Three funerals 
in one week prompted Jacqueline Mooki to ask a question that would become the foundation of LehumoLago: How can families find out whether a loved one left money or benefits behind?
As she visited grieving relatives, Mooki saw them worrying about funeral costs and whether there were any policies or benefits that could help ease the financial burden.
“Imagine losing someone you love and discovering years later, after suffering, that the money that belonged to you or your family actually existed,” she said in an interview with Vuk'uzenzele.
Relatives had asked her to help search for possible benefits. After it happened three times, she began wondering: “Really, is there a place to check whether a loved one had something?”
Mooki researched the issue and found that unclaimed money existed across various asset classes.
“Sometimes it's just a lack of knowledge. The loved ones left behind are not aware that they can check,” she said.
She founded LehumoLago, an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to help people discover and claim unclaimed financial assets. The name means “your wealth”.
“I wanted to solve the gap between unclaimed benefits and the people who may be rightfully entitled to them. Can we create a discovery layer that connects that money to the people it belongs to?” said Mooki.
In March, LehumoLago won first place in the Information and Communication Technologies category at the Gauteng Accelerator Programme Innovation Competition Awards, receiving R250 000 in seed funding and R20 000 in cash.
Development of the platform began in August 2025. During this process, LehumoLago attracted the attention of the Innovation Hub.
Mooki said working with the Innovation Hub helped validate the concept and provided valuable support.
“Doing this kind of national-impact innovation on your own, having to collaborate with institutions and stakeholders and build trust, is not easy,” she said.
“We are thankful and fortunate to be working with the Innovation Hub. They are helping us navigate this journey and connect with relevant institutions and stakeholders.”
According to the platform's website, the service allows users to search for unclaimed benefits using an identity number and guides them through the claims process. An Android app is already available, while an iOS version is expected soon.
Mooki holds a Master of Business Administration and has worked in audit, management and information technology, with a focus on technology applications.
She said this experience has helped her understand the importance of governance in developing the platform.
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