From TIA Business Competition to South Africa: The Utagy Founder’s Journey

By Yona Massawe, Founder of Utagy

The founder of Utagy. My journey to South Africa began with a business innovation competition at the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA), where I had the opportunity to present my business idea and win the competition.

That achievement opened a new door for me. I earned the opportunity to travel to South Africa for further learning, business exposure, and the chance to explore how innovation and technology can create opportunities for entrepreneurs.

One of the most memorable parts of the journey was visiting the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) in Johannesburg. Experiencing the university environment, exploring its facilities, and learning about different approaches to innovation gave me a broader perspective on what I could build through Utagy.

For me, this journey was not just about traveling to another country. It was about seeing beyond my immediate environment and understanding that building a company requires continuous learning, creativity, discipline, and the courage to solve real problems.

As the founder of Utagy, I want to build technology-driven solutions that address challenges people face in their everyday lives, starting in Tanzania and eventually reaching other parts of Africa.

Winning the competition was an important achievement, but the journey reminded me that an award is only the beginning. The real work starts when you return home and turn what you have learned into something valuable.

South Africa gave me new experiences, new perspectives, and more reasons to keep building.

This is part of the Utagy journey — a journey of learning, building, and turning ideas into reality.