The founder of South Africa’s Spaza Eats, Talifhani Banks, has called on Eswatini youth to embrace cultural identity and use it as a foundation for creating tech-driven startups that address local challenges.
Banks, a keynote speaker at the 2025 AI & Digital Transformation Youth Summit held at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Sports Emporium in Kwaluseni, challenged young entrepreneurs to look inward before launching their ventures.
“You cannot expect anyone to invest in your dream if you do not understand your purpose,” he said. “Know your strengths and weaknesses. Once you are clear about who you are, your vision becomes believable to others, and they will begin to invest not only in your ideas but in your determination.”
Banks, whose company is transforming township food delivery through mobile platforms and logistics, shared his journey of leaving a high-paying corporate role, reportedly earning over E45,000 per week, to pursue entrepreneurship. He explained that while the financial rewards were significant, the daily routine lacked purpose.
“I was earning well, but the monotony of corporate life didn’t fulfill me. I needed to build something that reflected my vision. So, I left. Unfortunately, even the banks in South Africa did not believe in my vision, so I relocated to another country to start my business,” he said.
He cautioned aspiring entrepreneurs against giving up too early, emphasizing that the burden of life’s responsibilities often discourages risk-taking and innovation.
“Too many potential founders give up before they even begin. Without the heart to endure the hard times, your dreams can easily be sidelined, as with time, we are all tied down by responsibilities like having a family and being forced to provide for that family through employment, not entrepreneurship,” he said.
Banks went on to offer practical digital business ideas tailored for the kingdom’s unique context, leveraging the country’s cultural richness and digital potential.
“You don’t need a large amount of capital to launch a business in today’s world. The internet has turned the globe into a single village,” he said. “In Eswatini, where 90% of the population speaks Siswati, why not develop a Siswati language learning platform for tourists? Or use digital marketplaces to promote and sell handmade crafts from rural communities, like the beaded jewelry made by women in the countryside,” he suggested.
He concluded by encouraging the audience to see opportunity in their roots: “Your culture is not a limitation; it’s your competitive edge. I look forward to the day when I see an Eswatini influencer teaching Siswati on TikTok. That’s where innovation starts: with relevance and local problem solving.”