INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

Innovations of the World

INNOVATE™ Botswana Vol.1

This authoritative collection of the thought leaders, innovators, and innovation enablers that are changing Botswana and the world is a must read! Together with an e-book, online features, and the innovative AR-enabled book itself, INNOVATE™ Botswana showcases the amazing people and organizations who all have something in common: the passion and courage to innovate.

Innovation knows no boundaries, transcending geographical limitations to spark transformative change across the globe. Nestled in the heart of southern Africa, the vibrant nation of Botswana has emerged as a shining example of innovation, harnessing its unique resources and resilient spirit to drive progress and shape a prosperous future. Through visionary leadership, strategic planning, and a deep commitment to sustainable development, Botswana has crafted an inspiring narrative of innovation that captivates the world’s attention.

Botswana’s innovative journey has been intricately linked to its rich natural resources, most notably diamonds. Recognizing the need to leverage this precious asset responsibly and ethically, the country established the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) in 1982. By implementing rigorous standards and cutting-edge technology, Botswana revolutionized the diamond industry, ensuring transparency, fair trade, and maximum benefit for its citizens. This foresight not only boosted the nation’s economy but also inspired confidence and trust among global investors.

Botswana has embraced the transformative power of technology to foster innovation across various sectors. The country’s commitment to digital advancement is evident in initiatives such as the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH). Founded in 2008, the BIH serves as a catalyst for research, development, and innovation, bringing together entrepreneurs, scientists, and industry leaders to collaborate and create groundbreaking solutions. This hub has nurtured a vibrant startup ecosystem and encouraged the growth of tech-driven enterprises, positioning Botswana as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Botswana’s innovative mindset extends beyond economic prosperity to encompass sustainable development and environmental stewardship. The country recognizes the urgency of addressing climate change and has implemented ambitious initiatives to combat its effects. From investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to promoting sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation, Botswana is taking proactive steps to create a greener, more resilient future. These sustainability efforts not only protect the nation’s natural heritage but also foster a harmonious balance between economic growth and environmental preservation.

Botswana’s remarkable journey of innovation showcases the power of visionary leadership, resourceful thinking, and a commitment to sustainable development. Through harnessing its natural resources responsibly, embracing technology and digital advancements, and prioritizing sustainability, Botswana has emerged as a beacon of progress on the African continent. As the nation continues to pioneer innovative solutions and foster a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship, it stands poised to shape a brighter and more prosperous future for its people and inspire others around the world to embark on their own transformative journeys of innovation.

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD

ECOHUB (PTY) LTD- “ONE MAN’S WASTE

“ONE MAN’S WASTE, ANOTHER MAN’S SUSTAINABLE ECO BUILDING”

July 2017 I left my 9-5 job of being a full time Lecturer, and founded Ecohub (Pty) Ltd, a startup that innovatively uses plastic waste combined with other additives to produce affordable, architect designed flat pack ecobricks to build ecohouses. As the only Founder, I took a risk and sold...

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING

FIRST-AID COUNSELLING-A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTANTLY AND ANONYMOUSLY

I always say to my team, “Digitisation has become a necessity in a world consumed by mobile devices”. Our digital mental health platforms aim to promote mental wellness by being up close and personal in your mobile device. – Kesego Mosime, CEO and Co-Founder, First-Aid Counselling. In a country with...

I HEART GABS CITY

I HEART GABS CITY-IN 2016 IHEARTGABSCITY GATHERED A TRIBE OF YOUTH AND EMBARKED ON A CREATIVE DISRUPTIVE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMING SPACES TO PLACES

IN 2016 IHEARTGABSCITY GATHERED A TRIBE OF YOUTH AND EMBARKED ON A CREATIVE DISRUPTIVE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMING SPACES TO PLACES

Using waste materials to create furniture for the spaces, a fusion of art and creative business to bring life to open spaces, and all this was sparked by the fact that in my city, Gaborone, open spaces are mostly used for a carwash, driving schools, second-hand clothing sales, or food...

MAUNGO CRAFT

MAUNGO CRAFT - RE-INTEGRATING ORPHAN CROPS BACK INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM

RE-INTEGRATING ORPHAN CROPS BACK INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM, ONE FLAVOR AT A TIME

Morula also known as Marula is one such Orphan Crop. We are a food manufacturer that has formed symbiotic relationships with Morula oil companies and local farmers. We upcycle the fruit pulp that is typically underutilized, the processors press the seed to get seed oil and then they sell the...

