From Idea to Impact: How To Use Tech To Drive Real Growth(Fireside Chat)

Details

Join us for From Idea to Impact - a fireside chat featuring Alan Knott-Craig and Harley Ferguson, moderated by Kyle T. Telfer.

Alan Knott‑CraigA serial entrepreneur who transformed African tech through Cellfind, iBurst, Mxit, Project Isizwe, Herotel, and now fibertime™, bringing world-class fibre internet to township communities. With over 17 startups launched or scaled across telecoms and digital media, Alan has mastered tech-driven infrastructure that disrupts industries and empowers underserved populations.

Harley FergusonDeveloper-turned-CEO, co-founder of Origen Software, Harley is championing lean, impact-driven product building. He equips founders and developers with the tools to build fast, scale smarter, and focus on solving real problems - not just writing code. His philosophy: “You aren’t just a coder; you’re a problem solver,” and “The best developers know nothing” - a growth-mindset approach to innovation.

Kyle Tristan Telfer
The Co-Founder of Spark Eighteen Africa, a technology partner helping African startups transform concepts into market-ready products. Drawing on his background in law, compliance, and operations, Kyle bridges the gap between vision and execution, guiding founders through strategy, structure, and the development of minimum viable products that bring bold ideas to life.

Why You Should Attend:

Discover real-world growth stories from founders using tech to scale impactful businesses.
Understand the tech trends shaping tomorrow’s decisions in SaaS, infrastructure, fintech, and beyond.
Learn how to choose, implement, and scale the right tech stack for your business.
Network with industry leaders, VCs, and peers building the next wave of African innovation.

What to Expect: Founder-Proven Insights

Fireside Chat with high-impact founders Alan (fibertime™) and Harley(Origen) on building for scale and community.
Sharing strategies for rapid execution, partnerships, pivots, and using tech with purpose.
Live Audience Q&A where you can ask your toughest questions on product-market fit, traction, and tech decisions.
Networking Session with Cape Town’s most ambitious entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors.

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Agenda

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Speakers

Alan Knott-Craig - Fibertime (CEO and Founder)

I'm Alan Knott-Craig, an entrepreneur, author, and founder of fibertime™️.
My mission is to connect everyone to the internet.I started life in Pretoria, before studying at Nelson Mandela University and becoming a chartered accountant with Deloitte in 2002.My entrepreneurial journey began in 2003 when I started Cellfind, a South African pioneer in mobile location-based serv…

Harley Ferguson - Origen Software (CEO and Co-Founder)

In 2016, I got fired from my first dev job. By 2021, I became a tech lead, founder, and built platforms used by millions.
I didn’t start my career as a “natural.” I struggled to code fast enough. I didn’t understand how to work with clients.Most people told me I wasn’t cut out for this.They were wrong.Instead, I built a new system, mindset, and skillset - based on ho…

Kyle Telfer - Spark Eighteen (Co-Founder (Africa))

Hosted By

Brian Mlambo, CEO & Founder

Introducing Brian Mlambo - an esteemed entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and visionary ecosystem builder. As the CEO & Founder of Akha Ventures and Director for Startup Grind Johannesburg, Brian stands at the pinnacle of business ecosystem creation in South Africa. With a database boasting over 35,000 entrepreneurs, Brian has been the cornerstone for many startups, bringing their aspirations to fruition.

Brian's achievements are vast and noteworthy. In under six months, he amassed a database of over 10,000 SMEs and has graced many media platforms like Jozi FM, Kaya FM, Morning Live, Kasie FM, CliffCentral, and Radio 2000.

A lifelong learner, Brian continually pursues knowledge and innovation. He's organized over 100 entrepreneurship events in recent years, sharing a stage with industry giants such as Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Allon Raiz, Founder of Raizcorp, Vusi Thembekwayo, Group CEO of MyGrowthFund and Lebo Gunguluza, CEO & Founder of The New Gem Group.

Since the tender age of 14, when he clinched the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Step Up 2 A Startup Programme by Primestars, Brian has been a trailblazer in entrepreneurship. He's embarked on ventures that resonate with empowerment, inspiration, and nurturing South Africans toward entrepreneurship. Esteemed mentors like Allon Raiz, Sanjay Soni, and Lindile Xoko have guided him, solidifying his reputation.

Having organized over 100 entrepreneurial events, Brian has touched the lives of 50,000+ South African entrepreneurs over the past 5 years, solidifying his role as an ecosystem pioneer.

Brian's insightful speaking engagements reflect his profound expertise in various domains. Drawing from his rich entrepreneurial experience, he addresses topics that include ecosystem building in Africa, preparing entrepreneurs for investors, the art of effective communication, and digital transformation. His mastery over marketing and sales strategies enriches his perspective, making him a sought-after voice in the business community.

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Global Partner

Google Cloud (https://cloud.google.com/resources/content/future-of-ai-report?utm_source=events-with-google&utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=FY25-Q1-NORTHAM-SMB31054-website-dl-AIThoughtLeader-52420&utm_content=startup-grind&utm_term=-&hl=en)