Nkosinathi Temba: Innovating Education with Thuto.io

Nkosinathi Temba’s passion for technology and innovation began when he was just 14 years old. Now, at 25, he’s a globally recognised entrepreneur with the kind of accolades that many still dream of achieving.

As the founder of Thuto.io, a real-time academic rewards system that connects students, parents and teachers in one ecosystem, Nkosinathi has been named one of the winners of the Nedbank YouthX Awards. He recently represented South Africa at the prestigious One Young World Summit, where he joined more than 2 000 young leaders, entrepreneurs, activists and changemakers from more than 190 countries.

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He chats about his journey creating thuto.io and shares invaluable advice for young South Africans hoping to make their mark in the world of entrepreneurship.

tell us about yourself and your journey – what sparked your passion for education innovation and entrepreneurship at such a young age?

My journey into education and entrepreneurship started very early – I began building solutions at around 14 years old – but the real spark came from my personal experience growing up in South Africa.

I was raised by a single mother who deeply valued education, and while I was fortunate to excel academically, I saw many capable students around me lose motivation.Effort, honesty and small improvements often went unnoticed, especially for learners who weren’t at the top of the class. Seeing my own sibling struggle in that system made it even more personal.

That’s where my passion for education innovation comes from: a desire to build systems that recognize effort,build discipline,and help students believe in themselves again. Thuto.io was born from that need – to make learning feel personal, supportive and motivating, not transactional or discouraging.

you recently represented South Africa at the prestigious One Young World Summit. What was that experience like, and what did it mean to showcase South African innovation on a global stage?

Representing South Africa at the One Young World Summit was both humbling and validating. Being surrounded by over 2 000 young leaders from nearly 190 countries made it clear that many education challenges we face locally are part of a global struggle.

What stood out was how strongly Thuto resonated internationally. Leaders from different countries promptly understood the value of linking education,accountability and financial literacy in one system. It reinforced that South African innovation doesn’t need to imitate global models – we are building solutions that are relevant, scalable and globally competitive.

For me, it was a reminder that our local challenges can produce