Medical Student’s Grocery Platform Wins Big!

Fourth-year University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Medical student Mr Luyanda Mchunu has once again distinguished himself by winning the 2025 JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur (CYE) competition.

Having recently won the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity Provincial contest, Mchunu continues to receive recognition as he prepares for the national finals scheduled for the end of November.

Driven by a passion for solving societal challenges through innovation, the 22-year-old said he was honoured to be selected as the overall winner of the CYE – an award that celebrates innovation, impact and creativity in entrepreneurship.

“As a young South African entrepreneur and Medical student, I believe that entrepreneurship can play a major role in improving lives, and this competition aligns perfectly with my mission to create sustainable change through technology and community-driven solutions,” Mchunu said.

Mchunu is the founder of GrocieFy-SA, an online platform that creates a digital ecosystem connecting consumers to affordable groceries while supporting local retailers and delivery services. He said the JCI CYE competition was the ideal platform to showcase his innovation, which he learnt about through UKZN’s Student Entrepreneurship portfolio that regularly shares opportunities for student entrepreneurs.

“I entered the competition because I wanted to gain exposure, mentorship, and validation for GrocieFy-SA. I saw this as an opportunity to learn from other young entrepreneurs, connect with stakeholders, and amplify the impact of our work.”

Mchunu acknowledged UKZN’s Student Entrepreneurship portfolio for its valuable role in providing mentorship, guidance, and encouragement throughout his entrepreneurial journey. “They have been instrumental in helping me sharpen my business model and connect with relevant networks,” he said.

The competition included a rigorous national online pitching programme in which entrepreneurs received feedback from business mentors and judges, requiring them to refine their business models for better scalability.

GrocieFy-SA, initially aimed at university students in Durban, is currently in its minimum viable product (MVP) development stage, with plans to expand across KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. The platform’s functional prototype has been finalised, with the official launch anticipated in mid-2026.

“Our goal is to promote food accessibility, reduce waste, and create employment opportunities,” Mchunu said. “With the winnings we hope to invest in advancing the technical development of the platform, improving its user interface, and establishing partnerships with local retailers. A portion will also go towards marketing and pilot testing within university campuses,” he added.

Mchunu thanked the College of Health Sciences (CHS) for sponsoring his travel and accommodation to attend the event. He also expressed his gratitude to Professor Fanie Botha, Director: CHS Professional Services and Professor Thea van der Westhuizen, Academic Leader: High Impact Community Engagement and Internationalisation in the School of Commerce for their unwavering support in ensuring that he proudly represents UKZN on a national stage.

Commenting on how he was able to balance his Medical studies with his entrepreneurial ventures, Mchunu said: “It’s been challenging and rewarding, but the key has always been passion; I truly enjoy both Medicine and innovation!”

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photograph: Supplied