Bulawayo, Zimbabwe — In a strategic move that signals the evolution of its vision, operations and regional footprint, The TechVillage has officially rebranded from “The TechVillage Hub” to “The TechVillage Innovation Centre”.
This transformation is more than just a name change. It marks a shift from a hyper-localised innovation support structure to a dynamic, outward-looking institution designed to catalyse innovation across Africa. The new name reflects the expanded mandate and ambition of TechVillage to serve as a central node for inclusive innovation, policy influence, corporate partnerships and regional collaboration.
“When we first established The TechVillage, Zimbabwe’s innovation landscape was vastly different. There were only a handful of tech hubs and fewer than five coworking spaces nationwide. We recognized the pressing need for a dedicated physical space where young people could congregate, collaborate, and build innovative solutions. Now, a decade later, the ecosystem has rapidly transformed, boasting over 50 hubs and coworking spaces. As the needs of innovators have evolved, so too must the great experiment that is The TechVillage. To ensure our continued relevance, we are committed to adapting and evolving as an organization,” said Takunda Chingonzo, Founder of The TechVillage.
In the years following the COVID 19 pandemic, The TechVillage scaled down its activities, winding down high frequency events and eventually closing its physical coworking spaces. This created space for a period of reflection, research and experimentation focused on understanding how the needs of entrepreneurs, partners and wider ecosystem actors had shifted, and what kind of institution would be required to support the next decade of innovation.
From Hub to Centre: A New Era of Innovation Leadership
The decision to transition to an Innovation Centre stems from a strategic re-evaluation of TechVillage’s growing influence and the changing needs of Africa’s innovation ecosystems. Traditionally, the term “hub” has been associated with co-working spaces and early-stage support for start-ups which are inward looking structures. While this foundation remains core to TechVillage’s identity, the rebrand signals a new era where the organisation functions as a more expansive platform for innovation, seeking to build outward connections in a web of actors that form our ecosystem.
The TechVillage Innovation Centre will now encompass advanced research initiatives, regional program design, strategic collaborations with government and academia, and facilitation of knowledge and technology transfer. It becomes a catalyst not just for entrepreneurship, but for the systemic transformation of industries and institutions through innovation.
What This Means Going Forward
- Broader Scope and Regional Impact: The Centre will continue to support entrepreneurs, but will also provide infrastructure and partnerships to support digital transformation in corporates, government, academia and development agencies across Southern Africa.
- A Connector of Ecosystems: Moving from an inward-facing hub to an outward-facing centre, TechVillage will act as a connector within a decentralised network of innovators, incubators, accelerators and research bodies. The Centre will help facilitate cross-border collaborations and unlock new regional opportunities.
- Increased Investment and Policy Engagement: With this new identity, the Centre is better positioned to attract regional and international investment, participate in policy-shaping conversations, and contribute meaningfully to national innovation strategies.
- Enhanced Programs and Services: New offerings will include specialised training programs, innovation fellowships, knowledge creation labs, expanded events, and sector-specific acceleration tracks across health, agriculture, fintech, energy and education.
A Natural Evolution Built on Strong Foundations
Over the past years, The TechVillage has evolved from a co-working space into a regional innovation support organisation with deep roots in community, entrepreneurship and technology. It has nurtured startups, hosted landmark events like TechFest, launched accelerator programs like GameOn, and supported digital skills training for hundreds of youth.
This rebrand is a continuation of that journey, aligning the identity of the organisation with the growing impact it has in shaping Africa’s innovation landscape. It underscores the mission of the organisation: To build innovation pathways that connect people, infrastructure, and data to shape Africa’s future.
Looking ahead, The TechVillage Innovation Centre will focus on building what it calls Innovation Pathways, anchored on three core pillars: people, infrastructure and data. The people pillar will deepen support for founders, practitioners and ecosystem builders; the infrastructure pillar will develop the physical and digital platforms that make collaboration possible; and the data pillar will generate the insights needed to inform smarter decisions for innovators, partners and policy makers. Further details on the Innovation Pathways framework and the specific programmes under each pillar will be shared in due course.
As The TechVillage Innovation Centre, the organisation steps into a broader role as steward of a future where innovation is not peripheral, but central to development in Africa.
For more information, visit www.techvillage.co.zw or follow TechVillage on all social media platforms.
Media Contact: hello@techvillage.co.zw +263 719 719 210/215.
Venture Nation Staff Writers are a collective of storytellers, researchers, and ecosystem curators committed to documenting the people and ideas shaping Zimbabwe’s innovation journey.
We explore everything from grassroots ingenuity to tech-driven breakthroughs, capturing the pulse of the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit. Our writers work behind the scenes to amplify voices, spotlight change-makers, and connect the dots across Zimbabwe’s evolving innovation ecosystem.
If you have a story worth telling, or know someone who does, we’d love to hear from you.