Where Lived Experience
Becomes Structured
Knowledge.
We transform African entrepreneurial journeys into strategy, systems, and scalable learning frameworks for institutions, corporates, and government.
25,000+
young people reached through YLED
100+
schools engaged across programmes
21+ years
entrepreneurship and leadership delivery
GIBS + YLED + RFTT
research and practice grounding
Founder
Dr Steven Zwane
Senior Lecturer, GIBS | Founder, YLED
Where Lived Experience Becomes
Structured Knowledge
RFTT is a knowledge creation and entrepreneurship education platform that codifies township enterprise journeys into structured, research-informed systems.
We convert lived experience into:
Service Portfolio
Entrepreneurship education, leadership development and story-powered learning
RFTT helps institutions develop entrepreneurial mindsets by combining real African founder stories, entrepreneurship research, learning design and practical programme delivery.
Entrepreneurship Leadership Masterclasses
High-impact learning experiences that build self-leadership, opportunity recognition, problem-solving and entrepreneurial confidence for learners, students and emerging leaders.
Signature Keynotes & Guest Lectures
Thought-provoking talks that connect entrepreneurial thinking, uncertainty, effectuation and local founder journeys to real-world action.
YLED Progression Pathways
Selective next-stage opportunities that move promising participants from inspiration into applied entrepreneurship, market testing and venture-building.
Programme & Curriculum Design
Custom design of entrepreneurship interventions, challenge journeys, facilitator guides, workbooks and learning pathways tailored to your institution.
Rising from the Township
Inspiring Stories of South African Entrepreneurs
By Dr Steven Zwane & Yamkela Khoza Tywakadi
We do not only inspire.
We codify.
We structure.
We institutionalise.
Entrepreneurs
Each entrepreneur represents case material, teaching content, ecosystem insight, and lived strategy.
Imbizo Shisanyama
Rita Zwane
Rita Zwane pioneered the formalisation of the shisanyama industry in South Africa, transforming an informal township food concept into a scalable hospitality brand. Her story highlights resilience, operational discipline, and community-rooted enterprise growth.
Rita Zwane
Imbizo Shisanyama
Rita Zwane
Imbizo Shisanyama
Sheldon Tatchell
Legends Barbershop
Sheldon Tatchell
Legends Barbershop
Nozipho Tshabalala
Conversation Strategist
Nozipho Tshabalala
Conversation Strategist
Themba Makamo
VAYA Footwear
Themba Makamo
VAYA Footwear
Nomso Kana
Simsciex Technologies
Nomso Kana
Simsciex Technologies
Dr Steven Zwane
RFTT / YLED
Dr Steven Zwane
RFTT / YLED
Candice Thurston
Candi & Co
Candice Thurston
Candi & Co
Ntuthuko Shezi
Livestock Wealth
Ntuthuko Shezi
Livestock Wealth
Veronica Motloutsi
SmartDigital
Veronica Motloutsi
SmartDigital
Tebogo Phiri
Disoufeng
Tebogo Phiri
Disoufeng
“To transform township entrepreneurship stories into codified knowledge systems that can be taught, scaled, researched, and embedded within universities, corporates, and policy frameworks.”
Dr Steven Zwane
Founder, RFTT
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Knowledge You Can Own. Tools You Can Use.
Ready to Partner?
We invite universities, corporates, funders, and government partners to collaborate in building a structured, research-informed, African-centred entrepreneurship education ecosystem.