The roots of Digital Optad stretch back to 2014, when founder Vusimani Kubhayi was first introduced to computers through Computer Science 112 (CS112) at Rhodes University. It was there that he began experimenting with HTML and CSS, sparking a curiosity that would grow into years of practice, simulations, and intentional learning.
Even before university, the desire to start a business was present, though the exact type of business was not yet clear. The vision became more defined in 2019, when continuous self-practice and development of digital skills laid the foundation for turning those abilities into a business.
During this period, the journey was funded entirely by six years of internship stipends. With no external investment, the founder made extraordinary personal sacrifices: choosing not to buy clothes for six years, living in isolation, and dedicating up to 20-hour workdays, working by day and learning by night. This intentional discipline stabilized the skills needed to eventually build Digital Optad.
The first attempt at entrepreneurship came with Drivary in 2020, a food delivery platform for students and local restaurants. While it failed due to logistics and lack of marketing, it became the turning point, leading to a digital marketing course and the realization that combining web development with marketing could create a sustainable, scalable business.
From these lessons, Digital Optad was conceptualized in 2021 and officially registered in 2023. What began with trial-and-error and self-learning evolved into a private company with social and sustainable values, built on the mission to democratize digital access for startups, SMEs, and disadvantaged businesses.
Today, Digital Optad stands as both the product of years of sacrifice and practice, and a platform for empowering others with affordable, innovative, and impactful digital solutions.
