At 25, Mathye Nhluvuko is proving that where you come from does not determine where you can go. Born in Elim Mabobo, he co-founded Instant Eats, a delivery service serving Thohoyandou and Louis Trichardt.
His entrepreneurial journey began long before apps or delivery routes — it started on the streets. Growing up, Mathye watched his mother sell goods as a street vendor to support the family. By age six, he was already selling fruit and vegetables. By 15, he was building small businesses with friends.
“I convinced myself very early that I was born to be an entrepreneur. I’ve always wanted to lead, not to be led. We co-founded Instant Eats in 2023 with friends, with me serving as chief operating officer. We bootstrapped the business using personal savings and pocket money, without external funding,” he said.
The team entered a market unfamiliar with food delivery. People were initially hesitant to trust them with their food and money. “The biggest challenge was getting people to trust us. We solved that by being consistent and reliable,” Mathye said.
Instant Eats fills a gap in local communities, offering fast, affordable doorstep delivery while prioritising youth employment. The team includes six permanent staff, two temporary workers and two IT interns. Mathye believes growth comes from action, not perfection. Early mistakes, such as over-planning, taught him the value of flexibility.
He keeps close contact with customers to respond quickly to changing needs. A book that shaped his mindset is Get Things Done by Bulelani Balabala, which he says “changed my whole life.”
For Mathye, success without values is not success. He rejects decisions that conflict with his principles — a philosophy that guided one of Instant Eats’ biggest shifts: focusing on underserved communities where larger delivery companies do not operate.
Looking ahead, Mathye plans to expand to Elim, Polokwane and Madombidzha, optimise delivery routes using technology, and partner with both local and larger businesses.