LETSHEGO HOLDINGS

BOTSWANA-BORN LETSHEGO ADOPTS INNOVATION ACROSS FUNCTIONS TO ACHIEVE FUTURE-FIT VISION FOR PAN-AFRICAN OPERATION

Since first opening its doors in Gaborone 24 years ago, inclusive finance leader, Letshego Holdings Limited, has extended its reach into 11 sub Saharan markets through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The Group went public with its listing on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2002. As one of Botswana’s few...

THE BOTSWANA INVESTMENT AND TRADE CENTRE (BITC)

ESTABLISHED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT IN 2012 AS AN INTEGRATED INVESTMENT AND TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY (ITPA) WITH A MANDATE ENCOMPASSING INVESTMENT

Through its critical role within Botswana’s economy, BITC also encourages and nourishes domestic investment and expansions, promotes locally manufactured goods to regional and international markets, contributes towards improvement of the investment climate through policy advocacy, increases citizen participation in the economy and seeks to create sustainable job opportunities. BITC seeks...

MOBI LOO

MOBI LOO - “YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS”

“YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS”

Mobi Loo is a company that provides professional and reliable services in mobile toilet hire. Its mission is to restore dignity back to the people by setting a foundation of quality and excellence which is the heart of the company. Since inception, its expectation has been to WOW! Its clients...

V.I FITNESS

V.I FITNESS: YOUR HEALTH PARTNER

YOUR HEALTH PARTNER

V.I FITNESS IS A HOLISTIC FITNESS COMPANY FOUNDED BY COUSINS COLO TLHONG & LEBOGANG MOIPOAI, AS TEENS THEY BOTH HAD A STRONG DRIVE TO STAY ACTIVE  CHALLENGE THEIR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ALBEIT IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS. Lebogang was a multi-sport athlete who would try any and every sport; basketball, football, rugby...

BUSINESS RITES INVESTMENTS (BSSR)

BEGAN OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER 2020 AND HAS BEEN FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON HIGH QUALITY AND COSTEFFECTIVE BIG DATA SOLUTIONS, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES

We are advancing at a tremendous pace and with the involvement of skilled and experienced people working in the organization. BSSR is currently doing business with local SMEs and is actively taking part in hackathons and competitions, developing innovative solutions, and becoming key players in the country’s digital transformation. The...

HOTEL & CONGRES TER ELST

HOTEL & CONGRES TER ELST-A PLACE TO ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUIET YOU NEED IN GREEN SURROUNDINGS

A PLACE TO ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUIET YOU NEED IN GREEN SURROUNDINGS, AND ONLY A STONE’S THROW AWAY FROM THE HEART OF ANTWERP

After Hotel & Congress Ter Elst was taken over in 2011 and thanks to a full transformation of the company, it became one of the major key players in the Meetings & Events industry in the Antwerp region. “We don’t do anything else, we just do it a different way”...

QFLO CREATIVE INSIGHTS

QFLO CREATIVE INSIGHTS -ENABLING BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN BOTSWANA BY BATSWANA

ENABLING BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IN BOTSWANA BY BATSWANA

Creative Insights is a citizen-owned technology and software development company that was created to address poor customer experiences in Botswana. Backed by a board of local and established business leaders, the team of young digital innovators was able to create an upgraded version of the queue management service, WorldQueues, which...

BOTSWANA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (BIUST)

EMBRACING BOTSWANA’S TRANSFORMATION TO KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) is a research-intensive University and the only specialised University in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). It aims to increase: The mission of BIUST is to produce world-class research and innovation in science, engineering and technology contributing to industry growth and...

PAULMAN HOLDINGS

PAULMAN HOLDINGS-BUILDING INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS FOR AFRICA...

BUILDING INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS FOR AFRICA...

Paulman Holdings is a wholly citizen-owned company founded in 2010 with the sole vision of becoming the most trusted and respected company, recognized by their clients for delivering excellence whilst simultaneously creating new opportunities for growth in their respective fields. Their main venture is the transportation of goods and services...

VUNANI FUND MANAGERS

HOW VUNANI HAS HARNESSED INNOVATION TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

We are a proudly Pan-African financial and diversified investment management company, active in nine African countries. We are fully committed to our promise of nurturing an integrated range of innovative products and services, in order to deliver positive, consistent return for our clients. This is premised on our value proposition...

