Lebohang Manyana:
A Voice, a vision, and a fintech revolution
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Audio Title: Lebohang Manyana: A Voice, a vision, and a fintech revolution
Description: For Lebohang Manyana, entrepreneurship was never about chasing the next trend. It was about solving a very real problem.
For Lebohang Manyana, entrepreneurship was never about chasing the next trend. It was about solving a very real problem.
And trusting an invisible Guide along the way.
“I was in several Stockvels,” says the Chief Executive Officer of MyCircle, a new fintech platform set to launch in South Africa. “And I had a lot of white friends, I had a lot of Indian friends, and they always said, ‘We want to join a Stockvel, but I won’t go to the location. I won’t go where I feel like I can’t leave my car unlocked.’”
That offhand comment exposed a blind spot: Stockvels, the centuries-old savings groups that remain one of South Africa’s most trusted financial tools, were largely inaccessible to people outside township and community structures.
MyCircle’s story began nearly a decade ago, long before “fintech” was a buzzword.
“As far back as eight years ago, we were actually introducing the NFC version,” Lebohang recalls. “But it wasn’t so integrated into mobile phones as it is now. We had this chunky watch that we wanted people to tap at retail stores like Shoprite. Now we’ve brought it down to a ring.”
Sustainability was also non-negotiable. “We want to go green from day one. We don’t want to print plastic and then convert later.”
The journey, however, was anything but straightforward.
“I literally came to Pretoria with no plan, little money and no idea what I was doing — all because a Voice said I should pack my things and leave.”
– Lebohang Manyana
That “Voice,” as she calls it, became a compass through chaos.
“It told me to revisit an idea I had seven years ago — the company I had shelved because of how much money and technology it required. It said, ‘Trust us.’ And that’s what I did.”
A vision tested
For much of the journey, Lebohang worked alone.
“I did have a guy from China. His name was Jack. He unfortunately passed away during COVID. But when I met Jack, it was a beautiful synergy. He understood what I wanted to build. And then, unfortunately, he passed away.”
Still, she pressed on. “God gives you a vision, but you don’t have the ability to create it. And then the person who has the ability doesn’t have the vision. That’s why Jack and I worked so well together.”
That deep sense of purpose and faith carried her through years of setbacks.
What makes MyCircle different
Unlike traditional Stockvels, which often require 12 members and can only be joined in January, MyCircle offers flexibility and immediacy.
“You download the app, scan your ID or passport, and pick a tier that suits your budget, from as low as R350 up to R5000,” explains Manyana. “Our lowest tier is 350, and the beauty is you can join any time. You don’t have to wait for January.”
Another key difference: group sizes.
“We shrunk it down to six people. Being the 12th member in a Stockvel is the worst thing in the world. I’d rather give birth 10 times in one day,” she jokes. “With six, you can rotate twice a year instead of waiting a whole year.”
Beyond savings, MyCircle aims to integrate financial education. “I just discovered you can invest as little as R50 into equities. Many people don’t know this. R50 is not just for KFC. You can actually invest it and grow it.”
Transparency is also critical. “Many Stockvels don’t have transparency. If someone wants to be fraudulent that month, they can be. So we want to integrate blockchain. It’s expensive, but it creates a digital footprint that simply cannot be edited, not even by me as CEO.”
Faith, timing, and a divine meeting
The story of MyCircle (now officially FioCircle) is also a story of divine timing. “The minute I walked through the doors of Fio Capital, I got goosebumps,” she recalls. “The Voice said, ‘I told you, trust us.’”
“Meeting Christiaan [Heymann, CEO and Co-founder of Fio Africaeurs] was one of the best things that ever happened to me,” she says. “When he mentioned that a Voice told him to start Africaneurs and that’s how he met Mr Ajay, it gave me hope that maybe I’m not crazy. Maybe I was listening to the same Voice, just in my own way.”
Now, as part of the Fio Capital Group, Lebohang feels that her long years of faith and persistence have come full circle. “Finally, after 8 long years of building MyCircle, I can say I have an investor!”
On anxiety, support, and not giving up
Building a startup hasn’t just been technical or financial — it’s been deeply emotional.
“I suffer from extreme anxiety,” she shares. “I eat myself to sleep. I cry myself to sleep. But I’ve allowed my emotions to be. Whether I’m in traffic or changing my child’s nappy, I’ll cry. Blocking it makes it 10 times harder.”
She believes mental health in entrepreneurship is under-discussed. “We are struggling mentally. You sometimes build something that doesn’t exist, without mentors to guide you. Most entrepreneurs don’t talk about it. That’s why so many end up killing themselves. It’s a calling — but it’s a heavy calling.”
Support from her husband has been crucial.
“Just last month, I was typing my CV. My husband said, ‘Don’t do that, baby. This is not you. You’re going to die there. Rather, let’s push it this year. I’m 100% behind you.’ If he had helped me type that CV, I’d be depressed behind a desk right now.”
And as for the “Voice” that guided her through this entire journey? She says it best;
“When the Voice speaks — it’s loud but subtle at the same time. It only speaks once. If you doubt, that’s on you. If you’re scared, it doesn’t care. It’s done its job. Now it’s time for you to do yours.”
– Lebohang Manyana
“Don’t give up. God doesn’t give you a vision to destroy you. It hurts, it’s heavy, but one day, when you step back, you’ll see what you’ve been painting. Be patient with yourself. Risk it all sometimes.”
Teagan specialises in Copywriting, Public Relations, Social Media Marketing and Blogging. Teagan uncovers the deeper “why” behind every venture. She believes that every person and project has a unique story, and nothing excites her more than transforming these narratives into compelling content that demands to be shared with the world.
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