Hey, wanna see what the inside of a fusion reactor looks like while it’s firing? Behold atoms colliding as hot as the sun and in visible light.

In Today’s Open Letter

The movement’s tsunami-ing overseas, but can it work here in SA…?

It’s 2025, and we don’t have to list the negative effects of smartphones and social media. Perhaps that’s why US startup Tin Can went viral so fast.

Three Seattle dads wanting to keep their kids off smartphones built a Wi-Fi-enabled device operating on a closed network, so that kids can phone each other can-to-can, and soon, every parent in the city wanted in.

They created a waitlist, and by October 2024, it blew up, and Tin Can gained a network of customer families in Seattle and international press. Now these Foundads are looking to scale it across the US and more.

The big picture

The trend’s far from isolated: Apart from all the social media data privacy, mental health lawsuits and all the countries requiring age verification, there’s an emerging trend of Gen Z mimicking landline use by creating spaces at home to “hang up your phone” as if it were corded.

It’s just what parents want. And it’s no different here in SA…

Could this work locally?

Screen time and social media addiction are a hot topic, and there are already legal entities pursuing age-restricted social media bans in SA.

But a landline-esque device for families here has some caveats:

Don’t get us wrong, there’s a def niche higher-income market for the landline angle – probably around 2–5 million in size. But for the mass market, you’d have to tweak the concept a little; it helps that the device isn’t actually via landline, it can be Wi-Fi or VOIP, etc.

With 1.2 million new babies born every year, though, there’s a steady supply of new-parent customers for anyone wanting to make the play.

We’re watching the space…

Who wants to be kept in the dark?

When thousands of runners flew into Cape Town last weekend, only to have the Marathon cancelled hours before the start, local WhatsApp-powered survey provider Yazi stepped in, using WhatsApp to gather real-time feedback from those affected.

But here’s what’s really clever:

✅ Runners share their stories directly on WhatsApp — no forms, no logins
✅ Responses are automatically aggregated and sent to organisers and sponsors
✅ Targeting 10% of runners with R5’000 travel reimbursements up for grabs

It’s fast, human and smart — using WhatsApp and AI to capture sentiment data right where people are talking.

What would you build WhatsApp today?

Most companies spend years building a strong brand…

But if your leaders aren’t visible, trusted or heard online, your growth eventually hits a wall. 

That’s where FDC comes in.

✅ We turn founders and executives into industry voices worth listening to.
✅ We manage the full strategy, content and engagement behind your LinkedIn presence.
✅ You focus on running the business while your influence (and pipeline) grows.

From PaySpace to Taylor Brunswick Group, over 300 leaders in 22 countries have used FDC to transform LinkedIn into a channel for real business growth.

If you’re ready to turn your profile into a growth engine, see if you’re a right fit.

🏦 Capitec Gets Stubby. Capitec’s teamed up with accounting startup stub to allow small biz owners to auto-sync their banking data and track cash flow in real time. FinTech meets hustle, no spreadsheets required.

💍 Wearable Wallets. FNB has partnered with FinTech VezoPay to launch SA’s first smart payment ring for a nifty tap-and-go experience. Fancy.

🚨 Internet Meltdown. An Amazon DNS hiccup took down chunks of the interwebs on Monday, including websites, banks and even some government services. Eina…

🚂 Choo Choo Comeback. SA’s beloved 96-year-old Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train is revving up for a return after almost 20 years of silence, with a double-phase revival between Knysna, Sedgefield, and George. All aboard.

📡 Vodacom's R660-Million Bet. Vodacom is dropping a cool R660 million to beef up 4G and 5G in Gauteng with 67 new base stations and upgrades to its infrastructure. Looks like they’re really *checks notes dialling in…

🧱 Tiletoria Snapped Up. Resolve Private Equity has acquired leading SA flooring and sanware company, Tiletoria. Nice one.

✅ The Stack. Founders need reliable tools, so our Founder’s Stack gives you company setup and compliance with Govchain, brand communications that build trust with DoubleShift, and more...

From 15 October 2025 to 15 November 2025, each friend you get to sign up to The Open Letter gets you one entry into a draw to win a brand new iPad Air!

Yesterday, we showed you how RecruitMyMom’s helping more women get recruited in SA, asking about the biggest barrier keeping skilled moms out of the workforce. Most say it’s old thinking…

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ 💼 Lack of flexible roles (29%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🚗 Cost of commuting & childcare (7%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🏢 Rigid “return-to-office” culture (13%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤖 Not enough remote-friendly employers (18%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 💬 Old-school mindsets about productivity (33%)

Your 2 cents…

So true, Lize. If the job’s done right/better, who cares when it was done? 🙌

Pitch your startup online. Startup360’s AI & Tech Startup Battle SA goes live on 23 Oct. Register here.

AI startup? Disraptor’s 6-month AI Readiness Accelerator (backed by Telkom & UK-SA Tech Hub) closes 24 Oct. Apply here.

Under 26 and building for impact? WSA Young Innovators Award (£60’000 grants & global exposure) closes 31 Oct. Apply here.

Women-led startups: Naspers & Prosus FoundHER Africa Challenge offers $100k. Apply before 19 Nov.

Want to promote your event/programme here? Let us know.

🎨 Tool to Try: Color.ag picks the best-performing AI model to answer your question.

🐟 That’s Interesting: A Japanese YouTuber set up his pet fish to play Pokémon and the lil’ guy accidentally committed credit card fraud.

🐈 Next Level: Proceed with caution: Kitten ambush ahead.

🗒 Hack: After every meeting, write a What needs to happen next one line before closing your laptop.

🌡️ Wow Site: HistoricalTemperature lets you check weather trends for the last 20 years.

Vote in the poll, leave a quick comment, or hit reply — we read every single one.