AIF is a regional think-and-do tank bridging the gap between research, innovation, and socio-economic transformation across Southern Africa — placing youth at the centre.
"Southern Africa faces significant labour market challenges characterised by high youth unemployment, persistent skill gaps in technical sectors, and an evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem that is struggling to move from informal survival to high-growth startups."
A regional think-and-do tank headquartered in Mpumalanga, South Africa — deliberately positioned in underserved territory to create maximum impact across Southern Africa.
Learn More →Six integrated programmes from digital skills training for secondary school learners through to PhD valorisation academies — building a complete talent and innovation pipeline.
View Programmes →Partner with us, volunteer, become a mentor, or support our work as a funder. AIF is building an ecosystem — and ecosystems need many hands.
Connect With Us →Mpumalanga Province is a deliberate strategic choice. Unlike Gauteng and the Western Cape, which host the majority of South Africa's innovation infrastructure, Mpumalanga has limited access to incubators, accelerators, and research translation support.
The province shares borders with Mozambique and Eswatini, providing natural gateway access to SADC markets.
Over 638,000 NEET youth. A young university (UMP, est. 2014) but no dedicated incubation or research valorisation infrastructure.
Borders Mozambique and Eswatini. Proximity to Gauteng. Central corridor for SADC programming and cross-border talent mobility.
South Africa's coal transition creates a unique policy window for innovation-led economic diversification in the province.
SADC Regional Footprint
■ Headquarters ■ Priority Partners ■ Target Expansion
The Africa Impact Foundry (AIF) addresses the most entrenched developmental challenges in Southern Africa: youth unemployment, nascent entrepreneurial ecosystems, unequal digital access, and chronic research-to-market failures.
Headquartered in Mpumalanga Province — deliberately chosen as underserved territory with immense need and natural SADC reach — AIF builds an integrated talent pipeline from secondary school learners through to early-career professionals.
AIF is structured as a Non-Profit Company (NPC), enabling access to grant funding, government contracts, corporate CSI/ESG partnerships, and programme fee income. Enterprise No. 2026/319860/08.
To become the definitive regional hub for African-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and socio-economic transformation, empowering youth, students, and communities across Southern Africa to convert knowledge into prosperity.
— AIF Vision 2026–2031Our work is rooted in collective well-being, recognising that true innovation serves the community, not just the individual.
Africa's challenges demand African-conceived, African-led solutions, built on endogenous knowledge and global best practice.
Evidence informs everything we do. We bridge the divide between rigorous inquiry and practical application.
We pursue the highest standards while deliberately centering those who have been excluded — youth, women, rural communities, and the digitally marginalised.
No single institution can drive systemic change. We build bridges between academia, government, civil society, and the private sector.
Compliant with King IV Code on Corporate Governance. Annual independent audit. Full public annual impact reporting.
Multidisciplinary team, strategic partnerships with universities, government, SADC institutions, and private sector. Programme infrastructure in Mpumalanga with regional reach.
Digital Skills → Innovation Labs → Career Swifters → Impact Accelerator → PhD Valorisation Academy → Ecosystem Initiatives.
Youth with entrepreneurial and digital competencies. Research outputs translated into prototypes, policies, and social enterprises. Functioning hubs and networks.
Increased youth employability. Functional multi-stakeholder ecosystems. Improved research-to-impact rates. Enhanced digital participation.
Measurable reduction in youth NEET rates. Sustainable social enterprises. A replicable, African-owned model for research-informed socio-economic transformation across SADC.
2–5 day intensive modules covering foundational digital literacy, computational thinking, online safety, and introduction to entrepreneurial mindset. Delivered directly in communities and schools, blended in-person and online.
8–12 week programmes using human-centred design, prototyping, and MVP development. Projects grounded in local challenges — agriculture, energy, health, education, and local commerce.
3–6 month structured pathway bridging academic to entrepreneurial careers. Includes skills mapping, innovation project development, psychometric assessment, and executive coaching.
6–12 month cohort-based programme covering business model development, impact measurement, financial modelling, investment readiness, and market access strategies. Structured milestones and demo days.
5-day immersion + 6-month structured support. Research commercialisation pathways, IP fundamentals, value proposition development, and pitch preparation. Draws on the globally validated ET Cube methodology.
Ongoing multi-stakeholder dialogue forums, ecosystem mapping, policy briefs, and advocacy. Joint action research on ecosystem development. Knowledge exchange across sectors and borders.
Whether you are a student, institution, or partner organisation, reach out to learn how AIF programmes can serve your community.
Enquire About ProgrammesStrategic advisory on entrepreneurial ecosystem development, innovation policy, research commercialisation, and technology transfer. We work with governments, universities, and development agencies to design evidence-based innovation strategies.
