Dr Edwell Gumbo is an ecosystem builder specialising in entrepreneurship, digital innovation, business incubation, and economic development. With a strong passion for fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and ecosystems, he has worked across academia, business incubation, government and industry to develop sustainable solutions that drive economic development.
Currently serving as the Director of Entrepreneurship (EDHE) at Universities South Africa (USAf) which is a representative organisation of all the 26 public universities, Dr Gumbo plays a pivotal role in shaping entrepreneurship development and support structures within South Africa’s higher education sector. Dr Gumbo holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Pretoria, an MBA from Nelson Mandela University and an MPhil in Entrepreneurship from the University of Pretoria. His career began in Metallurgical Engineering and later transitioned into education.
His entrepreneurial journey includes owning and managing Apis, a consulting company specialising in project management and business development. In the public sector, Dr Gumbo served as Deputy Director for Skills Development and Acting Director for SME Development for the City of Johannesburg. In
these roles, he coordinated skills and SME development across city departments and municipal entities, fostering entrepreneurship and empowering SMEs to thrive in a competitive business environment. At Awethu Project, Dr Gumbo served as a startup mentor and Incubation Manager responsible for incubating more than 1000 entrepreneurs.
At Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, Dr. Gumbo supported startups and facilitated the internationalisation of South African startups through initiatives like the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa. Before joining USAf, he served as the Head of Enterprise Development at Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct and as Director of the Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic, leveraging university resources to support entrepreneurs within and beyond the university ecosystem.
Dr Gumbo’s research interests include business incubators, support structures for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial ecosystems and entrepreneurship in higher education.
