Lulwazi Jali, a third-year Information and Communications Technology in Business Analysis student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and founder of Taxi Fynder, secured second place and R75 000 in prize money in the Green Innovators Pitch Competition which was hosted at the 11th Annual Green Youth Indaba in Sun City, North West Province from 18 to 20 June 2026.
His achievement highlights the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial excellence fostered at DUT while also demonstrating the important role that young people play in addressing environmental and socio-economic challenges through creative and sustainable business ideas. His business Taxi Fynder introduces e-hailing efficiencies to the public transport industry, improving access, safety and convenience for underserved communities. His motivation stems from the challenges he faced using public transport when he was growing up.
This year’s edition of the Green Youth Indaba Green Innovators Pitch Competition, held under the theme Innovative businesses focusing on sustainability and environmental impact, saw 50 young entrepreneurs from the higher education space and wider society deliver their pitches in front of a panel of four judges.
Lulwazi, who hails from KwaSwayimane in KwaZulu-Natal, is also a student entrepreneur under the tutelage of the university’s student entrepreneurship development programme, the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Lulwazi Jali, the founder of Taxi Fynder.
Zooming in on his participation in the competition, Lulwazi said the strongest aspect of his pitch presentation was the clear link between sustainability and practical impact.
He said he was able to demonstrate how reducing unnecessary taxi movements could lower fuel consumption and emissions while simultaneously improving the daily commuting experience for millions of South Africans. He added that the solution addressed both environmental and social challenges in a way that was easy to understand. Most importantly, he said, they had proof of concept and their PowerPoint presentation included embedded videos of taxi drivers sharing testimonials on how the app improved their daily operations and efficiency.
He highlighted that one of the biggest lessons he learnt in the competition was that innovation comes in many forms and that he was inspired by the creativity, passion and determination of the other participants.
He further noted that the experience reinforced the importance of continuous learning, collaboration and focusing on creating solutions that deliver measurable impact for communities and the environment, emphasising that proof of concept is critical because nothing matters more than the numbers.
He said the award is a tremendous encouragement and confirmation that the vision behind Taxi Fynder has value. He added that the funding provides an important opportunity to accelerate development, validate key assumptions and move closer to bringing the solution to market. It represents both recognition and responsibility to continue building something that can make a meaningful difference.
He also revealed that the prize money will be invested into key areas that support the development and validation of Taxi Fynder, including software development, market research and stakeholder engagement within the taxi industry.
He said the goal is to scale the platform’s customer base by onboarding more associations until they fully capacitate KwaZulu-Natal and prepare the business for future growth and investment opportunities. He added that the next major milestones include refining the business model based on user feedback and building strategic partnerships within the transport sector. He said the long-term vision is to establish Taxi Fynder as a trusted digital platform that improves commuter access to transport while supporting a more sustainable and efficient taxi industry. Once the KwaZulu-Natal market is fully established, the plan is to expand to neighbouring provinces including Mpumalanga, Free State and Eastern Cape.
Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo, the innobiz DUT Centre Manager, expressed her delight at witnessing one of the Centre’s student entrepreneurs succeeding on a nationally recognised platform such as the Green Youth Indaba.
She said one of their greatest achievements is seeing students apply what they are taught and succeed at the highest levels. She added that students are developing pitching skills, refining business ideas and putting systems and processes in place that make their ventures attractive to investors. She noted that seeing DUT students compete against more than 50 businesses from across South Africa and secure second place is a tremendous success for both the students and the innobiz DUT team.
She recalled that when Lulwazi first joined the programme in early 2025, his idea showed potential but needed significant refinement. She said that through continuous mentorship, hard work and his willingness to accept feedback and adapt, he has transformed that idea into a credible and growing business.
She added that his commitment to advancing his innovation is commendable and thanked the university for its ongoing support as well as the dedication of the innobiz DUT team. She said the success of students like Lulwazi serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved through commitment and perseverance.
She further noted that while he was competing within DUT, he was also up against students and young entrepreneurs from universities and organisations across the country. She said emerging as runner-up at a national level is a remarkable achievement and one that fills the institution with immense pride.
For DUT, Lulwazi’s success means it is the second consecutive year that entrepreneurs under the innobiz DUT Centre have achieved success at the Green Youth Indaba.
His success follows that of Mr Luyanda Majozi, founder of Enigmatic Cotton, and Mr Luvo Gugwana, founder of Green Arch Innovations, who earned third place in the Green Innovators Pitch Competition and received the Green SMME Trailblazer Award for 2025 at the 10th Annual Green Youth Indaba held in Durban.
Pictured: Lulwazi Jali presenting at the Green Youth Indaba’s Green Innovators Pitch Competition.
Photographer: Green Youth Indaba
Samkelo Mtshali
