Tech4Africa Johannesburg 2015

The Internet Of Things. Probably the most over-hyped technology trend in recent memory. Gadgets, tools and platforms... but what does this mean for "normal" businesses? Will it really live up to the hype, and deliver the returns it promises? I will take the audience through the actual stories of how 3 South Africa business have implemented and used IoT technologies. I will also highlight the pitfalls, the hype and reality.

We fly mini "drones" at high speed round short tight courses and through the smallest of gaps for fun. We fly them "First Person View" or FPV through goggles. As if we are sitting inside the miniquad. It's like pod racing from Star Wars, in real life! We hope to share the story of how we grew a community and a e-commerce store over past few months. Plus all the exciting things we have been doing for the FPV Racing community.

On a bitter cold winter afternoon I strolled through the streets of Maboneng and stumbled upon a most fantastical location: a place where engineering meets the arts, where design sits next to electronic sensors, where the promise of roasted coffee and freshly baked bread contest for air space. Below, a forlorn boxing gym holds the greatest secret. Empty space, gray walls and a colourful mural. The reincarnation of a dream to build a space where engineers flourish and that designers relish. Now the space is mine and the makerspace will be yours. Help me envision what this space can be!

This presentation follows the speaker’s journey, guided by Alan Knott-Craig, into the world of South Africa tech startup’s. It then looks at the shift in focus from pure moneymaking-startup ideas to initiatives that help governments improve the lives of its citizens.

He was employee #1 at Project Isizwe, the largest government-funded public WiFi network in Africa.

With Happimo, a non-profit organisation, the speaker is about to launch Namola – a smartphone solution aimed at helping the Tshwane Metro Police Department provide a better service to the citizens of Tshwane.

Happimo has also identified a number of key government issues that can be easily solved by tech startups. The plan is to launch a new initiative every month for the next year.

Instead of building the solution for each problem Happimo looks to connect the dots between government and tech Startups..

Join us to share in all the war stories and lessons learnt in bringing this large-scale messaging system into production