When you meet Tsepo Manganda, you quickly realize he’s not just another young entrepreneur chasing a dream—he’s chasing impact.

Born in Sizinda, Bulawayo, and raised in the rural areas before moving to Esigodini for high school, Tsepo’s journey is one rooted in resilience and creativity.

The idea for powdered tomato didn’t come from a boardroom or some glossy innovation hub. It started in 2020 at Mzingwane High during the National Business Case Competition (NBCC). Tasked with finding a community problem to solve, Tsepo and his teammates noticed how tomatoes were going to waste—at their school garden, in local markets, and even on farms.

Having grown up watching his mother sell tomatoes to cover school fees, Tsepo knew the struggle firsthand. The team proposed processing tomatoes into value-added products, and their idea earned them provincial champion status, national recognition, and €5000 in seed funding from Deloitte Germany and ZB Bank through Emergination Africa.

After trials (including some failed sauces), the breakthrough came in 2021 when they registered Pured Agro Processors and discovered how to dry and grind tomatoes into a fine, additive-free powder. The result: a product with a shelf life of over 12 months, no colorants, and endless culinary uses.

But Tsepo wasn’t content with just plain tomato powder. Collaborating with food scientists, he experimented with flavours to meet diverse customer needs and enhance nutrition.

“Innovation and product diversity are key,” he says.

The response? Overwhelming. From households tired of inconsistent tomato supplies, to restaurants enjoying faster meal prep, demand keeps growing—especially from Harare. The challenge now is scaling up. “We sometimes work weekends and holidays just to keep up,” Tsepo admits.

Participating in VCC4 at Eight2Five Hub, powered by Old Mutual, gave him both mentorship and funding to acquire a dehydrator machine, boosting production capacity. More importantly, it built his confidence and gave him tools to deliver value in a sustainable way.

Looking ahead, Tsepo envisions Pured Agro Processors as a lifeline for smallholder farmers across Zimbabwe, reducing post-harvest losses and preserving farmer incomes. He’s eyeing regional expansion and plans to go green by investing in solar-powered drying.

His advice to fellow innovators: “Don’t give up just because you lack resources. Network, seek mentorship, and be patient. Entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe requires resilience—you grow day by day through feedback, even the tough kind.”

From spoiled tomatoes to a shelf-stable product that could transform food systems, Tsepo is proving that innovation doesn’t always mean inventing something new—sometimes, it means reimagining what’s been thrown away.