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DSBD and The Digital Hub launch 4IR Digital Hub in Nelspruit

The Digital Hub in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development and the Small Enterprise Development Agency have opened a new space in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga today that will allow SMEs and entrepreneurs to create innovative technological solutions for their employees.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution Incubator (4IRI) has been created with a focus on developing solutions in the areas of drone technology, cybersecurity, advanced engineering, artificial intelligence, biotech and networking. While not the first of its kind, it’s great to see this sort of initiative being implemented outside of the main metropolitan hubs.

“We are in the midst of building a new economy based on the ideas from the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 4IRI is leading this charge by helping bright entrepreneurs create innovative technologies and in developing new skills for the country’s workforce,” Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, said in a statement.

Businesses will need to meet a number of criteria in order to be a part of the incubator but the most crucial is that the business is developing solutions to uplift South Africans.

“Our tech experts draw up a report on the merits of the applicant. They talk about whether or not their idea is ground-breaking and how the product would fit in the market,” says 4IRI’s funding manager, Sivuyile Zwedala. “I sit down with our team of financial experts and evaluate the business, looking at the industry in which it exists and its competition. As an incubator, profitability is not as important. A viable business is not only profitable but one that can repay and scale upwards.”

A number of businesses have successfully moved through the various incubators 4IRI has set up. These include Thusong Technologies which joined in 2019 and has benefited from an uptick in engagements with clients and partners. Furthermore founder Makhosonke Kwaza says, “Their support has helped me develop prototypes a lot faster and register patents”.

In addition to supporting entrepreneurs, 4IRI is also focused on skills development. The incubator provides upskilling and training services in basic, intermediate and advanced AI tools.

“Our trajectory speaks for itself. In a small space of time we were able to accelerate exponentially. SMMEs that come to us are able to build their solutions at a rapid pace, and that is something we are proud of,” says 4IRI chief executive officer, Naomi Musi.

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