THOBO CHABA KHATHOLA: ‘A 40 UNDER 40 CEO’ EDUCATING A NEW AFRICAN GENERATION WITH LION TUTORING

Thobo Chaba Khathola is revolutionizing education through lion tutoring’s tech-driven learning model.

By Victoria Mgbanwa

Education Africa Leadership Entrepreneur Recognition Innovation.
Thobo Chaba Khathola, Founder and CEO of Lion Tutoring
Thobo Chaba Khathola, Founder and CEO of Lion Tutoring


As the visionary Founder and CEO of Lion Tutoring, Thobo Chaba Khathola is redefining education across Botswana and beyond. With a BCom in Economics from the University of Pretoria, Thobo returned home in 2015 to build a pioneering tutoring enterprise that bridges gaps in formal education with personalized, tech-enabled learning and in doing so, he’s empowering both young learners and educators across the continent.

Born and raised in Gaborone, Botswana, Khathola’s early academic achievements set him apart. Recognizing the fragmented tutoring landscape in his country and leveraging experience gained from three years at Teachme2 in South Africa he launched Lion Tutoring on 23 February 2015 from his living room. What began with just a few local tutors has since scaled into a thriving operation with over 300 educators in Botswana and South Africa, serving more than 2,000 students annually.

Khathola’s passion for innovation shines through Lion Tutoring’s digital-first approach. The company’s mobile app often described as the “Uber for tutors” enables students to locate, vet, and book highly qualified tutors. Features such as tutor profiles, ratings, parent dashboards, emergency “panic buttons,” and secure payment gateways ensure convenience, safety, and accountability.

Under his leadership, Lion Tutoring has received notable recognition: Named Best Youth Owned Business in Botswana for three consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018), Thobo was listed in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30, Class of 2020, Recently honored with the Education Brand of the Year by TTYBrand Africa. 

Beyond delivering academic excellence through rigorous vetting of tutors, curriculum-aligned coaching (BGCSE, IGCSE), and strong pass rates Khathola’s model also prioritizes job creation and social impact. Most of Lion Tutoring’s workforce is under 35, with women comprising 75%, helping to address youth and female unemployment. The company continues giving back through programs in government schools, where targeted support raised pass rates by 10 percentage points in just four months.

Khathola credits his growth to resilience, faith, and community. He started by tutoring himself and reinvesting proceeds to scale operations, embracing the idea of “work-life unity”, where different aspects of life fuel one another’s success.  He also attributes much to mentorship especially from South African entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo and remains motivated to ensure African entrepreneurs are recognized for far more than cultural exports. 

Today, Lion Tutoring stands valued at approximately 20 million Pula (~USD 2 million) per month, and, under Khathola’s leadership, it’s rapidly becoming Africa’s leading brand in personalized, tech-enabled education. From Gaborone to international students across Brazil, Italy, and Spain, his journey continues to inspire one student, one tutor, one innovative lesson at a time.

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