My Story

My Entrepreneurial Journey in Digital Transformation

A Long-Standing Vision for Business

A Vision Rooted in Purpose

Before attending university, I was already driven by ideas, constantly thinking of ways to solve problems and build meaningful solutions. After matric, I enrolled at Rhodes University for a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Economics, ready to turn those early ideas into impact.

Discovering Digital — The Turning Point

My first year introduced me to Computer Science 112 (CS112), which was my first experience with computers and HTML and CSS. I struggled, failed initially, and had to repeat the course. But despite the setback, it sparked a deep curiosity.

Alongside that, I encountered Microsoft Word and Excel for the first time. I became obsessed with building things, from offline static HTML pages to complex spreadsheets. While my academic results in CS112 were modest, the real success was discovering the tools that would later empower me and others.

Academic Challenges, Personal Growth

By mid-2016, my digital obsession began to impact my core studies. I received a G7 warning for poor academic performance and was placed on academic probation. Failure to complete my degree in 2017 would mean exclusion.

But that warning became my turning point. I refocused, completed my BCom degree in 2017, and went on to earn:

  • A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in 2018

  • An Honours in Economics in 2019

  • A Master’s in Economics (Financial Markets) in 2024

Through it all, I learned that resilience, adaptability, and focused learning were my greatest assets.

Funded Through Internship, Built With Intention

Digital Optad was funded entirely through my internship stipends.
Over four years, I completed internships at:

  • A private college

  • A government organization

  • A public university

These internships had nothing to do with digital marketing. But they gave me something more valuable: a steady stipend and flexible time, which I now call a “time-resource.”

I used every stipend to self-fund practical learning in:

  • Website design

  • Digital marketing and paid ads

  • AI-powered automation and chatbots

  • Excel and document systems

  • Business tools and client systems

“I didn’t have capital — I had stipends. But I used every bit of them to build something bigger than me.”
— Vusimani Kubhayi, Founder of Digital Optad

This experience taught me what true social entrepreneurship looks like: using limited personal resources to create solutions that empower others.

My First Venture: Drivary

In 2020, I launched Drivary, a food delivery platform for local restaurants and students. It was built for those who couldn’t afford mainstream delivery apps. The system worked, but I lacked a personal delivery vehicle, and outsourced drivers were unreliable. I also had no marketing strategy, which made customer acquisition tough.

This challenge revealed a major weakness: I didn’t know how to market. So I enrolled in a digital marketing course — and one statement changed everything:

“If you know how to build websites, you can use digital marketing to offer services to businesses.”

That insight gave birth to Digital Optad.

The Birth of Digital Optad

I founded Digital Optad in 2022 to offer affordable, accessible, and intelligent digital solutions to startups, student entrepreneurs, and SMEs. We began with website design and digital strategy and quickly evolved into a tech vendor with community interest.

Today, Digital Optad provides:

  • AI-Powered Apps – WhatsApp chatbots, form automations, analytics

  • Website Design & Digital Branding

  • Google Business Profile Registration

  • Social Media Flyers & Content Creation

  • Digital Strategy Consultations

  • Cost-Reduction Pricing Models (split payments, low upfront cost)

Through this hybrid model, we serve both paying clients and those needing subsidized digital access, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.

Leadership & Community Involvement

Beyond business, I’ve always pursued community-focused leadership:

  • SRC Treasurer Candidate (2020) – Not elected – Campaign focused on student entrepreneurship as a funding mechanism

  • Chairperson, Rhodes University First Aid Club – Designed the club’s first-ever approved logo

  • Co-author, Winchester House Rangers Handbook – Still distributed to first-year students annually

  • Recipient, Resident Merit Scholarship – For contributions to Allan Webb Hall and the Makhanda community

Recognitions

  • Top 120 Student Entrepreneur – Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics (2024)

  • Investec Rhodes Top 100 Leadership Award (2019)

  • Outstanding Community Service Awards – Mentorship, health awareness, academic support

  • Xposure Digital Campus Founder – Mentorship and consulting platform supporting students, professionals, and entrepreneurs

Education & Academic Support

I provide academic and professional development services through Xposure Digital Campus Consulting, including:

  • Academic support (MBA, BCom, Honours, and postgrad research)

  • Document formatting, MS Word automation, Excel training

  • Accounting tutoring and digital literacy workshops

Why Trust Digital Optad Under My Leadership

I am a social entrepreneur committed to:
✔ Empowering businesses with limited resources
✔ Leading with empathy, transparency, and community impact
✔ Staying adaptable and learning from every challenge

I built Digital Optad from scratch, not with capital, but with curiosity, learning, and a purpose-driven mindset.

My Vision

To democratize access to digital tools by making high-quality solutions affordable, practical, and community-centered, especially for those overlooked by mainstream service providers.

One idea can change a community. I am committed to helping others turn their ideas into real, lasting impact.