NUNNOVATION

What NUNNOVATION does

Nunnovation Africa Foundation (NAF) is a South African non-profit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Midrand (Centurion), Gauteng. It delivers three interconnected programme pillars — DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging), Smart Africa, and Innovation Catalyst (Innovators Without Borders) — to government entities, corporates, and educational institutions across Africa. The DEIB pillar offers structured services built on an Evaluate-Enlighten-Embed framework, including pre-assessment tools, disability sensitisation workshops, management-focused DEIB courses, mainstreaming solutions, and consulting engagements. The Smart Africa pillar focuses on smart-city development and government service-delivery enhancement in underdeveloped economies, while Innovation Catalyst connects developing-country projects to first-world innovation ecosystems through partnership and sourcing. The foundation also publishes the Nunnovation digital magazine, which highlights African innovation and has an international audience of 75,000+ (35% in Africa, 65% globally).

Underlying technology is non-proprietary: no platform, API, SDK, or app products are disclosed, and delivery appears to rely on consulting expertise, content production, and event-based engagement rather than software infrastructure. The organization cites 6 PhD graduates, over 120 years of combined experience in economic development, and outcomes including 1,200 ICT programme graduates (160 placed) and 3,500 empowered scholars.

The revenue model is a hybrid of professional services and grant/partnership funding. The non-profit generates fee income from tailored DEIB consulting and training engagements to corporates and educational institutions, while broader programme delivery is sustained through strategic partnerships and grants with bodies such as SABC, UNDP, CSIR, UJ, G20, Innovation Hub, the National Lotteries Commission, and corporates including Old Mutual, Telkom, Sibanye, and Capricorn. No pricing tiers or fee structures are publicly disclosed. Marketing is content-and-PR led, anchored by the Nunnovation magazine, social media, recurring SABC Newsroom appearances, and participation in international forums such as SIGEF Geneva. The organization has 1-10 employees and no disclosed revenue figures.

Name

NUNNOVATION

Legal name

Nunnovation Africa Foundation

Website

https://nunnovation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nunnovation Africa Foundation is a South African non-profit founded in 2014 that delivers DEIB consulting, Smart Africa smart-city programmes, and Innovation Catalyst services to governments, corporates, and educational institutions across Africa, supported by a digital magazine and strategic partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit DEIB Consulting and Innovation Programmes

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• DEIB consulting services
• Innovation catalyst programs
• Smart city development
• Inclusive workforce training
• Non-profit transformation programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Centurion

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DEIB Consulting and Training Services: The organization provides consulting and training services to corporations and educational institutions on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging topics, including disability sensitisation workshops, management-focused DEIB courses, and strategic coaching for transformation journeys.
2. Strategic Partnerships and Grants: As a registered non-profit company, Nunnovation Africa Foundation operates through strategic partnerships with government entities, corporations, research councils, and international organisations to fund and deliver development programmes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nunnovation Africa Foundation delivers Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) consulting, training, and mainstreaming services to corporations, governments, and educational institutions across Africa. Its complementary Smart Africa programme supports smart city development and government service delivery capacity building, while the Innovation Catalyst (Innovators Without Borders) initiative bridges developing and first-world innovation ecosystems through structured project sourcing and partnerships.

