Tshimologong Precinct

What Tshimologong Precinct does

Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of the Witwatersrand (legal entity: Wits Incubator (Pty) Ltd, registered 2016) operating from 41 Juta Street in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. It is a B-BBBEE Level 1 entity and an accredited MICT SETA service provider, structured as a digital innovation hub that combines a coworking campus with skills development academies, an incubation/acceleration stack, and market-access platforms for African startups and corporates. The precinct was founded in 2016 by Prof. Barry Dwolatzky and is currently led by CEO Mark Harris (appointed 2023).

The product portfolio is organised around three pillars: Skills Development (Digital Skills Academy, Mollo Animation Academy, Gaming Academy, IoT and cybersecurity courses, 12-month software development internship, 8-month software testing internship, and a 24-month MICT SETA-accredited learnership at NQF levels 3 and 5); Enterprise Development (Design Thinking pre-incubation, startup and scale-up programmes, the Irish Tech Challenge, and structured programmes E3, FusionX and AccelerateXD); and Market Access (Digital Lab Africa, the Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, Studios Collective, and the Digital Content Hub). The underlying technology base includes a Makerspace offering 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC, IoT, robotics, AR/VR (Unity/Vuforia) and AI tools, plus a coworking platform (R950-R2,000/month per desk) and an animated-content production studio.

Revenue mechanics combine recurring coworking subscriptions, corporate Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) programmes aligned with B-BBBEE compliance, professional services fees from Studios Collective, paid learnerships/internships co-funded by corporates, and grant funding from national and provincial government (DSTI, Gauteng, City of Johannesburg), development agencies (GIZ, French Development Agency, Irish Embassy), and philanthropic partners (JP Morgan Chase). The customer base spans unemployed youth, early-stage tech founders, digital content creators (animators, game developers), SMME entrepreneurs, and corporate enterprises. Disclosed outcomes include 105 startups incubated since 2017, 172 entrepreneurs impacted, 48 projects through Digital Lab Africa, an 85% graduate placement rate, and 200+ graduates across four countries.

Name

Tshimologong Precinct

Legal name

Wits Incubator (Pty) Ltd, t/a Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct

Website

https://tshimologong.joburg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tshimologong is a Wits University-owned digital innovation hub in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, offering skills academies, startup incubation, and market-access platforms that serve unemployed youth, tech founders, digital content creators, and corporate partners across South Africa and pan-Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Incubator / Digital Innovation Hub

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce, Employability & Youth Skills Partnerships (EDADALAI), IoT, Sensors & Embedded Systems (Arduino/Raspberry Pi) Programs (EDAMADAI), Emerging Tech (IoT, Blockchain, AR/VR, Edge) Consulting (BPAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Technology incubation services
• Digital skills training
• Startup acceleration programmes
• Coworking innovation hub
• Enterprise supplier development

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Coworking Membership Fees: Monthly membership fees for hot desks (R950-R1,500/month), dedicated desks (R2,000/month), and team workspaces with boardroom credits. Additional services include locker rentals and day visitor passes (R175).
2. Corporate ESD Programmes: Enterprise Supplier Development programmes aligned with corporate B-BBBEE requirements. Customised programmes incorporating company values and goals for skills development and enterprise development.
3. Studios Collective Services: Revenue-generating studio services in software development, hardware development, and animation. Administration fee retained by Tshimologong for contracted client work performed by vetted entrepreneurs.
4. Skills Development Programmes: Internship and learnership programmes, many delivered in collaboration with corporates. Software Development Internship (12 months), Software Testing Internship (8 months), Digital Skills Learnership (24 months).
5. Government and Foundation Funding: Partnership funding from government departments (DSTI, Gauteng Government, City of Johannesburg), development agencies (GIZ, French Development Agency, Irish Embassy), and technology companies for programme delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tshimologong Precinct operates a digital innovation hub and technology incubator in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, delivering skills development programmes (software development, animation, gaming, IoT, cybersecurity, robotics), startup incubation and acceleration services, and market access platforms for African digital entrepreneurs. It offers coworking memberships, an Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) programme aligned to corporate B-BBBEE strategies, and runs the annual Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival. The precinct is wholly owned by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University).

