SA Innovation Summit 2019: Competitions and Speakers

TechInAfrica – You may have seen our story regarding the three healthcare startups among 11 finalists to compete in this year’s South Africa Innovation Summit. The annual event celebrating innovative ideas, startups, and early-stage companies in the tech and tech-enabled sectors has expected to welcome a total of 600 companies, 450 entrepreneurs, and 150 investors on September 11^th through 13^th. Aiming to develop Africa’s full potential in the fields of technology, this year’s South Africa Innovation Summit is themed From Africa to the World.

“It is a David against Goliath story, and it is time to take Africa to the World! It will take courage, vision and ingenuity. The lion is waking up and Africa is rising.”

Along with its official hashtag #SAIS2019, the event also conducts numerous competitions to celebrate upcoming innovations and modernizations in the digital era. The competitions are:

Andza Entrepreneurs, aiming to find the top investment-ready businesses in the country to fast track them to success, and provide a platform to help accelerate their innovative ideas to greater heights and further develop the South African economy.
Winetech, aiming to find innovators and disruptors; providing unique solutions and products which can be commercialized, to wine producers and the agritech industries.
Africa Cup, aiming to welcome all innovative ideas, startups and early stage companies in tech-enabled sectors from around the world to take advantage of this opportunity to compete for investment, showcase their products or services, gain market and media exposure, and secure support in the stages of scaling and growth.
SEDA Pitch & Perfect, in collaboration with Small Enterprise Development Agency, the competition presents the fourth season of the Pitch & Perfect Masterclasses and Competition; titled “Bridging the Gap between Entrepreneurs and Funders”.
Inventor’s Garage, aiming to see independent innovations from kitchen and garage inventors, to seasoned innovators and engineering students. Participants are encouraged to enter, compete and showcase their inventions at the Inventor’s Garage.

The event’s stakeholders spoke of the annual programme, “our annual programme comprise of carefully curated expert speakers, thought leaders, seasoned entrepreneurs, leading academics and researchers. The programme aims to not only educate, inform and showcase, but also to motivate and inspire. Ultimately, the programme supports the Summit’s objective to accelerate economies.”

*South Africa Innovation Summit highlights via innovationsummit.co.za*

In addition, here’s a comprehensive list of masters of ceremonies, keynote speakers, and judges;

Masters of Ceremonies

Peter Greenwall, engineer
Bobby Brown, founder of Bobby Brown Solutions
Brandon Paschal, Incubation Manager at LaunchLab
Selebogo Molefe, founder of The Hookup Dinner (THUD)

Judges

Dr Akintoye Akindele, Founder and Managing Partner of Synergy Capital Managers
Albert Strever, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Agro-Innovation Hub
Nontombi Marule, Director: Innovation and Technology Policy at the Department of Trade and Industry
Dominique Trione, Chairman of the Board, Inno’vin
Dr Ponmile Osibo, Chief Investor Relations Officer: Unicorn Group
Pieter De Beer, Industry Development Manager: IDC of SA
Baratang Miya, CEO of GirlHype
Charles Back, Proprietor: Fairview Wines
Senisha Moonsamy, GM Innovation Skills Development at Technology Innovation Agency
Marc Augustin, Start-Up Coach and International Development: Bordeaux Technowest
Niki Neumann, Managing Director: Afgri Technology Services
Vuyisa Qabaka, Cofounder of Uprise Africa

Keynote Speakers

Michael van Straaten, CEO of Verimark
Tabassum Qadir, CEO of Uprise Africa
Dr Akintoye Akindele, Founder and Managing Partner of Synergy Capital Managers
Stephan Ekbergh, CEO and Founder of Travelstart
Jim Beddows, CEO of TDP Data Systems
Tilson Mphathi Manyoni, Managing Director and Founder of Visionwave; Director of MilestoneSA
Dr Phil Mjwara, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology
Dr Mmaki Jantjies, Senior Lecturer at University of the Western Cape
Catherine Wijnberg, Director and Founder of Fetola
Mr Lionel October, Director-General of the Department of Trade and Industry
Samar Singla, CEO and Founder of Jugnoo
Dr Robert Nkuna, Director-General of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Dr Audrey Verhaeghe, Chariperson of South Africa Innovation Summit
Deidre Samson, Futurist and Innovation Specialist at Future-Fit
Bryan Hattingh, CEO and Founder of Cycan LTD.
Ketso Gordhan, CEO of SA SME Fund
Adam Oxford, Southern Africa agent of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law
Anthony Nathan, Co-Founder of TMARA
Dr Joe Molete, Executive Director of VUT Science Park

