Fulufhelo Mudavhi

I am an associate economic developer, entrepreneur, and mentor passionate about innovation, economic development, and social impact. I hold a BCom in Economics and an Honours in Economics from Walter Sisulu University (WSU), currently pursuing Master of Commerce specialising in International Economics.

I became the first Campus Director of Hult Prize WSU, driving initiatives that empowered young entrepreneurs. I later attended the Hult Prize Summit in Nairobi and mentored student teams that competed in major entrepreneurship competitions, including the Hult Prize, Enactus National Expositions, and the EDHE Intervarsity Competitions. I have played a key role in facilitating business innovation workshops at the Robben Island Spring School, where I trained over 80 students from various SADC countries on entrepreneurship and innovation. I have also adjudicated an entrepreneurship competition, offering insights and guidance to aspiring business leaders.
My work in entrepreneurship has earned me both national and international recognition. I was a Top 4 finalist in the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards South Africa, a competitor in the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town, and a Tech-preneur of the Year finalist at the FOYA Awards.

Beyond entrepreneurship, I have actively contributed to economic research, policy, and social development. I was among 40 students selected to attend the Government Technical Advisory Centre’s Public Economics Conference and one of 28 individuals chosen for the Habitable Planet Workshop hosted by the Alliance of Collaboration for Earth Systems Science in South Africa. Additionally, I was one of 25 students in the Eastern Cape selected for the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Fort Hare Autumn School on Social Democracy and Political Economy, where I deepened my understanding of social democracy and political economy, engaging with leading scholars and policymakers on governance, economic justice, and sustainable development.

I have presented at the South Africa BRICS Youth Association on E-commerce and Trade, worked on social innovation with Ranyaka Community Transformation, and spoken at various entrepreneurship workshops. I recently attended the CSIR National Science Forum, engaging with leading experts in science, technology, and innovation. I was also awarded the prestigious Associate Economic Developer designation by the Economic Development Council of Youth Africa, recognizing my contributions to economic development.

I am currently a Hult Prize SA deputy national coordinator volunteer. This came after I joined the national team as a Campus Directors Coordinator in 2024, and escalated to being a National Deputy Coordinator. We have engaged over 400 startups in South Africa as well as over 2400 student entrepreneurs.