, owner of Bongani’s Joint established in 2024, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that it was his first-time attending UL Digital Hub incubation programme. He remarked, “I am grateful for this great opportunity to grow my business and plan to expand my menu for future UL events,” Mehlape explained.
Miyelani Khumalo, owner of Genteck General Trading, credits the UL Digital Hub initiative for showcasing their services to graduates, inspiring her to also target corporate events
Another enthusiastic entrepreneur, Miyelani Khumalo, the owner of Genteck General Trading, mentioned that since starting their business in 2018, the UL Digital Hub has facilitated their expansion. “Previously, we only provided catering services for events such as weddings, unveilings, and funerals, but enrolling in the hub encouraged us to also target corporate events as well,” Khumalo stated.
The UL Digital Hub offers a plethora of services including mentoring and coaching for entrepreneurs, business training and development, access to funding opportunities, market assessment, market access, co-space sharing, prototype development, IP search services, IP commercialisation services, drone pilot licenses, virtual reality and augmented reality technologies, coding, robotics, app development, game development, animation, and a comprehensive 12-month entrepreneurship incubation programme.
The entrepreneurs expressed their gratitude for the invitation from UL’s Digital Hub and expressed hope for future opportunities to showcase their businesses at large university events. For aspiring business leaders, the UL Digital Hub encourages them to register their businesses to access a wide range of opportunities mentioned above.