Our Story

Empowered Technology Artificial Intelligence Network (ETAIN) is a non-profit organization, born in early 2025, and dedicated to shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and beyond. We believe that AI holds immense potential to transform industries, drive socio-economic growth, and create sustainable opportunities for communities across Africa.

ETAIN serves as a collaborative hub or a bridge that brings together academia, government, industry, and civil society to accelerate AI innovation. Our mission is to ensure that AI development in Africa is problem-driven, ethical, inclusive, and aligned with local needs, enabling equitable access to technology and fostering skills for the future.

By promoting research, innovation, and knowledge-sharing, we strive to build a thriving AI ecosystem in KZN that contributes to the broader African digital economy. At ETAIN, we are not just adopting global technology trends—we are co-creating AI solutions for Africa, by Africa.

Our Team

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Sfiso Sbisi

Head of AI Ecosystem Development and Stakeholder Relations

// The Foundation

An accomplished IT executive with 15 years of expertise in IT strategy, enterprise architecture, IT governance, risk, and compliance. Founder of Empowered Technology Artificial Intelligence Network, championing ethical AI and fostering collaboration across Southern Africa, while also serving as an experienced webinar facilitator for a private higher education institution, adept at instructing modules in information systems.

// The Impact at ETAIN

His role focuses on strategic and systemic impact on Southern Africa's AI ecosystem, education and capacity building, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and incubating startups and innovating for local needs. His vision is for an AI ecosystem that is sovereign, ethical, and empowering – where technology is architected with governance from the ground up to solve Africa's unique challenges, amplify our potential, and ensure that the future of AI in Africa is built by Africans, for Africans.

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Khanyisile Masondo

Head of Governance & Strategy

// The Foundation

Khanyisile Masondo is a seasoned ICT professional with a strong foundation in ICT Governance, Risk and Compliance. She holds a National Diploma and BTech Degree in IT and has contributed thought leadership through published articles on Artificial Intelligence. Her career spans more than 10 years of strategic advisory and technology-driven roles in both public and private sectors, focusing on governance models, digital alignment, and inclusive innovation.

// The Impact at ETAIN

At ETAIN, Khanyisile leads Governance and Strategy, shaping ethical AI frameworks, policies, and partnerships that bridge government, industry, academia, and civil society. She ensures that the organisation's education, research, and incubation programmes are guided by accountability, transparency, and Africa-centric innovation. Her work enables ETAIN to advance inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI development, positioning Africa as a creator rather than a spectator in the global AI landscape. Driven by a belief that technology must serve humanity equitably, she champions governance structures that empower African communities to shape their own digital futures.

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Sandile Khanyile

Lead Startups & Incubation Officer

// The Foundation

Sandile Khanyile is an emerging leader in South Africa's digital innovation landscape, with over a decade of experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and digital development. A graduate of the Durban University of Technology with a National Diploma in Information Technology (Software Development), he has applied his technical foundation across multiple sectors—most notably through SK Innovation, the web development agency he founded in 2018. His work blends hands-on technical expertise with a deep understanding of user-centric problem-solving, positioning him as a credible voice in Africa's growing tech startup ecosystem.

// The Impact at ETAIN

At ETAIN, Sandile leads the Startups & Incubation portfolio, driving efforts to identify, support, and accelerate early-stage AI-enabled ventures across KwaZulu-Natal and the broader African region. His approach focuses on empowering local founders, fostering inclusive innovation pipelines, and ensuring that African entrepreneurs have access to the resources, mentorship, and networks needed to build globally competitive solutions that address local challenges.

Our Vision

To position KwaZulu-Natal as a leader in AI innovation, driving inclusive growth and sustainable socio-economic development.

Our Mission

To empower communities and industries through ethical, collaborative, and transformative AI solutions.