The SA Innovation Summit is back and we’re thrilled to be part of this fantastic event. The SA Innovation Summit is where the best innovators get to showcase their exceptional talents, innovations and ideas. The theme of the summit this year is ‘Innovation Intelligence’ which seeks to address the challenge of creating a competitive edge through new and convergent thinking. The summit is jam packed with world renowned speakers, the Market on the Edge (an organic innovative exhibition space), networking opportunities and a 24 hour hackathon.

The summit aims to address the key challenges faced by entrepreneurs, developers, researchers, thought leaders, inventors and investors while proposing innovative solutions and tools to overcome these. You can download the full programme here

Also in the lineup for the SA Innovation Summit are two competitions for investors, entrepreneurs and companies where finalists will be presented at the Market on the Edge (27 – 29 August 2015), namely the Inventors Garage Competition and the PwC Pitching Den.

The PwC Pitching Den will play host to the 2015 Vision to Reality awards, which acknowledges the company that has best demonstrated the commercialisation of a tech-enabled solution and is on a viable growth path for national and/or international expansion. PayFast is honoured to be one of the 20 Vision to Reality finalists and our very own Jonathan Smit will be pitching at the event.

The Market on the Edge is an exciting new exhibition experience coming to Cape Town this month. Promoted as ‘A fun day of innovation and inventiveness’, the market is the official exhibition area of the SA Innovation Summit. Highlights of this include:

• The Investors Garage, a place for inventors to showcase their inventions
• Chill zone, for networking and socialising
• Live entertainment and innovative food option

Stand a chance to WIN one of two sets of double tickets for Market on the Edge by following us on twitter or you can buy your tickets here!

We’re proud to also be sponsoring the 24-hour hackathon at the summit which runs from Friday, 28 August to Saturday, 29 August.

The focus of the hackathon will be on early childhood development. Global interest in ECD has been driven by the overwhelming evidence that quality learning programmes stimulate individual growth and impact positively on national achievement. Early childhood development promotes greater equality, better health, better education, greater economic productivity and more social cohesion.

If you are passionate about tech be sure to sign up where you will have the opportunity to meet and work together with programmers, designers, creatives and ECD practitioners with the aim of creating mobile applications to benefit children most at risk in our society. Entries will be capped so be sure to register soon.

Register for the hackathon now.

We at PayFast believe in and support social responsibility and that’s why we offer Cause accounts for charities and other NPOs to help them with their fundraising efforts.

If you would like to view or support our causes click here.

If you have a charity or NPO and would like to setup a cause account click here.