In the vast landscape of entrepreneurship, there are remarkable stories that shine as beacons of inspiration for aspiring young entrepreneurs. One such story is that of Faith Mokgalaka, a 23-year-old visionary hailing from Limpopo, South Africa. Just two years ago, Faith embarked on a journey that would eventually take her from the Startup Business Campus to one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, Harvard University.

This is the incredible tale of Faith Mokgalaka and her revolutionary agritech startup, Puno. Faith’s journey began with a fateful decision to participate in a hackathon hosted by the Startup Business Campus called the 4IR Aquatech Hackathon, which got her a place to be invited to attend the 4IR Aquatech Accelerator program, which is a sector-specific program that seeks to fast-track sustainable solutions for Africa’s water-energy-food nexus challenges.

The program opens up a whole new world for the development and sustainable growth of the African region.

With determination as her driving force, Faith conceived Puno, a startup that focuses on aiding smallholder farmers in their quest for financial stability. Puno acts as a financial partner, offering a resounding “Yes!” to farmers in need. The startup’s mission is clear: to provide smallholder farmers across Africa with access to vital financial resources, including loans, financial education, and insurance.