Growing up on the Cape Flats, Imtiyaaz Riley, 31, and three generations of his family rooted in the minibus taxi industry, mobility was part of his DNA. But Imtiyaaz wanted to build something bigger, leveraging technology to drive real change in South Africa’s most overlooked spaces. Imtiyaaz is the founder and chief executive of Loop, a mobility and payments platform transforming how commuters and drivers interact in informal transport systems. It has evolved into an award-winning start-up, now used by over 20 000 commuters. Through Loop’s partnership with Visa, digital payments have been introduced to minibus taxis, offering safer, more efficient transactions for passengers and drivers. Imtiyaaz’s entrepreneurial journey has taken him to global stages like GITEX Europe and Seamless Africa. But his mission remains solving real problems with — and for — the community. A Y20 South Africa Working Group member, Imtiyaaz advocates for meaningful youth engagement and inclusive policy reform. For Imtiyaaz, the knowledge that his work can uplift lives across South Africa fuels his determination to keep building, even when the odds are tough.
My late grandfather and father — both minibus taxi entrepreneurs — are deeply admired. They built businesses from nothing in a system that was not designed for them. Their resilience, work ethic and street-smart leadership helped shape my mindset. Their example proved that impact begins at home, and that even informal systems hold the power to transform lives when paired with innovation.