Ayanda Nene, founder of Swift Send Logistics, was named one of Gauteng’s top youth entrepreneurs at the Innovator Trust’s 2025 Enterprise Development Graduation ceremony held on 3 June at Vodacom World. Nene received two provincial awards in the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP) category: Top Achiever: Gauteng and Top Business Presentation: Gauteng.
Swift Send Logistics is a last-mile delivery startup focused on township-based logistics solutions. Nene, who started the business in 2024, launched the venture after being retrenched. She began working as a delivery driver for Uber Eats and Mr D, during which she identified service gaps in township areas.
“When you speak to people and find out what the pain points are, you realise that even though these big businesses exist, there are still gaps in the market,” said Nene. “Especially in the townships.”
Swift Send Logistics was formed to address these challenges, offering delivery services tailored to the infrastructure and demand conditions of underserved communities. Nene applied for the Innovator Trust’s Youth Entrepreneurship Programme after conducting independent research. She was accepted into the 2024 cohort following a presentation of her business concept.
“I didn’t know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do with the business,” she said. “The programme helped me create direction in what I was trying to build.”
The Innovator Trust, which was established by Vodacom, supports black-owned ICT and tech-enabled SMMEs through incubation, skills training, mentorship, and enterprise development. Its Youth Entrepreneurship Programme targets early-stage entrepreneurs under the age of 35 and aims to provide practical guidance for establishing sustainable ventures.
Nene says that one of the most valuable aspects of the programme was access to mentorship and peer support. “You’re told how hard business is, and it’s true,” she said. “But a space like this encourages you. Even when you’re experiencing challenges, you’re reminded that you can keep going.”
While Nene does not come from a logistics background, she credits the Innovator Trust for accelerating her learning curve in business operations. “My biggest challenges were in terms of operations and figuring out the logistics industry because I wasn’t in it,” she said. “The programme gave me access to people I could talk to — mentors — which helped me overcome those challenges faster.”
She also noted the challenges of operating in a male-dominated sector. “People don’t expect you to be in this industry as a woman,” said Nene. “You have to be very innovative in how you enter the market.”
Nene plans to formally launch her company’s website, swiftsend.africa, in the coming months and is actively promoting Swift Send Logistics through social media and founder-led content, including a TikTok series titled The Founder’s Diary. The company currently operates in parts of Gauteng and is exploring future expansion.
“I’m really excited for what the business has in store for the country,” she said.
Nene’s recognition at the Innovator Trust’s graduation event positions her among a new cohort of township-based entrepreneurs who are applying digital platforms and logistics thinking to local service challenges. The 2025 graduation ceremony honoured participants from several enterprise development streams, including the Hatch Incubator and IT Accelerator Programme (ITAP), with awards focused on revenue growth, business performance, and innovation.
