Jeraldene Menon
There’s something about Stellenbosch that sparks entrepreneurship. Maybe it’s the culture of curiosity or the way people here are constantly creating and building.
From students turning hobbies into start-up ventures to academics commercialising groundbreaking research that has the power to impact thousands of lives.
This is exactly how EasiShop began – two curious students from Stellenbosch University (SU), a programming project, and a simple goal to save money on groceries.
Officially launched in May, EasiShop is a fast-growing digital platform that helps find the best prices on groceries through price comparisons across various retailers, making it easier than ever to shop smart in an economy where every rand counts.
Tinashe Madanire, a BCom student from the Economic and Management Science Faculty at SU with a background in programming, started building a tool to compare grocery prices in the local vicinity. It was a personal project and a practical tool that aimed to solve an everyday problem.
“It was really just a challenge for myself at first,” Madanire pointed out. “But the more I worked on it the more I realised it could actually help other people. I shared it with a few friends and family, and the response was immediate.”
Soon he was joined by co-founder Tendai Katiyo, also a BCom student at SU, who saw the bigger picture. This wasn’t just a useful tool; it could become a business with a real impact.
“We both saw EasiShop could be more than a price comparison tool,” Madanire said. It could help people feel empowered about their everyday purchases.
His natural aptitude for entrepreneurship runs deep. Originally from Zimbabwe, he moved to South Africa in Grade 5 and grew up watching his parents build small businesses alongside their full-time jobs.
“From my parents I learnt to be resourceful, to work hard and always to look for ways to stretch every rand.”
That foundation, paired with the energy and ecosystem of Stellenbosch, has created the perfect space for a side project to evolve into something greater.
Getting users wasn’t easy; the duo spent a significant amount of time convincing people about the app and then getting them to share feedback. It took time, persistence and a lot of listening.
“We had to figure out how to communicate our offering very clearly,” Madanire said. “Tendai played a big role in helping to shape our brand, marketing and overall user experience.”
The team leaned into social media to build momentum at the beginning of this year. The results were staggering; in less than a month they hit 2 100 registered users. After launching on socials, EasiShop reached 4 000-plus followers on Instagram, with TikTok another major growth channel.
EasiShop has a simple mission, but their vision is bold. “Eventually we want users to shop across all retailers and get one delivery package at their door,” said Madanire.
In the short term they want to build partnerships with retailers, launch a WhatsApp integration tool to make EasiShop more accessible, and refine the app based on real-time feedback.
As for advice he’d give to other young entrepreneurs Madanire said: “They must just start. That’s the best advice I can give. You don’t need the perfect plan or full funding. If you have an idea, work on it. Speak to people, test it out, and let it grow from there. Even something small can turn into something meaningful.”
