Maharishi Institute to open ‘moonshot’ tech campus

EasyEquities has long enjoyed a strategic partnership with The Maharishi Invincibility Institute, a highly successful free-access education institution that enjoys a 95% success rate when it comes to placement of graduates. The Maharishi Institute also advises EasyEquities on its B-BBEE strategy and implementation.

“Through student learnerships, EasyEquities is helping to secure the future of many young South Africans,” says Easy’s chief enablement officer, Carel Nolte. “At the same time, our partnership with Maharishi helps us to achieve our B-BBEE targets and drive education and the upliftment of the local economy.”

With campuses in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Maharishi Institute has announced the “moonshot” extension of its downtown Joburg campus to include the Maharishi NextUp Institute of Technology, a tech talent accelerator, at 56 Main Street – the old Anglo building.

The expansion is driven by foundational support from David and Tracey Frankel through their NextUp programme. Tracey is a qualified neurologist , while David brings major venture capital credibility: after co-founding Africa’s largest ISP, he co-founded the US VC firm Founder Collective, which seed-funded Uber. He was ranked #2 on the 2024 Midas Seed List of the world’s best VC investors.

“This is more than just an educational initiative; it’s a high-yield investment in South Africa’s human capital,” says Yaakov Goldfein, Chief Analyst and Head of Operations at MI Capital. “The Frankels understand how to scale ventures. By equipping young South Africans with hard skills in AI and digital systems, we are building a new asset class of tech-fluent local talent while giving more SA youth economic agency.”

Why we’re excited about the Maharishi moonshot

Anyone who has spent time at Maharishi knows the real magic is not the buildings or programmes. It is the students. Their ambition is unmistakable. Their determination is inspiring. And their belief in their own futures is contagious.

Every time you walk into the campus, you notice the energy. Students scurrying between classes. Conversations about coding, careers and possibilities. A sense that people are moving somewhere, not just passing time.

“Taddy Blacher and his team have built something rare: An environment where young South Africans are seen for their potential and supported to turn that potential into real careers,” says Carel.

The results speak for themselves. More than 25 500 graduates have already moved into meaningful employment through the Maharishi model. Behind that number sit thousands of individual stories of resilience, growth and economic participation. 

Now the concept is expanding into an even more technology-driven arena, focusing on future skills like AI, digital systems and advanced technical capability. And EasyEquities is, at heart, a technology business.

“Our platform exists because technology made investing more accessible,” says Carel. “Every day we see how digital tools can open doors that previously felt closed.”

But technology only works when people have the skills and confidence to use it.

“South Africa needs more tech-savvy, digitally fluent and economically empowered citizens,” says Yaakov. “That is why the work happening at Maharishi matters so much.

“When young South Africans gain relevant technical skills, they gain agency. They gain access to opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. Institutions like Maharishi play a critical role in building the talent and capability our economy desperately needs.”

The people make it special

“We are thrilled to see the Maharishi vision growing into new and exciting areas,” Carel says. “South Africa needs bold ideas, practical solutions and institutions willing to bet on its youth.

“Maharishi Institute continues to do exactly that. And from our side, we will keep cheering loudly.”