Jonah M

Originally from Johannesburg and now studying Software Engineering in the United States, Jonah completed a business and technology internship with a Cape Town-based startup. During the placement, he worked on real client-facing software projects and gained first-hand exposure to entrepreneurship, product development, startup culture and the practical business value of technology.

My internship gave me the opportunity to work in a startup environment where technology and business were closely connected. I was trusted to work on real client projects, including building a full-stack dashboard using React, Next.js and SQL.

That experience was especially valuable because it gave me the freedom to apply my technical skills in a practical business setting. I was not just building something for the sake of learning; I was working on a product that needed to solve a real problem for a client. That helped me understand how relatively simple technical solutions can create genuine value in the market.

Working in a startup also taught me a lot about initiative and adaptability. You have to be willing to think independently, solve problems creatively and take ownership of your work. I found that exciting because the work felt meaningful and carried real responsibility.

The team also influenced the way I think about entrepreneurship. Spending time with people who were actively building solutions across different industries made me think more seriously about the opportunities that exist when technical skills are combined with creativity, business thinking and a willingness to take action.

I left the experience with greater confidence in my abilities and a stronger desire to keep building. It also reinforced something that matters to me personally: using technology to solve practical problems and create solutions that are relevant to the communities they serve.