Priven Reddy and Zareef Minty’s education revolution

With home schooling and distance learning set to take off due to the adverse impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic, two successful entrepreneurs have found a way to complement education via videos.

Billionaire Priven Reddy and Forbes 30 under-30 list-maker Zareef Minty are determined to make high quality education available to all South Africans through a video-based tech platform.

Reddy and Minty recently created Eddflix – a one-stop-shop for everything educational.

“Thousands of people would message me on social media platforms for business advice and on entrepreneurship.

“Now, imagine having a platform where the best experts and industry leaders share their knowledge and expertise. Imagine them creating content, which could be available to thousands of people online,” said Reddy.

The platform, powered by the latest technology, offers various categories of content.

“By 2030, 70% of content consumed online will be video content, if you look at the world and where it’s headed. We want to make sure we are well aligned to that. However, we will be offering content in our forms. Anything is possible with ambition and creativity.”

Passionate about delivering the highest level of easily-accessible educational solution to people, Minty said: “The best schools in the country have so many value adds that most public schools don’t have access to.

“This platform is meant to connect kids from various backgrounds, to have the same quality of education. I believe Eddflix is the solution.”

With content aimed at pupils, university and college students; corporates, entrepreneurs and stay-at-home moms, the platform – targeting people aged from 13 to 70 – is for everyone.

According to Minty, the platform will be available on web as well as on mobile, with end users paying as little as R20 per month. For the two men behind the venture, nothing has proven to be impossible.

Minty is the founder of ZRF Holdings that houses a public relations company, a clothing and a law firm. His first foray into entrepreneurship was when he developed a clothing brand called Self Made Billionaires.

Leaving his hometown of Klerksdorp in the North West to pursue an LLB degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, Minty knew he was destined for great things. The youngest of three siblings, he has always enjoyed the concept of breaking conventions.

Reddy’s story is from rags to riches. Shrugging off self-pity about his early circumstances and setbacks, which included the death of his father when he was 11 years old, has helped Reddy develop resilience.

From being a waiter in a restaurant, he has moved on to become a self-made tech billionaire. Although he never got involved, either directly or indirectly, in any tenders throughout his career, he now sits at the helm of a technology dynasty in the making.

Reddy began in the world of work as a car guard and a waiter in his home province. He had no financial backing but was driven by a dream and a desire to prosper in life.

Now in his 30s, Reddy owns multiple tech companies globally and employs in excess of 400 key staff. He has funded various early stage startups and is currently involved in community upliftment initiatives as he tries to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth across the country. Reddy’s collective company net worth, including crypto holdings, is in excess of R6 billion as at February.

brians@citizen. co.za

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