Unique Summit

Day 2 of the Unique Summit 2024 continued to tap into the theme of "Transforming Investment" and concluded two days of inspiring dialogue and collaboration in Cape Town. This global meetup featured a number of highlight sessions including: - An immersive Investor & Ecosystem Roundtable on the disconnect between investors and accelerators, which also covered how to highlight investor-ready businesses and where to pitch in the value chain.  - A virtual keynote address and deep dive panel into the opportunities in Digital Public Infrastructure, bringing together minds from Cape Town and India to discuss this emerging area of development.  - An insightful fireside chat on biases and telling the African story from an African lens.  - A rapid keynote on the emerging field of BehaviourTech - A fireside chat about the Outlook of AI in Africa  - Pitching and speed dating between investors and our DeepTech startups as well as the GSA Finalists 🎥 Watch the full recap video to hear from some of our attendees and speakers as they share their thoughts on Day 2 and the future of innovation and investment in Africa. Celia Martin Vicario Gabrielle Ossinga Raven Naidoo Adrian Ephraim Thomas Fred Lungu  #UniqueSummit2024 #InnovationAfrica #StartupEcosystem  

Reflecting on an exciting tech month in Cape Town. November was an incredible month for the tech scene in Cape Town, with a series of high impact events that brought together innovators, thought leaders, and trailblazers from across Africa and beyond. It was a privilege to be part of several key events, participating in insightful conversations and fostering connections across Cape Town's tech ecosystem, here is a snapshot of last month's activities: 🌍 Participating in 4 Major Conferences: -Africa Tech Festival: the largest tech conference on the continent, bringing together 15 000 + investors, decision makers and startups. -Unique Summit established by Global StartupCities initiative and hosted by UVU Africa for the first time on the African continent brought together investors, startups, policy makers and ecosystem builders. -AESIS (Africa Early Stage Investor Summit): The summit helps to build the investor community with a focus on unlocking more early stage investment. -AfricArena : a powerful gathering of startups, investors and ecosystem enablers focused on advancing the African Tech ecosystem. 💬 Contributing to 5 Engaging Panels: Thought-provoking discussions on everything from challenges facing women entrepreneurs, deeptech innovation in the Western Cape and reflecting on the state of tech on the continent. 🎥 Participating in1 Informative Webinar hosted by the French Embassy in collaboration with the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency and Trade and Investment KwaZulu Natal: Sharing insights on key trends and opportunities for international businesses in South Africa. 🏢 1 very busy Exhibition Stand at Africa Tech Festival: hosting and speaking to investors about the Western Cape and the various opportunities in the province. 🌍 Co-hosting 6 Inward Delegations Hosted: Welcoming international delegations from Germany, South Korea, the USA and Canada. It’s been an amazing opportunity to engage with inspiring stakeholders, explore new investments into the Western Cape and discuss the future of tech on the African continent. The future is bright, and Cape Town is leading the way! 🌟 #TechMonth #CapeTown #InvestinCapeTown #InvestintheWesternCape

