Thabo Maibi, a former National University of Lesotho student and current PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University, has launched Career Agent, an AI-powered app that automates the job search process for users across Southern Africa.

The app searches for jobs, matches listings to a user’s CV, checks Applicant Tracking System (ATS) compatibility scores, and can even apply on behalf of the user. It also includes a voice-enabled CV builder for those with limited typing or tech skills.

Maibi first gained attention for developing a smart greenhouse system at NUL to help small-scale farmers adapt to climate change. That early innovation stemmed from personal experience – his family depended on farming, which was disrupted by increasingly unpredictable weather.

Now at Stellenbosch, Maibi is continuing to design tools that tackle everyday challenges. With Career Agent, he hopes to support youth and job seekers in a tough employment market by using technology to simplify and streamline their job search.

His journey – from agricultural tech in Lesotho to AI career solutions in South Africa—underscores the power of innovation rooted in lived experience and shaped by higher education.