CPUT, through its Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC), recently celebrated the official launch of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with African Bank.

The ceremony, hosted at the District Six Campus, aligned closely with CPUT’s Vision 2030 of building One Smart CPUT and the university’s MIT of Africa strategy, which positions CPUT as Africa’s leading technology-driven institution advancing innovation at scale.

Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, emphasised the strategic significance of the partnership in strengthening student development, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation. Michael Twum-Darko, Head of BiiC, said the African Bank leadership reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering communities, youth, small and medium enterprises (SME's), and innovators - echoing its own Pitch Cred mandate, which positions African Bank as a champion of inclusive growth, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

A joint presentation by CPUT and African Bank teams showcased the roadmap for collaboration, including immediate and long-term initiatives across student innovation, financial literacy, youth and women empowerment, and solutions that advance the financial sector.

“At the heart of the partnership is BiiC, which is strategically positioned as African Bank’s innovation partner - leveraging CPUT’s applied research, student talent, multidisciplinary expertise, and incubation capacity. Through BiiC, CPUT will co-develop digital solutions, AI-enabled learning and reskilling systems, and community-centred financial inclusion innovations that respond directly to African Bank’s national priorities,” noted Twum-Darko.

He stated that before the end of the academic year, CPUT and African Bank will convene a high-level workshop with relevant stakeholders to design and prioritise three transformative flagship projects:

• Youth development and financial literacy programmes that prepare young people for economic participation.
• Young women empowerment and graduate internship pathways that strengthen employability and leadership.
• Student innovation and market-access partnerships enabling CPUT-developed solutions to reach industry, communities, and markets - creating shared commercial value for CPUT/BiiC and African Bank.

The partnership is expected to deliver meaningful impact through mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, access to professionals, technology development support, and financial inclusion projects designed to uplift underserved communities. Twum-Darko said the collaboration also positions African Bank as a progressive industry partner investing in future-focused skills development and innovation-driven social transformation.

“As CPUT continues its pathway to becoming the MIT of Africa, this MoU embodies a powerful alignment between academia, industry, and society - showcasing how collaborative innovation can unlock new opportunities for South Africa’s youth and economy.”

Written by CPUT News
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The Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC) recently engaged with executives from First National Bank (FNB) in the Western and Eastern Cape at the FNB Portside Tower in Cape Town.

Professor Michael Twum-Darko, Head of BiiC, noted that the meeting was exploratory, aiming to assess how academic research and innovation capabilities can align with the strategic interests of FNB and its clients. “The session left a strong impression on FNB’s leadership, who expressed enthusiasm for the pioneering work being conducted by BiiC,” he stated. The executives committed to further discussions to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Twum-Darko, who teaches Technopreneurship to third-year Diploma in Banking students, attended the engagement with his class. The students had the opportunity to showcase innovative business models developed during their coursework, emphasizing venture building in the digital economy as the primary assessment method. The module prepares third-year Banking students to design robust ventures by developing:

• Compelling business visions and value propositions
• Clear objectives, business models, and business plans
• Marketing strategies and competitive analyses
• Entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital economy
• Administrative and management skills relevant to banking entrepreneurs
• Customer service frameworks and pricing strategies for banking and alternative banking sectors.

Using a design thinking approach integrated with an introductory banking research module, the students test and refine their business models on MyLaunchPad, a digital platform developed by BiiC.

The interaction with FNB executives provided the students with a unique opportunity to present their work, ask critical questions, and explore potential employment pathways. This direct exposure not only boosted their confidence but also underscored the relevance of CPUT’s academic programs to the financial services industry.

Twum-Darko provided an overview of BiiC’s structure and operations, particularly its role in FinTech venture building and startup incubation. He highlighted various minimum viable products (MVPs) developed within BiiC that are ready for strategic partnerships.

Central to his presentation was the introduction of Entreprenetics, a research-driven methodology that he co-developed with American partners. This methodology has been validated at Southern University, Upper Iowa University (Louisiana, USA), Harvard University, the University of Adelaide, and the University of Auckland. Entreprenetics is defined as a philosophy for driving entrepreneurship success, summarized by the formula:

E (Entrepreneurship success) = G (Genetics – who are you?) + M³ (Matrix, Methodology, and Mechanics as tools) + D (Ability and passion to adopt a new mindset)

He explained that this methodology integrates design thinking, systems thinking, and cybernetics to guide entrepreneurs and researchers in building sustainable ventures. Notably, it is also applied in postgraduate research, where students are encouraged to design research proposals with the explicit goal of creating businesses from their theses, rather than only after publication. A structured proposal template has already been developed for this purpose.

