Tshepo Moloi, founder of stokvel management app Stokfella, and Desmond Mongwe, founder of township coupon app MoWallet, both built tech products for a market often dismissed as not tech-savvy. Their experience says otherwise.
The market isn’t the problem, the product is
Moloi’s point is direct: township consumers already use capable smartphones daily. The real challenge for founders is making a solution simple enough to use, not educating an already tech-engaged market from scratch.
Build for the user, not the tech
Both founders emphasised that a great tech business is defined by how much it improves people’s lives, not how sophisticated its code is. Mongwe’s MoWallet leans on existing cloud infrastructure and partnerships rather than building everything from scratch, a deliberate strategy to move faster.
Frequently asked questions
Is the township market genuinely tech-savvy?
Yes, according to both founders, the market already actively uses smartphones daily; the real challenge is building simple enough solutions, not overcoming a lack of tech literacy.
What is Stokfella?
A financial management app for stokvels, helping members track contributions, schedule meetings and manage governance.
Is Stokfella still operating?
Yes, it has continued growing, including expanding its WhatsApp-based tools for stokvel members.
What makes a tech startup successful in this market?
Genuinely understanding the end user’s needs and simplifying the solution around them, rather than leading with technical complexity.
Do township-focused tech startups need to build everything themselves?
No, both founders point to using existing cloud infrastructure and forming strategic partnerships to scale faster.
Further reading: iKhokha card machine review
Originally published in 2016. Updated September 2026.
