By Kgaugelo Jessica Selane
Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, has welcomed a new platform for innovation and entrepreneurship. The Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Centre for Entrepreneurship officially launched a Startup Huddle - a global initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurial growth and building community networks.
Operated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Startup Huddle is active in more than 60 cities worldwide. The programme enables local entrepreneurs to present their business challenges in concise sessions, where the community listens, offers advice and collaborates on solutions. This approach not only provides practical support but also fosters meaningful connections among entrepreneurs, businesses and ideas.
At the launch, Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, TUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, emphasised the initiative’s broader impact. “Startup Huddle is more than an event, it is a movement uniting innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers. It offers mentorship and access to networks, while transforming ideas into businesses that drive economic and community progress,” she said.
Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, TUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, emphasised the initiative’s broader impact.
Pretty Tsholofelo Ndlovu, Global Director of Startup Huddle, highlighted the programme’s purpose. “This platform creates a space for entrepreneurs to openly share challenges and receive constructive feedback. Our goal is to build a supportive community that collaborates to find solutions and drives entrepreneurial success,” she explained.
Startup Huddle’s unique model promotes a cycle of support. Each month, two entrepreneurs present their journeys, receiving feedback and encouragement from attendees. To ensure a growing network of guidance and collaboration, previous presenters also return as mentors.
Pretty Tsholofelo Ndlovu, Global Director of Startup Huddle
Dr Patrick Ebewo, Pretoria’s Startup Huddle Chapter Lead, captured the programme’s essence. “Startup Huddle is both a conversation and a platform for action. We aim to forge meaningful partnerships and empower entrepreneurs, one story at a time,” he said.
Dr Patrick Ebewo, Pretoria’s Startup Huddle Chapter Lead
By joining this global network, Pretoria is strengthening its local economy and nurturing future business leaders. With TUT’s commitment to producing #FutureReadyGraduates and GEN’s mission to connect entrepreneurs worldwide, the Pretoria Startup Huddle chapter promises to be a dynamic hub where ideas flourish, collaborations thrive and entrepreneurs find the support they need to succeed.
Seen at the Startup Huddle launch - innovators, entrepreneurs, attendees and mentors.