Customised workshops on entrepreneurship, research valorisation, digital skills, leadership, and organisational development. Delivered in-person, online, or blended. Aligned with institutional goals and SDG frameworks.
Ecosystem mapping, needs assessments, programme evaluations, and impact measurement frameworks. We bridge rigorous academic inquiry with practical development priorities.
Brokering strategic partnerships between academia, government, corporate, and civil society sectors. Facilitating MOUs, co-funding arrangements, and joint programming for maximum collective impact.
Simon is an experienced researcher who studies and builds entrepreneurial ecosystems. PhD Candidate at Wits, his research focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystems, technology transfer, and academic entrepreneurship in emerging economies. He leads AIF's secondary school and TVET pipeline, Innovation Labs design, and youth programme strategy.
Dr. Raghu's expertise is in innovation and entrepreneurship, with a passion for enabling innovators from developing countries to commercialise ideas and intellectual property addressing UN SDGs. He is Director/Co-Director of Entrepreneurship Workshops across 25+ countries. An invited speaker on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Knowledge Transfer in over 15 countries, he holds 15 issued patents with four commercial products brought to market. He has collaborated with Purdue, MIT, IIT, JHU, Georgia Tech, TU-Berlin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, NASA and NRL. He has over 65 publications in fluid mechanics.
Ms. Mashabane is a Strategic Advisor specialising in health systems transformation, enterprise development, and cross-sector partnerships. She works at the intersection of health research operations, continental policy, and innovation-driven development. She holds an MBL with a specialisation in e-business and technology management, and is currently a DBL candidate researching SME integration into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) frameworks. She is recognised for advisory roles in organisational transformation, stakeholder engagement, and mentorship across health and development sectors.
James is a highly experienced organisational development specialist, leadership consultant, and entrepreneur. With a Master's in Organisational Psychology (UCT) and Master Certified Coach accreditation (Middlesex University), he has built a strong reputation working with senior leaders and executive teams. His expertise spans leadership development, succession planning, executive coaching, conflict resolution, and team performance. He trained for five years in Gestalt psychotherapy and undertook doctoral research into entrepreneurial activation. James advises Boards on strategic people issues with extensive experience in blended assessment methodologies.
Specialist in agriculture and animal sciences. Brings sectoral expertise critical to Mpumalanga's expanding agri-innovation ecosystem. Leads agriculture-focused innovation programming and agribusiness partnerships.
Specialist in development studies and participatory community engagement. Ensures AIF programmes are co-created with communities, not imposed from above. Leads needs assessment and stakeholder engagement.
Specialist in IT and human resources. Responsible for AIF's technology infrastructure, digital programme delivery, and LMS. Brings firsthand understanding of digital inclusion barriers facing youth in underserved areas.
Specialist in sociology and applied research. Leads AIF's monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework. Ensures AIF measures not just outputs but deeper social dynamics — shifts in agency, confidence, and intergenerational mobility.
Trained graphic designer and creative strategist. Leads AIF's visual identity, digital presence, and marketing strategy. Translates complex social impact work into accessible narratives for youth, partners, and funders.
Dr. Phehane is an experienced executive with a demonstrated track record in technology development, innovation management, and the commercialisation of intellectual property, particularly within the life sciences sector. He has worked extensively across the innovation value chain, translating early-stage research into scalable commercial and investment-ready opportunities. His expertise spans evaluating and structuring life sciences ventures, venture development, strategic partnerships, and technology transfer. He bridges science, industry, and capital, enabling research-driven ideas to progress into impactful health and biotechnology solutions.
AIF is officially registered as a company in South Africa (Enterprise No. 2026/319860/08), marking the beginning of a new chapter for innovation-led development in Mpumalanga and across the SADC region.
An upcoming publication by AIF researchers examining the dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystem development in Southern Africa, with a focus on technology transfer and academic entrepreneurship. Publication expected later in 2026.
AIF is actively seeking academic, government, and corporate partners to co-create and co-fund its inaugural programme cohorts in Mpumalanga. We invite organisations aligned with youth empowerment and innovation to engage with us.
More coming soon
Follow us on social media for the latest news, research updates, and programme announcements.
AIF is in its founding phase. We will be advertising positions across programme delivery, operations, research, and communications as we grow. Check back regularly or send an expression of interest.
No current vacancies — expressions of interest welcome.
Send Expression of Interest →We welcome volunteers across facilitation, research support, digital content creation, administration, and community outreach. Contribute your skills to meaningful work that transforms lives.
Minimum 4-hour commitment per month. Remote and in-person options available.
Apply to Volunteer →Share your professional journey with young innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs. AIF mentors play a pivotal role in supporting programme participants through career transitions, business challenges, and personal growth.
Mentors commit to 2–4 hours per month over a 6-month cohort cycle.
Register as a Mentor →info@africaimpactfoundry.org · partners@africaimpactfoundry.org