“FNB executives praised BiiC’s innovative approach to integrating academia, research, and industry relevance. Twum-Darko said the FNB executives emphasised his leadership and BiiC’s philosophy of innovation offer strong foundations for potential collaboration. “This engagement marks the beginning of what could become a transformative partnership between CPUT, BiiC, and FNB -one that not only advances innovation in the financial services sector but also enhances opportunities for CPUT students to become future leaders in banking and entrepreneurship.”

Written by CPUT News
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On Thursday CPUT launched a project that seeks to tackle the country’s unemployment problem head on.

“The Next Big Thing” is a project initiated by Caring4Hope, a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), to develop 2 000 South African young entrepreneurs a year for the next three years at a cost of R15 million per annum.

The Graduate Centre for Management’s Business Incubation and Innovation Centre (BIIC) was identified by Caring4Hope as one of the incubators to partner with it.

The BIIC as an academic incubator to actualise the vision of smartness conceived by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, as a measure which sets CPUT apart from our counterparts, and tells the story of how the university is grappling with the phenomenal opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The scope of the three-year collaborative agreement between CPUT and the NPO is for the BIIC to provide theoretical training for entrepreneurial skills development in the form of online coaching and mentoring of selected youth across the country.

During the launch Dr Michael Twum-Darko, Head of BIIC and the Acting Head of the Graduate Centre for Management, said that in order to remain relevant and enable emerging thinkers to pursue surer pathways to success, the BIIC introduces a campus space where students can connect to fellow entrepreneurs and interested financiers.

Darko added that academic incubators are distinct academic ecosystems with inquisitive entrepreneurs and that postgraduate students seeking connections to the marketplace can use the BIIC to create enterprises or to become employable.

He cited several innovative projects under his supervision that are being undertaken by postgraduate students in the BIIC such as the Application of Machine Learning in managing diseases in pig farming and the Application of big data analytics to improve students’ performance, among others

The fully-fledged centre on the 4th Floor in the Engineering Building state of the art equipment to the value of R426 460.

Prof Judy Peter, Director: Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, said Universities of Technology have a responsibility to respond to the vocational demands of a market-driven economy and that they continue to add value to the notion of redress in “post-colonial and # fees must fall era”.

Peter added that The Next Best Thing project promises to ensure successful start-ups, products, and business opportunities that reflect the underlying principles of CPUT’s Vision 2030 to establish SMART universities.

Rodrigue Mounguengui, CEO and Founder of “The Next Big Thing” said that to deliver on the aspirations of the project Caring4Hope had teamed up with CPUT, Google and The Barleader TV.

“It’s not about the size of your pocket but the size of your mind,” added Mounguengui.

The CPUT alumnus said Google’s role of creating business profiles for the selected entrepreneurs for free was crucial and that the TV production company will produce reality shows about entrepreneurship to inspire communities.

Mounguengui, who completed a Masters in Business Administration degree at Stellenbosch University in 2020, said that the project will organise a Business Summit where industry captains from the public and private sectors as well as academic and commercial institutions will be invited to discuss why the billions of rand which were poured onto South Africa’s small businesses for decades have not yielded jobs.  

Prof Renitha Rampersad, Assistant Dean: Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, said the project augurs well with the Faculty’s research trajectory and congratulated Darko for his foresight.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of TymeBank Group, Coenraad Jonker, recently visited the Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC) at District Six campus, to explore collaboration on the eVillage concept with BIIC and CPUT to revolutionise township and rural economies via digital banking.

The eVillage concept is to integrate tried and tested disruptive technology and modelled Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to create and retain wealth to simulate and grow township and rural economies for youth enterprise development and employment creation. BIIC Head, Prof Michael Twum-Darko, says the TymeBank collaboration will facilitate the finalisation of the eVillage prototype and make it a reality.

Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS), Prof Paul Green, who welcomed the guests, said: “What we are attempting to do here as a faculty and also the only university of technology in the Western Cape is to increase our footprint in these particular types of projects.”

“Each business will be run by youth and CPUT graduates trained, mentored and coached by BIIC to become an entrepreneur.”

Those present included Sandra Lloyd (TymeBank Community Franchising), John Lawson (Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Sumaya Taliep (City of Cape Town), Bushra Razack (Phillippi Village), Pasi Nieminen (XCFpay - Finland), Dr Revel Iyer (CPUT), Lucien Paulsen (Plum Systems), Chris Mulhall (RD4A), Mark Simon (Plum Systems), and CPUT students Blessing Hove, Roman Gulu and Bambelela Mpulu.

