Welcome to Charlie's Lab
Digital can be social!
The world is rapidly changing, and with it, the jobs of the future. The next generation of earners won't all be in traditional careers, they'll be the e-sports stars earning millions, the podcasters building a brand, and the digital artists shaping the metaverse. But access to the technology that powers these careers is a massive barrier; a high-end gaming PC costs tens of thousands of rands, a professional podcasting rig is equally prohibitive, and a 3D printer remains a luxury. This is where Charlie's Lab comes in. We are the critical bridge between curiosity and career, democratizing access to the very tools that define the 4th Industrial Revolution. We provide a space for aspiring creators to get their hands on this essential tech, learn the skills, and find the community they need to transform from a passive consumer into an active creator, one game, one episode, and one idea at a time.
Turning consumers to creators
South Africa's accessible Gaming, Creative & Learning Hub - Where Technology Meets Creativity & Sociability
The Store
Join Us at Exciting Events & Workshops
No events at the moment
Experience Our Latest Creations
E-Sports
-
R36.5 million earned by SA players: That’s more than the total prize pool of the 2023 Currie Cup.
-
Top SA gamer earned R3.7 million: That’s more than a Springbok’s annual salary — and he did it with a mouse, not a ball.
-
Global prize pools hit R79 billion: That’s bigger than Wimbledon, the Tour de France, and the Cricket World Cup combined.
-
Viewership? 532 million globally: That’s more than the Super Bowl, UEFA Champions League Final, and the Oscars — combined.
Podcasting
-
SA market worth R3 billion by 2033: That’s more than the combined annual revenue of Jacaranda FM, Metro FM, and KFM.
-
4.8 million SA listeners by 2027: That’s nearly the population of Cape Town — mostly aged 18–34.
-
Global creators earn up to R1.2 million/year: That’s more than a junior doctor’s salary — and all you need is a mic and a message.
Influencers
-
SA ad spend: R780 million in 2025: That’s more than the entire TV licence revenue of the SABC in 2023.
-
Africa’s creator economy: R340 billion by 2030: That’s bigger than MTN’s entire annual revenue.
-
Micro-influencers earn R500–R5,000/post: That’s the same as a weekend shift at Spur — but done from your phone.
3D Printing
-
SA market growing 15.2% annually: That’s faster than the growth of the local construction industry.
-
Custom prosthetics, EV parts, and housing: SA startups are printing limbs, car parts, and homes — not just toys.
-
NASA uses it for space missions: They print tools on Mars. Your child could print a business from their bedroom.
TCG
-
SA teens flipping cards for R500–R5,000: That’s more than a weekend hustle — it’s a micro-business.
-
Most expensive Pokémon card: R42 million: A Pikachu Illustrator sold for more than a Camps Bay mansion.
-
Rare Magic cards sell for R500,000+: Like the Alpha Black Lotus — only 1,100 ever printed. That’s rarer than a Kruger Rand from 1892.
-
51 million global players: That’s more than the number of people who play tennis worldwide.
AI
-
SA AI specialists earn R928,000/year: That’s more than most senior engineers or hospital consultants.
-
Entry-level starts at R656,000: That’s higher than the average salary of a government manager.
-
Global AI jobs growing 75% yearly: From diagnosing cancer to writing music — AI is reshaping every industry.
-
SA needs 100,000+ tech pros: Learning AI now is like learning to read in the 1900s — without it, you’re locked out of the future.