Product overview

Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct is a university-based tech hub and incubator wholly owned by Wits University, offering a portfolio of skills development and incubation programmes. The ecosystem is built around three pillars: Digital Skills Academy (with sub-programmes including Animation Academy, Software Development/Testing Internships, IoT, Cybersecurity, and Gaming Academy), Enterprise Development (covering Design Thinking, Pre-Incubation, Startup, and Scale-Up programmes), and Digital Marketplace (Digital Content Hub, Studios Collective, and Fak'ugesi Festival). Additional offerings include Makerspace for digital fabrication, Coworking space, and specialized tracks E3, FusionX, and AccelerateXD. The precinct incubates startups and provides market access through its creative industry networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mollo Animation Academy and Studio: Animation academy that grows the South African Animation Industry into a sustainable creative economy contributor
• Digital Skills Academy
• Makerspace (TMG)
• Studios Collective
• E3 - Exceptional Engineering Experience
• FusionX
• AccelerateXD

Products and services

• Digital Skills Academy A digital skills accelerator bridging academia and industry, offering quality skills programmes and experiential learning for high-potential, marginalized youth to participate in the digital economy.
• Mollo Animation Academy and Studio An eleven-month paid internship programme for recent graduates and self-taught artists teaching pre-production, production, and post-production animation skills, producing high-end animated films.
• Makerspace Digital fabrication and innovation space that empowers young people through collaborative making, training, upskilling and experimentation in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies including 3D printing, IoT, robotics, and AI.
• Enterprise Development Incubation and acceleration programmes providing startups and entrepreneurs with tools and support across three stages: Pre-Startup (Design Thinking), Start-up, and Growth Stage (Scale-Up).
• Digital Lab Africa First mentorship and incubation programme dedicated to innovative creative and digital content in Africa, offering acceleration and market access for animation, video games, immersive realities, music and visual arts.
• Fak'ugesi Festival Annual African Digital Innovation Festival supporting and celebrating the crossover of art, culture and technology, with exhibitions, workshops, conferences and events.
• Studios Collective Multidisciplinary development studio offering solutions in software development, hardware development and animation development, supporting vetted entrepreneurs to accelerate their businesses through market access.
• Digital Content Hub First of its kind platform in South Africa bringing together unemployed graduates, professionals, researchers and producers of digital content in gaming, animation, VR, web series and digital music.
• Coworking & Community Membership Coworking space membership scheme offering hot desks (R950-R1,500/month), dedicated desks (R2,000/month) and team workspaces with high-speed internet, boardroom credits, and access to Makerspace expertise.
• E3 - The Builder's Programme Immersive engineering excellence programme for software engineers, architects, and technical leaders to move from technically competent to genuinely exceptional.
• FusionX - The Connector's Programme Transformation track for product managers, business analysts, and delivery leads who bridge engineering and business to drive outcomes.
• AccelerateXD - The Founder's Programme SMME and founder track for tech startup founders and entrepreneurs ready to move from idea to investable, building funding readiness and operational discipline.
• Software Development Internship 12-month internship programme addressing graduate employment challenges with skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C#, Java, Angular, Restful APIs, and Agile methodology.
• Software Testing Internship 8-month internship covering test automation using Python, manual testing, and ISTQB certification preparation.
• Internet of Things (IoT) Course IoT fundamentals course covering sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, networking concepts, and dashboard building for IoT devices.
• Irish Tech Challenge Startup competition offering up to EUR 10,000 in grant funding and a funded trip to Ireland for immersion in the Irish technology ecosystem.
• Digital Skills Learnership 24-month learnership covering end-user computing, systems development, software development, computer networking, and cybersecurity with MICT-SETA accreditation at NQF levels 3 and 5.
• Gaming Academy Gaming skills development academy providing training in gaming development as part of the Skills Development division.