The delightful BIIC founder, Twum-Darko is upbeat about future of the eVillage concept saying: “It was a very successful event for the chairperson/co-founder of Tyme Bank to visit the Centre and to engage with the Centre. His visit was to determine how to collaborate with the BIIC on the e-Village, eSpaza, e-Campus business/project which has been innovated and incubated at the Centre since 2021.”

He said the project emanated from a community engagement-driven research with MTech (Business Administration) students, conducted at Zwelethemba Township in the Breede Valley District Municipality. Twum-Darko, who is also the Head of the Graduate Centre for Management (GCM), said TymeBank is interested in piloting and the roll out of e-Village, e-Spaza, e-Campus “to retain wealth in rural settings and townships to create employment and small enterprises of different services to simulate the local economy”.

“The Executive Chairman of TymeBank was also impressed with GCM’s flag ship qualification – Diploma in Banking.”

Following numerous presentations, Jonker said: “For me. the unique aspect of what I have heard this morning is the hands-on connection into the informal economy of South Africa.”

Green also said: “Coen Jonker, I have seen the information and I am really excited that we can partner with you in all of this.  I strongly believe that we are going to see excellent results that are going to emanate from this particular collaboration and this particular partnership.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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The Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC) recently participated in a vibrant collaboration aimed at inspiring the next generation of technology enthusiasts at Thuto ke Matlaa Comprehensive High School in Tembisa, Johannesburg.

This engaging Career Day event was co-hosted by MTN Chenosis API Marketplace and Girlcode, and sought to encourage both girls and boys to explore careers in technology and showcased the exciting possibilities within the tech industry.

“At the heart of this initiative was the goal to demystify the pathway to a tech career, emphasising the importance of foundational subjects in high school,” said Prof Michael Twum-Darko, who led the BiiC. Twum-Darko added that the attendees were introduced to the key subjects essential for pursuing a career in technology, highlighting the role of mathematics, computer science, and physics in building a strong technical foundation.

He said that BiiC served as a technology and innovation partner to MTN Chenosis API Marketplace. “The BiiC Team showcased the cool factor of developing mobile apps using artificial intelligence (AI), captivating the learners with real-world applications, and demonstrating the limitless possibilities within the tech space.”

Twum-Darko also shared insights into BiiC's groundbreaking Machine Learning and AI online Learner Academy (Bridge-in), designed to bridge the gap between technical skills and the demands of the professional world. “This academy serves as a critical resource for newly recruited graduates at MTN Chenosis, providing them with practical training and hands-on experience to excel in the dynamic field of technology.”

He said the event proved to be an enriching experience for all attendees, fostering a spirit of curiosity and ambition among the students. By highlighting the collaborative efforts of industry leaders, educational institutions, and non-profit organisations, Career Day at Thuto ke Matlaa Comprehensive High School underscored the importance of nurturing talent and empowering the youth to embrace careers in tech, Twum-Darko remarked.

“Through such initiatives, the organisers and partners reaffirmed their commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the tech ecosystem, inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.”

Written by CPUT News
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The Head of the Centre for Business Innovation and Incubation (BiiC) and Acting Head of the Graduate Centre for Management (GCM), Prof Michael Twum-Darko has been appointed as one of the lead strategic partners for the Africa Tourism Innovation Hub (ATIH).

The Hub is one of the key outcomes of the 2022 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge, hosted by the Namibian Government under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT).

Pioneered by the Africa Tourism Partners (ATP), the ATIH is a physical and virtual hub established in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Durban University of Technology, Namibia University of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (Namibia) and Cornell University. “As a pan-African initiative, the hub has evolved as a key outcome and implementable project of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge. This initiative, which commenced in Durban, South Africa, in 2019, has since been hosted in various African nations, including Rwanda, Ghana, and Namibia,” said Twum-Darko. He said the main goal of the ATIH is to further technological innovation among start-ups within Africa's travel and tourism sector, drive youth employability, and stimulate tourism entrepreneurship development.

Twum-Darko who established the BiiC in 2019, said he felt “honoured to have become one of the lead strategic partners and Director of ATIH to contribute to operationalise the hub’s operations as to tangibly mainstream its programmes. He will be presenting the master plan of the Hub to the 2024 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge in Windhoek, Namibia from 29 May to 1 June 2024.

Written by CPUT News
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