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The EPF TECH FUND is a privately managed fund. We are committed to future-proofing Africa through sustainable investments.

We invest in youth lead technology solutions that are scalable across the continent.

09/10/2026

Breaking Barriers in Digital Payments!

This week’s DSTI × EPF Venture Building Programme Startup of the Week is ePocket, a fintech startup co-founded by Mpho Tlhape and Karabo Seduma, making digital payments more accessible to township and rural communities.

From showcasing at South Africa Innovation Week (SAIW’26) to having its SpazaGrid solution shortlisted for the Huawei Code for Mzansi competition, ePocket is making its mark in South Africa’s fintech landscape.

With initiatives like KOTA2FRIDAY and Refer and Earn, ePocket is taking financial inclusion further by encouraging digital wallet adoption and expanding its customer reach.

More than just payments. Greater access, more opportunities and a digitally connected future.

Visit www.epocket.co.za to learn more about epocket.

Empire Partner Foundation

01/10/2026

This week’s DSTI × EPF Venture Building Programme Startup of the Week is Ancestor Honor, founded by Reamogetse Tshabalala.

Operating at the intersection of HealthTech, AI and cultural heritage, Ancestor Honor is building an AI-powered platform that brings together ancestral records, oral histories and hereditary health information to help families preserve their lineage, understand inherited health risks and carry their stories forward across generations.

And the startup has reached an exciting new milestone!

Ancestor Honor has successfully completed its Google Play Store testing phase and is now available for download on Google Play.

Clink link below to download:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ancestorhonor.android

From developing the concept to reaching users in the market, this milestone represents another important step in the venture-building journey.

Congratulations to Reamogetse and Ancestor Honor.

Honouring the past. Preserving our stories. Building for the future.

25/09/2026

This week, we’re celebrating Botlhale AI, a startup in the DSTI × EPF Venture Building Programme developing multilingual language technologies that help businesses and organisations communicate with customers in African languages.

Founded by Thapelo Nthite, Botlhale AI is advancing conversational intelligence for high-volume customer-service and financial-services environments, using technology designed for Africa’s linguistic diversity.

The startup is also gaining industry recognition, having been named a finalist in The Most Effective Application of Technology category at the 2026 CCMG Contact Centre Industry Awards.

From African-language AI to smarter customer experiences, Botlhale AI is building technology that responds to a distinctly African need.

We’re proud to support founders building solutions with the potential to shape Africa’s digital future.

Empire Partner Foundation of Science, Technology and Innovation SA Botlhale AI

14/09/2026

From opportunity to recognition.

We’re celebrating eFama, a startup in the DSTI × EPF Venture Building Programme, after an outstanding run of wins across South Africa’s agricultural and supply-chain ecosystem.

From 2nd place in the AgriHero 2026 Challenge and founder recognition at the 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award, to a Platinum Award for Technology, Information Systems & Related Fields at the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards (ASCEA) and the inaugural Garry Marshall Judges Award, the highest honour of the evening.

This is what happens when bold ideas meet the right support, market access and opportunities to grow.

Congratulations to Pretty & Shadrack Kubuyane and the eFama team. You’re building solutions that are solving real problems, creating market value and putting African innovation on the map.

Built to solve. Ready to grow. Recognised for impact.

04/09/2026

The Final Stretch Starts Now.

We’ve built. We’ve tested. We’ve refined. We’ve connected. We’ve grown.

Now, the DSTI × EPF Venture Building Program enters Phase 7 & 8. The final chapters of an incredible two-year journey.

21 tech-driven startups have travelled through a programme designed to turn promising ideas into stronger, more market-ready ventures. As we approach the finish line, the focus shifts to scaling progress, strengthening relationships and building beyond the programme.

Growth doesn’t wait. Neither do we.

Phase 7 carries the momentum forward, supporting startups as they strengthen market traction, navigate post-launch challenges, deepen relationships and explore opportunities for further development and scaling.

We finish strong and build beyond the programme.

Phase 8, the final phase brings the journey together: strengthening client relationships, capturing success stories, reviewing progress and helping startups prepare for what comes next.

Because the true measure of venture building isn’t simply reaching the final phase. It’s what continues to grow after it.

21 startups. 8 phases. One journey and a future still being built.
The countdown is on.

Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA

04/06/2026

From Validation to Scale: Phases 5 & 6

As the DSTI x EPF Venture Building Program advances, participating startups enter a critical stage focused on strengthening their solutions and unlocking new growth opportunities.

These phases are designed to refine and validate what has been built, ensuring ventures are market-ready while laying a strong foundation for sustainable expansion. Through rigorous quality assurance, strategic stakeholder engagement, and access to valuable ecosystem networks, startups are empowered to accelerate their journey toward commercial success.

By enhancing operational readiness, strengthening market positioning, and fostering meaningful partnerships, ventures are better equipped to scale their innovations, expand their impact, and drive long-term growth.

Together, we are transforming potential into progress and innovation into opportunity.

of Science, Technology and Innovation SA

03/06/2026

Refined for Impact, Positioned for Growth.

The DSTI x EPF Venture Building Program is in a pivotal stage where innovation meets ex*****on, Phase 5 & 6.

Phase 5: Quality Control
Refining, testing, and validating solutions to ensure they are market ready.

Phase 6: Growth Enablement
Equipping startups with the strategies, networks, and opportunities needed to scale with confidence.

From building great products to building sustainable ventures, this is where promising innovations become investment-ready, impact-driven businesses.

Empire Partner Foundation Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA

27/05/2026

Tourism Mobility Services is transforming how people explore South Africa.

Through a smart super app ecosystem, they connect travellers with trusted mobility services while helping tourism businesses gain visibility, reach new markets, and grow in the digital economy.

From small towns to local communities, Tourism Mobility Services is making travel more accessible, connected, and inclusive.

Through the DSTI x EPF Programme, they’re helping drive the future of tourism, mobility, and digital innovation in Africa.

Mobility Services Maseko

ExploreSouthAfrica TechInAfrica DigitalTransformation AIinAfrica DSTIxEPF FutureReady

13/03/2026

With every story shared, we remember, reconnect, and rise, proof that honouring our roots is how we shape our future.

Next on Startup Diaries, Reamogetse Tshabalala, founder of Ancestor Honor and a participant in DSTI x EPF Venture Building Programme joins Byron David on air to share a powerful journey of preserving legacy, restoring identity, and creating spaces where heritage and healing meet innovation.

Catch Reamogetse’s story on Startup Diaries this Tuesday, 17 March 2026, at 10:15 AM. Tune in to The Startup Diaries Interview with Byron on 919 FM, or stream live at 919.co.za.

Tune in as we explore how purpose-driven vision can transform remembrance into impact, bridging generations through storytelling, technology, and intentional community building.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation.
Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA Empire Partner Foundation Tshabalala

17/02/2026

“Often described as the world’s most important gathering, the World Economic Forum in Davos brings together global leaders to shape the future.”

WEF brings together global business and political leaders to shape the future. Khiosk Founder Zuko Tisani shares how stepping into that space from South Africa House engagements to meeting the Head of WEF Africa is driving new momentum for his startup through the DSTI × EPF Venture Building Programme.

Catch the interview on Wednesday, 18 February, from 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM on 919 FM, or stream live at 919.co.za.

Don’t miss it. Hear Zuko’s story, fuel your ambition, and see how African innovation is conquering the global stage.

Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA Empire Partner Foundation

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