South African Tech Industry Witnesses Khaya Cokoto's Stepping Up
X Spark, a software development studio based in South Africa, has made significant strides in the tech industry over the past decade. Now a full-fledged player, the company works with banks, corporates, and international clients from the Middle East, US, and UK, as well as partners across Botswana, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Founded in 2008 by Khaya Cokoto, X Spark initially started as a small operation with one computer and one chair. Cokoto, who grew up in a small village in the Eastern Cape, was inspired to co-found the company by her grandmother. After studying computer science at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Cokoto spent nine months working at the local municipality before venturing into entrepreneurship.
The 2008 global recession slowed progress in X Spark's first year, but Cokoto turned to creative problem solving and developed UmoyAir, a mobile app with ad placements. Although UmoyAir eventually shuttered, it built X Spark's reputation and taught Cokoto valuable lessons about timing, funding, and scaling big ideas. The app, which aimed to solve a real problem in a post-recession environment, opened doors for X Spark, leading to support from various corporations and travel opportunities.
Within its first year, X Spark won the SAB KickStart regional competition, which provided the company with essential resources. Cokoto saw an opportunity in the digital landscape of South Africa and began expanding X Spark's work to fellow startups. Over the years, X Spark has helped over 1,000 businesses establish their online presence and delivered hundreds of branding and digital campaigns.
Half of X Spark's work still comes from South Africa. The company is shifting from being purely service-based to building its own products, including XS Card, a digital business card and networking tool, and Tik'iBox, a digital payment service for small transactions ranging from R5 to R5,000. Tik'iBox will be used for tipping or paying for everyday favors, while XS Card is designed for today's mobile world, allowing clients to exchange digital business cards and network.
Despite the progress made by X Spark, women hold only about 23% of tech jobs in South Africa, and 22% of the country's software developers are female. This scarcity of women tech leaders and founders has been felt by Cokoto throughout her career, including being mistaken for a secretary or a tea lady in some professional settings. Women make up just 13% of STEM graduates in South Africa, far below the global average of 35%.
Cokoto, however, sees vast opportunities for growth across Africa and beyond, believing that there is a whole continent hungry for solutions. She is determined to continue pushing the boundaries of digital innovation and creating opportunities for women in tech.
- X Spark's initial investment in UmoyAir, a mobile app developed during the 2008 global recession, not only built the company's reputation but also taught the founder, Khaya Cokoto, valuable lessons about timing, funding, and scaling big ideas in the face of adversity.
- Although women hold only about 23% of tech jobs in South Africa, the scarcity of women tech leaders and founders has not deterred X Spark's founder, Khaya Cokoto, who sees vast opportunities for growth across Africa and beyond, particularly in creating opportunities for women in tech.
- X Spark's expansion into building its own products includes the development of Tik'iBox, a digital payment service for small transactions, and XS Card, a digital business card and networking tool, both specifically designed for the mobile world.
- With a focus on innovation, X Spark's work extends beyond South Africa, partnering with banks, corporates, and international clients from the Middle East, US, and UK, as well as supporting startups across Botswana, Kenya, and Tanzania.
- X Spark's investment in digital solutions for health-and-wellness and women's health, which are often underserved sectors, demonstrates the company's commitment to entrepreneurship and creating positive change in various aspects of life and business.
- The company's success in the tech industry, founded in 2008 by Khaya Cokoto, is a testament to the power of finance, technology, and entrepreneurship in driving growth and innovation, especially in regions like South Africa.
- The digital landscape presents numerous opportunities for startups in emerging markets like Africa, as demonstrated by X Spark's achievements in logistics, science, and finance, furthering the potential for technology to address various challenges and improve lives.