Quantifiable outcome

• 105 startups incubated since 2017 launch
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Science Technology & Innovation (DSTI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Government department partner for Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2025. Supports science, technology and innovation initiatives.
• Exceptional DifferencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for E3 engineering excellence programme built on 30-year globally proven engineering-excellence methodology. Delivers documented 10x ROI across graduate cohorts.
• Embassy of Ireland in South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organiser of Irish Tech Challenge South Africa programme offering up to €10,000 grant funding, funded trip to Ireland, and mentorship through Dogpatch Labs.
• Dogpatch Labs IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Irish technology accelerator partner for Irish Tech Challenge. Provides mentorship and immersion in Irish technology ecosystem for South African startups.
• Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Government agency partner for Irish Tech Challenge South Africa. Supports innovation and entrepreneurship in South African tech ecosystem.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Implementing South African-German Energy Programme (SAGEN) in cooperation with Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Eskom, and SALGA. Promotes technology innovations in energy sector.
• IntelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Intel and Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering to conduct research on African Deep Tech Spin-off ecosystem. Report published November 2022.
• Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner with Tshimologong and Intel for African Deep Tech Spin-off ecosystem research. Report concluded November 2022.
• Wits UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Wholly owned by University of the Witwatersrand. Tshimologong is the university's B-BBBEE Level 1 entity and digital innovation hub. Founded by Prof. Barry Dwolatzky. Aims to commercialise research of Wits University students.
• Gobelins L'école de l'imagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Paris-based animation school partnered for curriculum design. Mollo Animation Academy curriculum designed in partnership with Gobelins. International accreditation for animation training.
• AccentureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner. Accenture/KLM Programme delivered through Digital Skills Academy for software development training.
• Telkom FuturemakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuturemakers programme partner for digital skills development initiatives. Supports youth skills development in technology.
• City of JohannesburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner supporting digital innovation initiatives in Johannesburg.
• Gauteng GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government partner for digital innovation and skills development programmes.
• MICT SETAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia Information and Communications Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority. Accredited service provider for skills development programmes. NQF level 3 and 5 accreditation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MEST Africa: Pan-African entrepreneur training and seed-stage investment programme with hubs in Accra, Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town. Comparable as a university-adjacent talent and venture-building pipeline with international partner networks.
• Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB): Nigeria's leading technology and innovation hub, operating pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration programmes with corporate and government funding. Closely matches Tshimologong's skills-to-startup pipeline model across Africa.
• JoziHub: Braamfontein-based tech hub (same neighborhood) offering coworking, acceleration, and entrepreneur support. Most direct South African geographic peer with overlapping programmes and target founder segment.
• iHub: Nairobi-based innovation hub supporting tech entrepreneurs through community, mentorship, and acceleration. Directly comparable as a pan-African tech hub with coworking, programmes, and corporate partnerships.
• BongoHive: Zambian technology and innovation hub providing incubation, training, and coworking. Comparable as a regional African hub operating skills-to-startup programmes with donor and corporate support.
• Innovation City (Cape Town): Cape Town tech and startup campus offering coworking, events, and accelerator programmes. Comparable South African hub with similar corporate-partner-driven operating model and multi-tenant structure.
• Founder Factory Africa: Johannesburg-based venture builder and corporate-backed accelerator operating across Africa. Comparable as a South African founder-incubation and corporate-partnership platform targeting digital startups.
• Flat6Labs: North-African early-stage venture builder and seed fund with programmes in Tunisia, Egypt, and beyond. Comparable as a regional accelerator that combines mentorship with seed investment for digital founders.

Broad incumbents

• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs with African nodes. Broader incumbent offering coworking, programmes, and accelerator services across many markets, including the same youth-entrepreneur segment.

Emerging players

• African Leadership University (ALX): Pan-African higher-education and skills-training provider (ALX Africa for software training) with strong corporate and employer demand. Emerging player in the same digital-skills-to-employment pipeline Tshimologong addresses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TshimologongIT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaLmiMI-__lH0k4w2mPRDXQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TshimologongPrecinct
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tshimologong-precinct
• Instagraminstagram.com/tshimologongprecinct

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tshimologong Precinct