Looking to get into the South African startup scene or scratch up on some of your skills? Well, you’ve come to the right place. There are loads of competitions, networking sessions and workshops happening around South Africa and the rest of the continent (namely Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana) that we’ve rounded up to make your life a bit easier.
This article is part of a weekly series that highlights all the top startup competitions, networking sessions, workshops and conferences around South Africa, and the greater region. If you have any event recommendations for us to add to the list, or next week’s, please let us know in the comments below or send us an email.
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Cape Town
#SCTechTalks: Topic Bitcoin & Blockchain
Silicon Cape and Workshop 17 host a monthly event on the last Wednesday of every month. This month’s theme is Bitcoin and Blockchain, with speakers from Rice Accelerator and Bitcoin Academy. There will also be a panel discussion with Ian Merrington from the Bandwidth Barn, and Simon De La Roviere from ConsesnSLLC.
Those interested can sign-up through the Silicon Cape website.
Location: Workshop 17 , 17 Dock Road, V & A Waterfront
Date: 24 February, 7pm – 8:30pm
Media Device Startups: Is it about the design, the process, or simply about the money?
Those interested in medical devices may want to visit this seminar, which is organised by Cardiovascular Research Unit (CRU), University Of Cape Town (UCT), Strait Access Technologies Holdings, and Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company.
Click here for more information.
Location: Lecture Theatre, Room 5.13 Chris Barnard Building, Faculty of Health Science, UCT
Date: 25 February, 1pm – 2pm
FinTech Africa Blockchain Event
If you’ever wondered how blockchain technology can change finance in Africa or why so many financial institutions are investing in blockchain, then this may be the event for you. The FinTech Africa Blockchain Event will consist of 100 insiders, experts, startups, and investors discussing the developments and challenges for blockchain in Africa.
For more information take a look at the Silicon Cape website.
Location: 66 -68 Albert Road, Woodstock
Date: 25 February, 3:30pm – 8:00pm
Africa 4.0 – Driving Global Innovation via SA’s youth dividend
Powered by the Institute of Leadership Development in Africa (IDL), this talk looks to build leadsership skills, enhance individuals, and address local and global challenges of implamenting policy and executing strategy. Speakers will include the head of strategy at Telkom, Miriam Altman; founder and CEO at Brothers 4 All, Sihle Tchabalala; Ph.D Lead X & Lecturer at Stanford University, William Cockayne.
Click here for more information.
Location: Workshop 17, Watershed, V&A Waterfront
Date: 25 February, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Johannesburg
A collaboration between JoziHub and HTXTafrica, the App.Clinic is a planned face-to-face mentor session for novice developers or startups with experienced software professionals for a unique and highly valuable code and design diagnoses that will take your app to the next level.
Location: JoziHub (Main Event Space)
Date: 22 February 6:30pm — 8:00pm.
JoziConnect Session – The Future Of Connected Cars
Featuring Ford Brand Manager and Smart Services Lead for South Africa Kuda Takura, this event looks at the future of transport and how Joburg’s development community can get involved in building it.
Location: JoziHub
Date: 24 February 6:00pm onward
This is the second in a series of monthly meetings for Gauteng Python developers. The event will feature one major talk (about 20 minutes), lightning talks (2-4 at about 5-8 minutes each), Q&A/problem-solving and automating ourselves away.
Location: JoziHub (Boardroom)
Date: 24 February 6:00pm — 8:00pm
Africa
Nairobi
Hardware Meetup & Panel Discussion at Gearbox’s New, Flagship Makerspace
Join Village Capital, the Lemelson Foundation, and Gearbox for a night of shop talk, drinks, and bitings amongst the machines at Gearbox’s brand new makerspace in the iHub building. Stay for a panel discussion with Gearbox Founder Kamau Gachigi and a panel representing government, corporate, and startup persoectives on local challenges in hardware & manufacturing.
Location: Bishop Magua Centre, Ngong Road Nairobi
Date:22 February 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Village Capital Hardware: Africa 2015-16 Venture Forum
The Venture Forum is the culmination of a 3-month workshop and an exciting opportunity to meet face-to-face with entrepreneurs from around the continent who have developed the next generation of “invention-based” hardware solutions that improve access to energy for all and increase agricultural productivity for small-holder farmers.
Location: The Alchemist – Westlands. Parklands Rd (just behind Kwik Fit). Nairobi KE
Date: 24 February 5:00pm — 8:30pm
The latest in the Nairobi Garage’s After Hours series, will include experts from the Google Developers Programme.
Location: Nairobi Garage
Date: 25 February 5:00pm onward
An Entrepreneurial Mindset and Behaviour talk
A talk on Entrepreneurial mindset and behavior that targets students, staff and innovators who want to venture into entrepreneurship. The guest Speaker is Lewis the co-founder of swivelBOX, a social enterprise that builds and delivers entrepreneurship programmes for organisations.
Location: iBizAfrica 5th floor Student Centre,Strathmore University
Date: 25 February 2016
The latest in a series of two-day workshops developed to take entrepreneurs’ strategy, operations, sales and marketing as well as supporting functions to the next level.
Location: The Hub East Africa – Waiyaki Way Nairobi
Date: 27 February 9:00am – 5:00pm
Lagos
ConnectNigeria’s E-Business Fair 2016
ConnectNigeria’s E-Business Fair is a premier technology event for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Top Brands in Nigeria.
Location: Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, Nigeria
Date: 27 February
If we have missed any events you feel we should include on the list, please let us know in the comments section below this article.