NINETEEN 21

NINETEEN 21-UNORTHODOX THINKING

UNORTHODOX THINKING

Established in 2019, Nineteen21 is an innovative subscription business that presents savings and rewards solutions across a number of tiers. The company initially sought out to find a solution for college and varsity students to save money and maximise on the value of their limited monthly allowances. The company built...

LITTER KINGS

LITTER KINGS- AND A GREEN ECONOMY

AND A GREEN ECONOMY

With a staff complement of close to 10 employees on a full-time basis, Litter Kings is a pronounced example of a local business that started from the bottom and relentlessly worked hard to ensure growth and sustainability of the company over the years. The company started running in 2013 when...

BOCRA

BOCRA-PROMOTES ACCESS AND USAGE OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

PROMOTES ACCESS AND USAGE OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

BRIEF BACKGROUND Botswana’s rags to riches economic success story is often compared to that of countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore. A former British protectorate, Botswana was poor by all standards when it got its independence. By the early to mid 80s, the country’s mineral resource was...

PROJECT 124

PROJECT 124-BUILDING THE ECONOMY

BUILDING THE ECONOMY, ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Project124 is an innovation enabler designed to revolutionize youth entrepreneurship and facilitate effective creation of sustainable jobs for young people around the country, brought to you by Launchit International in partnership with Hollard Life Botswana.   Established in 2016, Project124 stands to be the leading private and citizen owned youth...

PCG SOFTWARE

PCG SOFTWARE- THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

THE TRAILBLAZING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS STARTUP DRIVING INNOVATION IN BOTSWANA AND SOON AFRICA!

PCG Software is a multi-award-winning, youth-led software development startup that offers bespoke digital solutions. We offer a diverse range of services including planning and consulting, back-end integrations, application development, testing and maintenance to deliver quality software apps that work across multiple platforms and devices. From left to right: Michael Mavuso –...

THE GIFT PLACE

THE TRUE VALUE OF A GIFT IS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND THE GIFTING

NOTE FROM FOUNDER A few years ago, I realized how strenuous it is for some to come up with or present a thoughtful gift for any occasion. The idea of The Gift Place grew from my passion to create a gift by simply sourcing various items from different outlets to...

FIRST NATIONAL BANK BOTSWANA

INNOVATES TOWARDS GREATER FINANCIAL INCLUSION

First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) has established itself as the country’s leading driver of innovation and investing in financial inclusion to help more Batswana realise their aspirations beyond simple access to transactional banking services. FNBB is Botswana’s largest commercial bank by balance sheet, footprint and customer volumes. Over the years,...

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD

NUBIAN SEED (PTY) LTD BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

BEAUTY ROOTED IN NATURE AND INDIGENOUSLY INSPIRED BY AFRICA

Established in 2016, Nubian Seed (PTY) Ltd is a green beauty manufacturer of natural and organic personal care products, made using raw plant based ingredients which are indigenous to the African continent. The Nubian Seed product range is a reflection of Africa’s bio diversity, as well as global growing interest...

SHAREARIDE

SHAREARIDE -TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

TRANSFORMING BOTSWANA’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Sharearide is a service driven by Corrugated Minds, a company built by a young team who are passionate about transforming citizens’ day-to-day lives through the provision of solutions powered by technology. The Corrugated Minds journey began in 2014, with an idea to provide digital solutions to Botswana’s everyday activities, including...

SENTIMENTAL VALUE ARTS AND CRAFTS

SENTIMENTAL VALUE ARTS AND CRAFTS- “IF IT’S DEAR TO YOU ITS DEAR TO US TOO.”

“IF IT’S DEAR TO YOU ITS DEAR TO US TOO.”

All of us have that something that we hold on dearly to. For some people it’s a family heirloom, handwritten post letters and to others a broken kettle they keep saying they will fix and never get around to doing it. I get it all. At Sentimental Value we allow...

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The Publisher

Thapelo Letsholo

Thapelo Letsholo is a Botswana politician and entrepreneur. He is the current elected Member of Parliament for Kanye North constituency as of 2019. He is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party. Early Life Thapelo Letsholo was born in Kanye, Botswana. He then attended his early education in Jwaneng, Botswana and his senior secondary education... click to read more

The Publisher

Thapelo Letsholo

Thapelo Letsholo is a Botswana politician and entrepreneur. He is the current elected Member of Parliament for Kanye North constituency as of 2019. He is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party. Early Life Thapelo Letsholo was born in Kanye, Botswana. He then attended his early education in Jwaneng, Botswana and his senior secondary education... click to read more

Other Ecosystems