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Draft:Savvy Change

Savvy Change

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Savvy Change, formally Savvy Change Pty Ltd, is a South African financial technology (FinTech) company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company is best known for developing a mobile application that helps cash consumers convert their change into digital vouchers, which can then be used for payments both online and in partner retail stores.

 
Logo of Savvy Change

Overview

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  • Trade name: Savvy Change  
  • Industry: Financial services  
  • Founded: 4 July 2016; 8 years ago  
  • Founder: Bongani Khoza  
  • Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa  
  • Key people: Bongani Khoza (CEO)  
  • Products: Payments  

History

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2017: Inception

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Savvy Change was founded in 2017 by Bongani Khoza and co-founder Kabelo Twala. The two founders first met in primary school at Mondeor Primary and continued their education at Mondeor High School. In 2017, after completing his BSc in Computer Science from the University of the Witwatersrand, Kabelo Twala became the co-founder and CTO of Savvy Change. Bongani Khoza approached Kabelo with the idea of enabling consumers to save their change in retail stores, which could then accumulate into a digital savings pocket.

The pair began developing the concept and formalized their business idea in Braamfontein.

2018–2019: Research and Development

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Following the inception of the company, Savvy Change entered an extensive research and development phase. During this period, Bongani Khoza collaborated with professionals such as Thomo Molatjane, Tsholo Kelepogile, Khaya Mbatha, and Tumelo Motsepe, whose relationships with him date back to primary school. Together, they refined the business model and developed the first version of the mobile application.

In May 2019, Savvy Change achieved a significant milestone by meeting with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Fintech Team. This meeting provided valuable insights into the regulatory environment of the financial services sector. Shortly after, co-founding CTO Kabelo Twala left the company to pursue other ventures after completing the initial prototype of the Savvy Change app.

In July 2019, during National Savings Month in South Africa, the company held a soft launch at Mondeor High School. The event was attended by the Banking Association of South Africa, which supported the project.

2020: Pilot

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In February 2020, Savvy Change launched its mobile application in partnership with Pizza Perfect in Winchester Green, Johannesburg. The first transaction using the Savvy Change platform was processed on 14 February 2020. However, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pilot project was temporarily suspended, along with other business operations.

2021–2024: Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

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After the suspension of the pilot, CEO Bongani Khoza completed a diploma in Business Management at Rosebank College, graduating in 2022. During this time, further research and development was conducted to create a sustainable business model for the company.

In 2023, Savvy Change was accepted into the World Bank's Fintech Innovation Bridge Portal, where the company participated in a 15-week accelerator program. The company reached the final stage and was recognized as one of the top 15 fintech startups.

In August 2024, Savvy Change completed the development of its Minimum Viable Product (MVP), which is scheduled to be launched to the market in 2025.

Products and Services

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Savvy Change's flagship product is its digital voucher payment system, which helps cash-reliant consumers convert their change into digital vouchers. These vouchers can then be used for payments in partner retail stores, both online and offline. The application aims to facilitate the transition of cash consumers into the digital payments ecosystem.

References

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