day 1
Disrupting Finance
This panel will explore the groundbreaking advancements in fintech that are transforming Africa’s financial landscape and empowering a new generation of startups. By innovating how data is handled, fintech is unlocking new opportunities and business models, driving financial inclusion, and reshaping the future of financial services across the continent. The session will delve into key areas such as data handling, cybersecurity, and payment systems, showcasing how these technologies are meeting evolving consumer needs and creating a more inclusive financial ecosystem.Â
Speakers / Judges
Learning From Success Stories
Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) is emerging as a powerful tool for driving growth in Africa’s dynamic and rapidly evolving markets. This masterclass will explore how African startups and corporates can harness CVC to fuel innovation, scale, and cross-border expansion. Drawing on real-world success stories, participants will gain insights into how corporates are utilizing venture capital to create win-win partnerships that drive both financial returns and strategic growth.
Through the lens of these success stories, this session will examine key aspects of CVC in Africa, including identifying the right investment opportunities, aligning corporate strategy with entrepreneurial innovation, and fostering long-term partnerships between startups and corporates. Attendees will learn how CVC can be a strategic growth lever for African companies looking to break into new markets and scale their impact.
Speakers / Judges
Protecting Innovations and Data
Understand the critical importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding advanced technologies and data. We are seeing rapid advancements in technology. The importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated. Safeguarding innovations and the valuable data they generate has become increasingly complex. The convergence of diverse technologies, evolving threat landscapes, and a rapidly growing digital ecosystem within Africa, necessitates a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.
- The Evolving Threat Landscape
- Protection of IP
- Data Security in a connected worls
- Building a culture of cyber security
Speakers / Judges
Who Should Be Investing in Early-Stage Companies?
This Masterclass will provide an in-depth exploration of early-stage investment, focusing on its pivotal role in fuelling the growth of startups within Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Attendees will be introduced to the different types of early-stage investors, including angel investors, venture capitalists (VCs), corporate investors, impact investors, family offices, and government/development funds.Â
The session will go beyond definitions, offering practical strategies for startups on how to approach and engage with these investors. Participants will learn about the unique contributions each type of investor can bring, how to align with the right investors based on their startup’s stage and sector, and the long-term impact of securing “smart money.”Â
Speakers / Judges
This panel, hosted by AIFE – the African Institute for Entrepreneurship, will explore the practical applications of Generative AI, focusing on its potential to empower non-tech entrepreneurs and youth in Africa. AIfE is a leading non-profit research organisation specialising in entrepreneurship opportunities within emerging tech ecosystems. They conduct research on various new technologies to identify entrepreneurship opportunities. Their Generative AI research will bring real-world case studies of effective utilisation of AI in various sectors and how it can be leveraged for innovation, growth and ultimately Investment.
It will be an exciting panel of entrepreneurs and academics, looking at what GenAI can do for entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Speakers / Judges
This masterclass brings together two seasoned experts to explore the critical role of innovation hubs in township economies and the challenges of digital adoption in the small business sector. Darryl Dennis, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Innovation Hub, and Christoff Oosthuysen, Founding CEO of the Entrepreneurial Planning Institute, will share their insights and strategies for driving economic growth and technological advancement in underserved communities.
Speaker 1: Darryl Dennis will discuss the importance of township incubation hubs as catalysts for innovation and economic development. Drawing on his experience in establishing and expanding incubation centers in township economies, he will provide practical strategies for attracting and supporting startups, fostering innovation, and building strong partnerships with government agencies, academia, and funding institutions.
Speaker 2: Christoff Oosthuysen will address the slow rates of digital adoption in the small business sector and offer actionable solutions to overcome this challenge. With his extensive experience in entrepreneurial planning and digital transformation, Christoff will share insights into creating a conducive ecosystem for small businesses to thrive, including strategies for increasing digital literacy, enhancing access to technology, and designing effective support programs.
Speakers / Judges
Catherine Wijnberg, Founder and CEO of Fetola, will lead this insightful keynote on empowering climate-tech innovators to create a greener, more sustainable future. With climate change posing critical challenges and opportunities for innovation, this session will explore how Africa’s SMEs can lead the way in developing solutions that benefit both the environment and society.
The keynote will delve into practical strategies for fostering innovation in the climate-tech sector, focusing on how startups and SMEs can access key resources such as investment, market opportunities, and networks. Catherine will discuss the importance of building a pipeline of climate-friendly businesses and empowering them to scale through partnerships, mentorship, and access to green finance.
