Covid-19 provides opportunity for Durban entrepreneur
Mthembu is working on a project that would measure pollution levels in waterways.
YOUNG Durban research entrepreneur, Nkululeko Mthembu believes he has found a gap in the market amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.
Mthembu, (29), chairperson of the Durban Chamber Youth in Business Forum, founded a company called Blue Ocean Ventures, a developmental lab looking to explore emerging technologies in the maritime sector.
“(BOV) is an industrial innovation company in development with a keen eye on the maritime sector, providing a range of solutions and services including emerging technologies like data science, drones, blockchain, advanced materials. Also research and development of ancillary port opportunities, strategy and insight into the ocean economy,” he said.
Mthembu is originally from Johannesburg and made the jump from the city of gold to Durban and has been involved in a couple of start-up projects.
As a young entrepreneur, Mthembu has faced a couple of adversities and bureaucratic impediments in his journey.
Something, he said, is also faced by his other ambitious colleagues.
“While the government makes every effort to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, not all of the initiatives are adopted to their fullest intent, some which will take decades to change. The impetus then moves on to young people to find sweet spots in the nooks and crannies in value chains and industry blindspots and carve themselves spaces of opportunity. The order of the day is to innovate,” said Mthembu.
ALSO READ: Durban maritime graduate proud to be delivering essentials in time of need
Mthembu is working on an ambitious project that looks to map current water systems and measure the prevalence of plastic and pollution levels in waterways.
He will do this using static and mobile sensors on flying and water surface drones.
The data collected would create compelling stories for ordinary people living close to beaches and rivers, believes Mthembu.
“Covid-19 was a much needed opportunity to pursue self development in a fast-paced world of delivering. I found myself taking on tons of online courses that would make me globally-relevant and competitive. Some courses included design thinking, international marketing, cross industry innovation, product management and coding. While pursuing a Data Science Professional Certificate I needed to find valuable ways of using these new skills. The Port of Durban, the busiest on the continent, seemed like a compelling start,” said Mthembu.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
