Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – AJ Digital Agency
AJ Digital Agency offers a wide range of services to help businesses optimise their digital presence and achieve their goals. Their services range from web and app development to branding and marketing to IT consulting. They have been rated as Africa’s number one digital agency. Their passion lies in bridging the gap between underserved rural communities and technology.
Andile Mzobe’s journey as an entrepreneur and the success of AJ Digital Agency has been shaped by a combination of passion, resilience, dedication to a meaningful mission, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Andile Mzobe, the founder of AJ Digital Agency, grew up facing significant challenges in accessing technology and digital opportunities. With no access to technology at home or school, he felt disconnected and excluded from the opportunities it offered. But this was the fuel which ignited his passion for the digital space.
With a diploma in IT technology, Andile Mzobe founded AJ Digital Agency. In the beginning, he bootstrapped the business so that he could maintain control and independence. He wanted to attract talent from the rural areas and give them the opportunities he wished he had had. The pool was small, so he created internships and training to give young individuals a chance to gain hands-on experience and develop relevant skills. This has led to a larger pool of qualified talent.
He and his agency have also engaged with local communities, schools, and educational institutions to identify and nurture talent at an early stage. This involved conducting workshops, career guidance sessions, and collaborating with educational institutions to design curricula that aligned with industry needs. Through his community engagement, he shares his experiences, mentors young talent and advocates for digital inclusivity.
In the future, their vision is centred on innovation, sustainability, and making a lasting impact on businesses and communities worldwide.
They are committed to being at the forefront of technology and see themselves as pioneers, consistently adopting and implementing the latest technologies, from AI and machine learning to augmented reality and blockchain, to provide innovative solutions to their clients.
Furthermore, they want to create an innovation hub within their business which is dedicated to research and development, experimentation and incubating disruptive ideas. This hub will serve as a crucible for creativity, allowing us to develop ground-breaking solutions and stay ahead of industry trends.
Together they aim to shape a brighter digital future for all.
AJ Digital was chosen to receive a Top 10 Small Business Award and also received a National Business Excellence Award for 2023 at the South African Small Business Awards.