Answers for parents
EVERY QUESTION, ANSWERED STRAIGHT.
The Tycoon Academy is an after-school enterprise and AI club for learners in Grades 6 to 9, based at 8 Stellendal Road, Somerset West, South Africa, and available online across the country.
01
The basics
- What is The Tycoon Academy?
- The Tycoon Academy is an after-school enterprise and AI club for learners in Grades 6 to 9. Each learner spots a real problem, bootstraps a venture, builds it using AI tools, makes a real sale through a supervised marketplace, and then reviews the result.
- What ages and grades is it for?
- Grades 6 to 9, roughly ages 11 to 15. That is the window where confidence, curiosity and work ethic are easiest to shape.
- Where is The Tycoon Academy based?
- We are based at 8 Stellendal Road, Somerset West, in the Western Cape of South Africa. In-person sessions serve Somerset West, Strand, Gordon's Bay, Stellenbosch and the wider Helderberg, and the programme also runs online across South Africa.
- Is this an extra mural or after-school care?
- It is an extra mural. Sessions are structured, mentor-led and project-based — it is not a supervision or homework-care service.
- How do I enrol my child?
- Complete the interest form on the home page or email hello@tycoonacademy.co.za. We reply with intake dates, session times and fees for the current cohort.
02
The programme
- What does a learner actually do each week?
- They work their venture through five repeatable steps: Spot a real problem, Bootstrap with what they already have, Build the first version, make a real Sale, and Learn from the numbers and feedback before the next iteration.
- Does my child need coding or business experience?
- None. We start from spotting real problems and use AI tools to build, brand and launch. If a learner can use a phone, they can start a venture.
- Is this just another coding or STEM club?
- No. Technology is one tool among several. The subject is enterprise: spotting opportunities, bootstrapping, building, selling and learning from real outcomes. A coding club teaches a skill; this teaches a child to create value with it.
- Do learners really make sales?
- Yes. Every learner works toward a real sale through the Tycoon Marketplace, supported by Tycoon Ventures and a learner Wallet, with mentorship at every step.
- What currency do learners work in?
- South African Rands. Costs, prices, margins and takings are all worked in ZAR on real numbers.
03
AI and technology
- How is AI used in the programme?
- AI is treated as a force multiplier, not a crutch. Learners are taught to think first, then use current AI models, design tools and AI-assisted development to research, prototype, build and test far faster than was previously possible at their age.
- What is vibe coding, and do you teach it?
- Vibe coding is building software by describing what you want to an AI model and steering it toward a working product. We teach it as a practical building skill, alongside the judgement to check, test and improve what the AI produces.
- Will AI do the work for my child?
- No. Learners must decide what to build, who it is for and what it costs — the parts AI cannot own. AI shortens the build, not the thinking.
04
Safety, parents and schools
- How is safety and mentorship handled?
- Every venture is guided by vetted mentors, parents have full visibility, and all money movement happens inside a supervised environment. Nothing is published publicly without review.
- Can parents see what their child is doing?
- Yes. Parents get visibility of the venture, the mentorship and every transaction in the learner Wallet.
- Can our school run the programme?
- Yes. Sanusi is the schools initiative from The Tycoon Academy, bringing entrepreneurship, critical thinking and AI fluency into the school day, with curriculum, platform and activities included. Email schools@tycoonacademy.co.za.
- Can I open a Tycoon Academy in my area?
- Yes. Territories are available across South Africa through our franchise model. Email franchise@tycoonacademy.co.za or see the franchise page.
Keep reading
Where to go next.
- Somerset West club
Times, areas served and how it compares to other extra murals.
- Activities guide
The five categories of South African extra mural, compared.
- Kids entrepreneurship
The five-step cycle and the six capabilities it builds.
- The AI edge
How learners use AI as an accelerator, not a crutch.