LocationsYoung Africans are not waiting for the future; they are building it.
Where African Innovation Finds Its Future
June 17, 2026
Masibonge with her FarmIoT invention, an innovative smart farming solution she developed to support sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
UNDP
By Janet Thorlie
At a time when South Africa faces high youth unemployment, growing inequality and rapid technological change, innovation-led entrepreneurship is becoming more than a solution; it is a necessity. Young South Africans are not lacking ambition, talent or creativity; what many often lack are the spaces, opportunities and support systems needed to develop, showcase and grow their potential.
Established through a partnership between the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under UNDP’s pan-African timbuktoo initiative, the UniPod is creating a space where innovation becomes practical, collaborative and accessible. More than an innovation hub, it helps young South Africans move from ideas to action by providing access to mentorship, tools and networks that support community-driven problem-solving.
Equipped with AI and robotics labs, 3D printing and prototyping facilities, business incubation programmes and intellectual property support, the UniPod gives students and young entrepreneurs the resources needed to develop and test new ideas with real social and economic impact.
For many young innovators, spaces like the UniPod are not simply about technology; they are about opportunity. One such innovator is a third-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), who is passionate about using technology to solve real challenges within her community.
Growing up in Ladysmith, Masibonge witnessed the challenges faced by smallholder and township farmers, particularly limited access to agricultural expertise and resources despite their important role in local food security.
“The idea of IoT came when I saw the problems that people in Ladysmith were facing,” she explains. “I witnessed first-hand farmers who were failing to produce more crops because they lacked knowledge on how to farm and also could not afford agricultural experts.”
Motivated by these experiences, Masibonge began developing FarmIoT AI, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart farming innovation that combines accessible technology, AI-powered insights and smart irrigation systems to help farmers improve productivity and decision-making.
Like many young innovators, transforming the concept into a working prototype came with significant challenges, particularly around affordability and access to technical support.
“I came to UniPod where I saw a room full of people with vision,” she says. “That’s where they refined the idea.” Through mentorship, technical guidance, 3D printing support and collaborative design assistance provided by the UniPod, Masibonge was able to begin building a functional prototype and strengthen the overall design of the project.
“My vision is to bridge the gap between advanced technology and township agriculture by making precision farming accessible, affordable and impactful,” she explains.
For Masibonge, the UniPod became more than a workspace; it became a platform that helped transform a community-driven concept into an innovation with the potential to strengthen food security and improve livelihoods.
Since its establishment, the UniPod has supported student entrepreneurs and student-led projects in partnership with the UJ Technology Transfer Office, giving young innovators access to mentorship, business development support, design thinking programmes and prototyping facilities. The space has also created opportunities for students to showcase their work through platforms such as the South African Innovation Summit and other entrepreneurial development initiatives.
The establishment of the UniPod comes at a critical moment for South Africa and the continent, where traditional employment opportunities are shrinking while digital transformation continues to reshape the future of work. By creating an inclusive space where young people can develop, refine and scale ideas rooted in local realities, the UniPod is helping address the growing need for innovation-led entrepreneurship and opportunity.
What began as one student’s effort to help farmers in Ladysmith has evolved into an innovation with the potential to strengthen food security and improve livelihoods. Stories like Masibonge’s show that young people in South Africa are not lacking talent, ambition or creativity; they simply need opportunities, support and spaces that help turn their ideas into impact.
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