Two-member ventures of Darkies in Tech (DIT), a pan-African community of entrepreneurs and innovators, have been named winners at the Old Mutual SMEgo Pitchathon, securing recognition and capital that could redefine their growth trajectory.
The winning startups, Credipple, founded by Kgololo Lekoma and Lethabo Sekhu, and eFama App, founded by Pretty Kubyane and Shadrack Kubyane, each received a grant of R300,000, underscoring the growing appetite for African-led solutions to systemic challenges.
Credipple has carved a niche in simulation-based skills verification, a field that addresses a pressing concern for employers: how to identify genuine talent in an age where CV inflation and misrepresentation are common. By offering credible, data-backed insights, the company equips businesses with the confidence to make better hiring decisions. In a labour market increasingly driven by knowledge and skills, Credipple’s model offers both efficiency and trust two commodities often in short supply.
eFama App, by contrast, tackles challenges in the agricultural value chain. By connecting farmers and producers directly with buyers, the platform fosters market linkages that strengthen food security and widen economic participation. Agriculture remains the backbone of many African economies, yet inefficiencies and a lack of access to reliable markets often hinder producers. eFama’s intervention not only improves livelihoods but also demonstrates how technology can become a bridge between rural producers and urban demand.
Both startups embody the ethos of the DIT community, which champions breaking barriers, building boldly and uplifting one another. The organisation has become a beacon for African tech entrepreneurs navigating structural barriers, offering them visibility, mentorship and access to capital.
The victories of Credipple and eFama are more than symbolic wins. They highlight a new generation of African founders who are designing practical solutions to real-world problems from hiring transparency to food distribution. These are not abstract ideas; they are business models grounded in necessity, yet brimming with scalability and long-term potential.
The Old Mutual SMEgo Pitchathon, long regarded as a stage for early-stage businesses with transformative potential, has once again spotlighted ventures that blend innovation with social impact. In a continent where entrepreneurship is often a response to constraint, such recognition can be catalytic opening doors to partnerships, investors and larger markets.
For African entrepreneurs and investors alike, these wins serve as a reminder: the future of innovation on the continent lies in those who dare to solve the hardest problems with creativity, persistence and community at their side.
