Clayton Hayward, Ukheshe Technologies. Photo: Karolina Komendera

The fabled stories of Silicon Valley successes are littered with seminal moments when a strategic reshuffle of a plucky little startup’s focus results in a reversal of fortunes, and from the ashes rises an all-conquering billion-dollar unicorn. The pivot, as it’s known, repositions a startup with an idea that’s failing to gain sufficient traction, and sets the company on a new and rapid growth trajectory.

Winner of the IITPSA Technology Excellence award, South Africa’s Ukheshe Technologies, underwent this process a couple of years ago. Its original vision was around financial inclusion, to help the unbanked, like car guards, street vendors and casual labourers, get paid digitally, via a smartphone app and QR codes.