Drawing on her vast experience in sustainable development, Catherine will highlight several successful case studies, showcasing how these climate-tech innovations have made a measurable impact. Hloolo, Fetola’s pioneering platform, will also be mentioned as an example of how ecosystems can be built to support SMEs in the green economy.
The session will provide attendees with actionable insights on how to engage with and support climate-tech entrepreneurs and innovators, fostering a resilient economic landscape while addressing global environmental challenges.
Speakers / Judges
day 2
Maternal healthcare remains a critical challenge, especially in developing regions, but innovations in HealthTech are transforming the way care is delivered to mothers and infants. This masterclass will explore how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping maternal healthcare by improving access, quality of care, and health outcomes for women around the world.
The session will highlight breakthrough maternal HealthTech innovations—from AI-powered diagnostics and telehealth platforms to mobile health applications and wearable technology. Participants will gain insights into how these technologies are addressing gaps in maternal care, enabling remote monitoring, early detection of complications, and personalized care for expectant mothers.
The discussion will also delve into real-world examples of successful maternal HealthTech solutions and explore how health providers, entrepreneurs, and innovators can collaborate to scale these technologies and make a global impact.
Speakers / Judges
In this Masterclass, Injini’s Venture Scale Lead, Gigi, and MEL Head, Alexei, will guide founders and entrepreneurs through the critical journey from gathering impactful evidence to securing strategic deals that drive growth in the EdTech sector.
Part 1: Alexei will explain why evidence is essential for making informed decisions, showcasing the value of an EdTech solution, and attracting strategic partners. This segment will provide insights into building credibility through data and demonstrating impact to key stakeholders.
Part 2: Gigi will offer practical steps on how to leverage this evidence in deal-making. From identifying the right partners to navigating the complexities of securing and executing successful deals, participants will learn how to approach traditional funding, philanthropic grants, and partnerships. This session will equip EdTech entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools they need to scale their impact and achieve sustainable growth
Speakers / Judges
Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Energy Infrastructure
The continent is blessed with more than 50% of global renewable energy potential – so Africa’s energy system is bound to look different. It will be clean, efficient and decentralised. Leapfrogging legacy centralised grid systems, tapping our continent’s abundance of natural energy, skipping past arduous retrofits, and providing first-time electricity access to over 600 million Africans presents a massive opportunity to private sector innovation and public sector collaboration.
Speakers / Judges
Building High-Performing Tech Teams to Accelerate Innovation in Africa
In the rapidly evolving tech landscape of Africa, the debate between generalist and specialist teams is crucial for understanding how best to drive innovation and digital transformation. This session will explore the strengths and challenges of both generalist and specialist tech teams, offering insights into how diverse skill sets contribute to building high-performing teams that can accelerate Africa’s technological growth.
The speaker will discuss how to strategically structure teams to maximize innovation and adaptability, whether through the breadth of knowledge that generalists bring or the deep expertise that specialists provide. The session will also delve into the unique needs of African tech ecosystems and how the right team composition can foster cross-border collaboration, attract investment, and drive the continent’s digital edge.
Speakers / Judges
The session will explore how African corporations, particularly in South Africa, can harness corporate venture capital (CVC) to drive innovation, economic growth, and societal impact. Discussions will focus on how CVC can be a transformative tool for corporations looking to disrupt themselves and invest in the continent’s future.
Speakers / Judges
From Vulnerability to Strength
Learn about the unique challenges women face with respect to climate change and the technologies and investments happening in climate tech to transform these vulnerabilities into strengths. Hear the perspectives of women founders and investors and how they’re leveraging innovation to address the outsized impact climate change has on the continent’s female population.
Speakers / Judges
In today’s fast-evolving global economy, innovation is essential for driving sustainable growth. This masterclass, hosted by the City of Cape Town, will explore the latest innovation tools and techniques that enable businesses, organizations, and governments to achieve long-term, sustainable success. Participants will learn how to effectively apply innovation strategies that not only foster growth but also create resilient business models that adapt to shifting market demands and environmental challenges.
The session will cover a range of practical innovation tools such as design thinking, lean startup methodologies, and data-driven decision-making processes. Attendees will discover how to embed these techniques into their organizations to promote continuous innovation and sustainable growth. The City of Cape Town will also share real-life examples of how these tools have been successfully applied to foster local economic development and sustainable urban innovation.