As Day 2 of the Unique Summit 2024 drew to a close, the Fireside Chat on the Future of AI in Africa set the stage for an inspiring finale before the Global Startup Awards Africa Ceremony. The discussion featured Dr Nick Bradshaw, founder of the South African AI Association (SAAI), Lindsey Schutters, Senior Editor at Bizcommunity.com. and Heike Kannemeyer Managing Director of The Loudhailer. Together, they explored the current state, challenges, and transformative potential of AI across the continent, covering key topics like infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and ethics.  While AI offers tremendous opportunities for innovation, the session highlighted several hurdles. Infrastructure limitations, including a lack of AI-specific hardware and affordable compute power, remain significant barriers for researchers and startups, often forcing reliance on external platforms. Access to quality data and technical expertise also poses challenges, limiting the pace of AI development.  Ethical concerns were explored in discussions about data misuse and the risk of automation exacerbating unemployment in vulnerable regions. Organisations like SAAI are working closely with governments to establish robust regulatory frameworks, aiming to ensure that AI adoption is responsible, inclusive, and beneficial for all.  Key Takeaways: - Entrepreneurs should focus on addressing significant societal issues to attract both funding and impact.   - Avoid the hype—prioritise practical applications of AI that solve real problems efficiently rather than relying on the "showmanship" of entrepreneurship.   - Industries like banking and BPOs face rapid automation, presenting opportunities for startups to develop AI-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and solve critical issues.   - With AI evolving at an unprecedented pace, entrepreneurs must stay agile and adaptive, iteratively building solutions while keeping up with industry trends.   "We focus on promoting responsible AI, responsible AI adoption, and getting people thinking about that as a topic. We're also trying to make people, entrepreneurs and investors aware about opportunities that AI present. The speed of innovation is something that even we can't keep up with," emphasised Dr. Nick Bradshaw during the Fireside Chat. The session reinforced that the future of AI in Africa lies in its ability to address real-world challenges while driving growth and innovation. With strategic collaboration and a focus on ethics, the continent has the potential to become a leader in responsible AI development.  #UniqueSummit2024 #AIinAfrica #TechForGood #Innovation

Day 2 of the Unique Summit 2024 showcased a Rapid Keynote on BehaviorTech. This emerging field leverages neuroscience, psychology, AI, and technology to unlock deeper human understanding, enabling businesses to engage with customers more effectively and predict their behaviors with greater accuracy. Per Lagerstrom of sens & YellowSpot discussed how behaviour tech enables businesses to understand and predict human behaviour at scale. Through case studies and examples, Per highlighted how technological advancements are influencing human behavior and decision-making across sectors like health, education, and sustainability.    Highlights and Key Takeaways Included: - Behaviour tech enables industries to build predictive models of human behaviour and deliver personalised experiences.   - Behaviour tech allows for "deep listening," facilitating rich, scalable interactions at low costs.  - Understanding subconscious behaviour is key to unlocking human-centric technological advancements. - Introducing the platform SENS who is leveraging AI for deeper insights, like predicting consumer personalities and optimising marketing offers. As Per expressed: "Behaviour tech allows us, for the first time, to engage with humans—whether they are consumers, buyers, or people in a nursing home—at scale and with quality."  Per concluded that behavioural technology, when paired with AI and entrepreneurial vision, has the potential to transform industries, empower emerging markets, and redefine consumer engagement. #UniqueSummit2024 #BehaviorTech #Innovation #EthicsInTech #DigitalTransformation

Relive the magic of the Global Startup Awards Africa Finale (edition11) recently hosted at the Unique Summit in Cape Town, this event marked the culmination of another successful season celebrating Africa's thriving innovation ecosystem. With 11,000+ record-breaking entries, we identified incredible solutions and fostered valuable partnerships aimed at uplifting African innovators. A heartfelt thank you to our partners and sponsors for making this journey possible. Your support is shaping the future of African entrepreneurship. As we look ahead to Edition 12, we invite YOU to join the movement and be part of this incredible journey. Together, we can continue driving impact across the continent. 👉 Interested in partnering for Edition 12? Email info@africanstartupawards.com or click here: https://lnkd.in/d7S3z-q9 📽️ : Delicious Bokeh Global Startup Awards UNICEF UVU Africa Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) - Ethiopia Ministry of Labor and Skill- FDRE Ministry of Innovation And Technology- Ethiopia techbuild.africa Channel Africa Euronews The Coca-Cola Company Baobab Network MsFiT Ventures MeOut Group SAB Foundation AfriLabs PACJACI humans2humans Africa Grows Green Awards de Boulle Diamond & Jewelry Robertson Winery Ethiopian Airlines Grant Thornton Advisory Ethiopia ayoba Africa Fintech Network Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) GreenCape Slalom Renew Capital Start.Up Lounge Africa Global Entrepreneurship Network HealthTech Hub Africa Wesgro City of Cape Town Mastercard Foundation Zemen Bank S.C. Discovery Limited CyberAlliance

