UNIIC is a global collaborative network that brings together university incubation centres across Asia and Africa to support student startups, share resources and exchange entrepreneurial skills. The network currently includes 25 universities in 11 countries.
The 2026 Business Challenge required students to develop and present innovative business ideas that address current social and economic challenges, while encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration, creativity and research-informed problem-solving. The competition focused on three themes:
- Improving Communities
- Harnessing New Technologies
- Resource Scarcity
Participating teams had between three and five members and could represent a single university within the UNIIC network or include students from several institutions across the network.
Improving Communities
UMP students competed under the Improving Communities theme, which challenged participants to use emerging technologies to develop an innovative business concept that solves a problem, creates opportunities, improves efficiency or transforms existing practices.
They presented the Hlenga Project, an automated food dispenser or vending machine that enables consumers to purchase staple foods such as rice, maize meal, beans and cooking oil in smaller, more affordable quantities using their own reusable containers.
The students also took part in an educational, intercultural quiz with 20 questions about the countries represented in the competition. Participants were not permitted to answer questions relating to their own country, encouraging them to learn more about the cultures, societies, economies and other characteristics of countries represented by fellow participants.
Three UMP students (Siyabonga Jele, Bianca Ntokozo Msiza and Kholofelo Christina Makhubupetsi) performed well in the quiz and received prizes after successfully answering questions, highlighting the broader educational and cultural value of the international competition.
Following the student's performance, the UMP students were interviewed and featured on a Vietnamese television channel, providing further international exposure for both the students and the University.
The University of Mpumalanga students have demonstrated their ability to develop a relevant business concept, conduct supporting research, communicate its value proposition and respond effectively to critical questions in an international competition.
Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures supplied. Copyright © UMP.