Product overview

Nunnovation Africa Foundation (NAF) operates as a non-profit organization offering three interconnected program pillars: DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), Smart Africa, and Innovation Catalyst (Innovators Without Borders). These programs work together to drive sustainable socio-economic transformation across Africa, with DEIB serving as the foundational lens applied across all initiatives. The organization also produces Nunnovation Magazine as a media platform to amplify African innovation stories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) A comprehensive DEIB service offering built on three pillars — Evaluate, Enlighten, and Embed. Includes pre-assessment tools, training such as disability sensitization workshops and DEIB management courses, mainstreaming solutions, and consulting services for organizational transformation. Targeted at corporations, government entities, and educational institutions.
• Smart Africa An innovative programme focused on developing resilient and smart cities in Africa through fostering innovation, diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging to advance development in local government. Strategic focus areas include DEIB, Smart Cities, Economic Development, and Rural Development.
• Innovation Catalyst (Innovators Without Borders / IWB) An innovation enabler programme aimed at bridging the gap between developing countries and first-world countries through creating, partnering, and sourcing projects. Uses a structured approach to determine involvement and commit resources for efficient project delivery.
• Nunnovation Magazine A digital magazine platform that amplifies innovation and good news from across Africa, highlighting individuals, companies, and governments embarking on innovative projects. Features an international audience and social media presence, with an average visitor age of 22–46 years (35% in Africa, 65% from the rest of the world).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,200 graduates from ICT Programme, with 160 graduates placed
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SABCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) serves as the anchor media partner, providing regular television platform access for Nunnovation thought leadership content and programme promotion.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Nations Development Programme for development initiatives and sustainable development goals alignment across African programmes.
• CSIRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil for Scientific and Industrial Research partnership for research and innovation development collaboration in South Africa.
• UJcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Johannesburg partnership for academic collaboration, student development, and research initiatives in innovation and DEIB.
• ARCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for economic development and innovation initiatives.
• CapricornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for development initiatives.
• G20coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement with G20 initiatives for global economic development collaboration.
• HoryouminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for social innovation and impact initiatives.
• Innovation HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Gauteng Innovation Hub for innovation ecosystem development and startup support.
• NLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Lotteries Commission partnership for funding and project support.
• Old MutualminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership for development initiatives and DEIB programmes.
• TelkomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and telecommunications partnership for digital innovation initiatives.
• RiversandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for innovation hub and enterprise development.
• PhalaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for innovation and entrepreneurship support.
• SibanyeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership for social impact initiatives.
• YESAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Entrepreneurship South Africa partnership for youth empowerment.
• TshwaneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Tshwane for municipal development and innovation initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte (DEI practice): Global professional services firm with a large DEIB consulting practice. Comparable as a direct competitor for corporate DEIB mandates, but operates at much larger scale and across many other service lines.
• Korn Ferry (DEI consulting): Global organizational consulting firm with dedicated DEI advisory services. Comparable in delivering DEIB training, assessments, and transformation services to large corporates across multiple geographies.

Direct peers

• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Africa-wide foundation running entrepreneurship and economic development programmes with corporate, government, and development partners. Comparable in scale, partnership-led delivery, and pan-African development mission.
• African Leadership University: Pan-African higher education and leadership development organization. Highly comparable to Nunnovation's Innovation Catalyst pillar in mission to develop African talent, leadership pipelines, and cross-border innovation capacity.
• African Philanthropy Forum: Pan-African platform convening funders, foundations, and development actors. Comparable focus on strengthening African philanthropy, DEIB-aligned development, and partnership-based impact models.
• Smart Africa Alliance: Pan-African initiative driving ICT and smart-city adoption across African governments. Highly comparable as a smart city / 4IR / digital development platform targeting African government digital transformation.
• Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator: South African non-profit tackling youth unemployment through innovative partnerships with government and corporates. Comparable operating model, South African base, and partner-dependent programme delivery.
• Nelson Mandela Foundation: Prominent South African foundation working on social justice, dialogue, and transformation. Comparable as a South African foundation leveraging partnerships, media presence, and thought leadership to drive societal change agendas.
• Brand South Africa: South Africa's official brand and reputation agency amplifying positive narratives about the country. Comparable media-platform role to Nunnovation Magazine in shaping perception of African innovation and good news.

Emerging players

• African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS): Pan-African centre of excellence for postgraduate training in science and innovation. Comparable in building African STEM talent pipelines, PhD-level delivery capacity, and partnership with research councils like CSIR.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nunnovation
• Facebookfacebook.com/nunnovation

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 NUNNOVATION