Day 2 of the Unique Summit 2024 kicked off with an insightful keynote by Pramod Varma from CDPI India, where he delved into the potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a foundation for innovation and inclusion. Drawing from India’s success with systems like Aadhaar and UPI, Pramod highlighted how scalable, interoperable systems have reduced costs, fostered private sector innovation, and increased digital equity.   Key Takeaways from the Keynote: Interoperable data platforms can revolutionize urban governance, improving service delivery and efficiency. Successful DPI models, such as India’s, provide a roadmap for the Global South, connecting billions to the digital economy. Governments set the foundation, and private innovators tailor solutions to meet local needs. DPI fosters equity by lowering costs and improving access, playing a critical role in sustainable development. As Pramod aptly put it: “We built protocols, not products, and allowed private innovators to create diverse solutions. That’s the magic of DPI.”   Following the keynote, the session transitioned into a panel discussion moderated by Raven Naidoo, Director of Radian Consulting and UVU Africa Board Member. Panelists included Hugh C., Chief Data Officer of City of Cape Town, who emphasised the value of data sharing and efficient governance, Tim Parle, Chief Director for the Digital Economy at the Western Cape Government, who shared insights on successful broadband expansion, and Siddharth Prakash from Google, who discussed the importance of an ecosystem approach to DPI, involving startups, governments, and developers.   Key Takeaways from the Panel: Digital infrastructure is essential for economic growth, driving innovation and improving public services. Collaboration between governments, private sectors, and startups is key to successful digital initiatives. Data-driven decision-making is crucial for addressing societal challenges and improving governance. A strong digital foundation requires a focus on cybersecurity, data privacy, and user experience. "If government can just achieve efficiency goals, that would be huge for the South African economy—reducing corruption and increasing efficiency through a better digital system," reflected Tim Parle, Chief Director for the Digital Economy at the Western Cape government   These discussions reinforced the transformative role of DPI in fostering innovation, inclusion, and growth on local, national, and global scales.    #UniqueSummit2024 #DigitalPublicInfrastructure #Innovation #GlobalCollaboration #SmartCities  

Reclaiming the African Narrative: Fireside Chat at Day Two of the #UniqueSummit2024 featured a thought-provoking fireside chat, Biases and Telling the African Story. Moderated by Michael Joubert of THE BILLYBO GROUP and featuring Adrian Ephraim of TechSafari Labs alongside Lerato Mogoatlhe from Africa No Filter, the session unpacked the persistent stereotypes in global media when featuring Africa. The discussion illuminated the stark gap between negative portrayals of conflict and poverty versus the reality of Africa’s dynamic innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Key insights included: 📌 The damaging impact of stereotypes on African business and investment narratives. 📌 Africa’s underrepresentation in media—despite achievements like Nollywood’s global success. 📌 The transformative power of balanced storytelling, showcasing Africa’s challenges alongside its remarkable opportunities. Adrian Ephraim captured the key takeaways profoundly: “We are a continent of contradictions. While challenges exist, so do incredible opportunities. Balanced storytelling must reflect both realities.” The session ended on an optimistic note, envisioning a future where African voices shape a nuanced and authentic narrative for the world to see. #UniqueSummit #AfricaStorytelling #NarrativeShift #RedefinePerceptions

CT shines as host of Unique Summit 2024: Groundbreaking platform for innovation, collaboration, investment UVU Africa https://lnkd.in/geVRAQTQ

Step into Day One of #UniqueSummit2024! Just two weeks ago in Cape Town, the Unique Summit 2024 opened with vibrant discussions and impactful sessions exploring Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystem and "Transforming Investment" on the continent. 📽️ Hear directly from participants and attendees by diving into the full recap video below. Dheepak Maharajh Ambar van der Wath oabona michael Kgengwenyane Bernard Linsmeau #UniqueSummit #UniqueSummit2024 #TransformingInvestment #StartupCityCapeTown #SADeepTech

Really unique and amazing our first Pre-Summit activity at Unique Summit => Great example what means a global meetup with a unique and magic experience in one of the 7 New Wonders of #Nature