KUGOMPO CITY- What began as a three-week fintech winter school has produced an innovation with the potential to transform banking for visually impaired South Africans.
Fifty-nine students from iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu(WS) and University of Fort Hare (UFH) completed the Fintech Lab Winter School, a three-week programme coordinated by the University of Cape Town’s Financial Innovation division and The Cortex Hub, an innovation hub based in KuGompo City with support from the FirstRand Foundation.
The programme, which ran from 22nd June to 10th July 2026, concluded with a live Demo Day where students showcased technology-driven solutions aimed at addressing real-world financial challenges.
Designed to strengthen digital skills and encourage innovation among Eastern Cape youth, the winter school provided participants with practical training in open banking, open finance, blockchain, data science and Application Programming Interface (API) technologies.
The Cortex Hub managing director Nobulali Myataza said the programme equips students with practical knowledge that can be applied to solving community challenges.
“Fifty-nine students have spent the last three weeks with us during their university break, where they have been introduced to different fintech technologies, including open banking, blockchain, innovation and data science,” she said.
Students were then challenged to apply these skills by developing fintech solutions that promote financial inclusion while addressing social and economic issues affecting local communities.
Furthmore, The FirstRand Foundation supported the initiative as part of its commitment to developing digital skills, promoting inclusive innovation and creating opportunities for young people to participate in South Africa’s growing digital economy.
FNB Business Bank Business Development Head Janis Robson said partnerships such as this help unlock opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
“It is important for FNB to partner with The Cortex Hub because it is an enabling incubation programme that gives young entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn valuable digital skills,” Robson said.
Participants were divided into 12 groups, each tasked with developing innovative financial technology solutions. Among the standout projects was Ndinani, an application designed to help visually impaired users complete financial transactions without typing.
The project drew praise not only for its technical innovation but also for its inclusive design. The team included a visually impaired student whose lived experience helped shape the app’s development.
Team member Sibabalwe Ngose, who lives with low vision, said her personal experiences inspired the solution.
“As someone who is educated and visually impaired, I understand the challenges blind people face. I wanted to help create a solution that makes banking easier for visually impaired people, especially those facing financial difficulties in the Eastern Cape,” she said.
Organisers said the success of Ndinani demonstrated how innovation becomes more meaningful when it is shaped by people with lived experience.
The Fintech Lab Winter School Demo Day highlighted the creativity and potential of young Eastern Cape innovators when provided with the right skills, mentorship and resources.
With continued support from the FirstRand Foundation, UCT Financial Innovation and The Cortex Hub, the programme aims to nurture future technology leaders while developing solutions that address real challenges facing South African communities.
For many participants, the winter school was more than a learning experience it was an opportunity to demonstrate that innovation can create a more accessible, inclusive and equitable digital future.
Photograph: Iindaba The News/Supplied
By: Okuhle Nqana
19 July 2026
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