Marang Marekimane, Managing Partner of Lean Business Platform
Clive Butkow, CEO of Kalon Venture Partners
Naëtt Atkinson, Founder and Mediator
Dan Willis, Millennial Motivator
Dr Habib Noorbhai, Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Johannesburg
Dr Patricia Gouws, Senior Lecturer at UNISA
Zoe Amin Akhlaghi, CEO of ZAMSTEC
Dr Wynand Goosen, CEO of IRG
Nélio Macombo, Community Strategist of Mozdevz
Lana Leas-Roy, CEO and Founder of Goats2Unicorns
Pontsho Manzi, CEO of Boam Investment Group
Mustapha Zaouini, Head of Innovation of Fliptin
Stephen Gray, Founder of the Makerspace Foundation
Robynne Zevenster, Attorney at Rademeyer Attorneys
Xabiso Lombo, CEO of Guardian Gabriel
Willem Gous, Founder of the Human Entrepreneur
Regine le Roux, Managing Director of Reputation Matters
Tshepo Magoma, Independent Consultant of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
Tania Ikedji Mukwamu, Co-Founder of Maxicash LTD.
Puno Selesho, Junior Bee Consultant of Motopi Consulting
Christiane Holzinger, Chairwoman of Junior Chamber Austria
Dr Nick Bradshaw, Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneur
Daniel Howard, CTO of Simbapay
Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa
Janine Nel, Director of Teach the Future SA
Terence Naidu, Founder and Managing Director of Envisionit E-Pay
Aunnie Patton Power, Founder of Intelligent Impact
Ilari Lindy, Lead Expert of Southern Africa Innovation Support Programme
Ross Tasker, Co-Founder of Nobuntu
Keolebogile Shirley Motaung, CEO and Founder of Global Health Biotech LTD.
Wura Abiola, Managing Director of Management Transformation LTD.
Basia Nasiorowska, CEO of NEOVRAR

Johannes Cronje, Dean of Informatics and Design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Dr Sumarie Roodt, President of the Silicon Cape Initiative
Glenn Gillis, CEO of Sea Monster
Christophe Breuillet, Director of Vitagora Cluster
Jaco Fourie, Executive Coach & Leadership Trainer of Cycan
Fuzlin Levy-Hassen, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Technology Innovation Agency
Senisha Moonsamy, GM Innovation Skills Development of Technology Innovation Agency
Michael Scherz, Head of Innovation of Advantage Austria
Shirley Gilbey, Director of UK-SA Tech Hub
Robert de Rooy, Founder of Creative Contracts LTD.
Sinah Mosehla, Director of the DTI, Industrial Policy Development Division
David Sekgororwana, Senior Industry Development Manager of Industrial Development Corporation
Paul Kallmes, Special Projects/International Development of 360 Lab SF
Alexandra Burger, Managing Director of Lyra Consulting LTD.
Kristi Erasmus, Head of Faculty at Futures Law Faculty
Dominique Trioné, Chairman of the Board of Inno’vin
Fade Ogunru, CEO of Bookings Africa
Mark White, Partner of White Summers Caffe & James
Abbas Jamie, Futurist and Engineer
Dr. Puleng Makhoalibe, PhD in Business Management from the University of Cape Town
Emile Fourie, Founding Member of Y-Waste Solutions
Karen Hidden, Founder various non-profit entities
Lucinda Heyns, Extension Specialist of Winetech
Baratang Miya, CEO of Girlhype