10 South African Entrepreneurs Who Are Redefining The Tech Industry. The technology industry in South Africa has grown tremendously in recent years as more entrepreneurs are entering the space and are bringing innovative ideas and solutions. These solutions bring about market disruption as they bring unique perspectives in solving problems. By doing this these entrepreneurs are redefining the technology industry in South Africa as they are setting a precedent aspiring tech entrepreneurs can follow in the future. Below are some of the South African entrepreneurs who are redefining the tech industry.
Katlego Maphai
Katlego is the co-founder and CEO of Yoco. Yoco is an African technology company that builds tools and services to help small businesses get paid, run their business better, and grow. Yoco offers card payment acceptance, software-driven business tools and working capital.
James Paterson
James Paterson is the co-founder and CEO of Aerobotics, a data analytics company that uses imagery and machine learning algorithms to measure yields and optimize crop performance for the global fruit and nut supply chain. As an aerospace and mechatronics engineer, Peterson has always been passionate about applying cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems. He graduated from MIT with a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, and from UCT with a bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering.
Nneile Nkholise
Nneile Nkholise is a product engineer with a specific focus in design engineering and has eight years’ experience in the construction and biomedical sectors, having developed biomedical products ranging from prosthesis to bio-implants. She was the co-founder of iMed Tech, a biotech company specializing in custom-made medical solutions using CAD and CAM techniques. In 2018, she co-founded 3DIMO, a venture backed company that automates livestock data analytics to monitor livestock health.
Sheraan Amod
Sheraan Amod is the founder of RecoMed, the largest and fastest growing technology driven online healthcare booking platform and marketplace in South Africa that seamlessly connects practitioners, patients and other stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem. Amod is an executive leader with strong global experience in the technology sector. As a seasoned venture executive he has a practical background in strategy and business development, product planning and execution, keystone B2B partnership development, international dealmaking, multi-stage capital raising and organisational leadership.
Saul Kornik
Saul Kornik is the CEO and Founder of Kena Health. He founded Kena Health to solve one of Africa’s most important challenges: lack of access to healthcare due to prohibitive costs. Kena Health lowers the cost of care in order to increase access. It does this by organising a team of health professionals around the needs of the patient, which also improves the quality of care.
Khathutshelo Mufamadi
Khathutshelo Mufamadi is the founder of Droppa, an on-demand logistics service that makes it convenient and safer to transport your parcels, goods and furniture by using its easy-to-use mobile app and interactive booking system. Mufamadi is a business development professional with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) focused in Computer Science from University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Aisha Pandor
Aisha Pandor believes in technology as a vehicle for impact, scale, and bridging inequality. Pandor is a two-time founder, and currently serves as co-founder and CEO of Pandora Biosciences & Pandora Health, a company that empowers women with chronic health conditions to be an active part of the development of personalized, more effective treatments solutions. Previously, she co-founded SweepSouth, Africa’s largest home services provider, which has served millions of bookings around the continent.
Emma Dicks
Emma Dicks is a director at CodeSpace, an education institution that specialises in teaching coding & software development. CodeSpace has received global acclaim for its highly effective initiatives that foster diversity in the tech world. Emma pioneers transformative education models that prepare youth for the 21st century workplace. She is a dedicated global advocate for a more diverse and inclusive economy and tech industry. Her work has been recognised globally by Fortune Most Powerful Women, Google, Mail & Guardian, and HM the Queen who honoured her with The Queen’s Young Leader Award.
Karen Nadasen
Karen Nadasen, PayU Africa’s CEO, is regularly described as one of South Africa’s most inspiring women in tech, nominated for IT Personality of the Year 2017, listed among 100 Most Influential Young South Africans 2017 and the Regional Winner (SADC) of Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government 2018.
Nkazi Sokhulu
Nkazi Sokhulu is the co-founder of Yalu, it is a new life insurance provider aiming to provide the most affordable, transparent and rewarding products and services to the South African consumer. Yalu is black owned. Its founding team has over 20 years of insurance industry experience, combined with superior technology expertise.
