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.
Read also:
- Trump's SNAP reductions and New York City Council's grocery delivery legislation: Problems for city residents highlighted
- Reducing dental expenses for elderlies in Sweden: Over 50% cut in charges for pensioners by the government
- Forty-year-old diet: A list of meal choices to savor
- Exiled Life's Conundrum: A Blend of Liberation, Disillusionment, and Distress
