SingularityU South Africa has announced the programme overview for the inaugural Exponential Finance Summit, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 29 and 30 May 2019. This groundbreaking event is the next iteration in SingularityU’s journey to #futureproofAfrica, by creating a global community of changemakers, who are able to implement solutions to solve the world’s Global Grand Challenges by using exponential technologies. 

“As part of our journey in future-proofing Africa, we are thrilled with our next SingularityU South Africa Summit iteration that will focus solely on the financial sector. The timing is crucial for South Africa to learn, network, and collaborate, using exponential technologies so as not to get left behind and be disrupted,” said Shayne Mann, co-CEO of SingularityU South Africa. 

The programme will kick off with talks about exponential business models and investing in disruptive innovation, presented by Amin Toufani and Catherine Wood. Toufani is a global leader in artificial intelligence, while Wood is the CEO and founder of ARK Invest and one of the Top 50 Bloomberg influencers.  

Word-renowned cybersecurity expert Jaya Baloo will present a keynote on cybersecurity in finance, and how these two industries need to work together now more than ever. Baloo has been working in Information Security for close to two decades. In the last few years, she has been named CISO of the Year, Top 100 CISOs Globally, and Top 100 Global Security Influencers.

Data science specialist Manu Sharma will discuss artificial intelligence and the various layers that help artificial intelligence be smarter. Sharma is featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 2018 list in the enterprise technology category, and previously designed products at Planet and DroneDeploy. Sharma, who is also a graduate of Singularity University's Graduate Studies Programme, has an MS in Aerospace from Stanford University and is an avid private pilot. 

Local SingularityU South Africa faculty member, Dr Geci Karuri-Sebina (PhD) will present a keynote on the Future of Cities. She has been Executive Manager at The South African Cities Network since 2011, and more recently was appointed by South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, on the advisory panel on land reform.

“Through the Exponential Finance Summit, we hope to facilitate meaningful networking connections on a global scale, encourage ideas that can change the financial world, stimulate the South African economy, and kickstart a strong venture capital ecosystem. Impact is the currency of the future,” said Mic Mann, co-CEO of SingularityU South Africa. 

Best-selling author, analyst, entrepreneur, and investor, Sonia Arrison will speak about the premise of her book 100 Plus: How the Coming Age of Longevity Will Change Everything, From Careers and Relationships to Family and Faith and how the world will change with the rise of longevity when people start living long past 100.

Kyle Nel, the CEO and co-founder of Uncommon Partners, a behavioural transformation company, will close day one of the summit with a keynote address on how leaders need to embrace transformation. His passion for the intricacies of human behaviour led him to create the multi-disciplinary behavioural transformation approach, which uses tools such as narrative and applied neuroscience to help organisations break out of incrementalism. 

Other headline speakers announced to date include Valter Adão, Ashley Anthony, Tanya Knowles, Mic Mann, Shayne Mann, Ramez Naam, David Roberts, Kirsty Roth, Benjamin Rosman, Nathana Sharma, and Paul Pagnatto – one of the top 35 global wealth advisors. More speakers will be announced in due course around the mobile and cashless banking arena.

The Exponential Finance Summit is an industry-specific event hosted in collaboration with The Development Bank of Southern Africa, global partners Deloitte, and Discovery, and strategic partner MTN. The Summit will showcase how exponential technologies are simultaneously shaping and disrupting the financial industry. It aims to empower attendees with the latest insights on how to boost GDP growth, create employment, and attract foreign direct investment—a key enabler of economic growth that is especially important for emerging market economies.

“Exponential Finance will be a transformative experience for attendees. SingularityU South Africa convenes the world’s experts to introduce attendees to exponential technologies and equip them with the mindset and leadership needed to take the finance industry into the future,” said Rob Nail, CEO and associate founder of Singularity University. “We expect that these two days will incite and inspire action that will lead to breakthroughs in Africa’s economy.”

Similar to the annual SingularityU South Africa Summit, Exponential Finance will focus on creating a collaborative and more economically-inclusive future, whereby partnerships and deals can be conceptualised and developed across the continent. Networking opportunities will allow attendees to connect with SingularityU alumni. Exhibitors will present breakthrough ideas and investment opportunities that will run alongside the summit. 

Save the Date for the inaugural Exponential Finance Summit South Africa

When: 29 – 30 May 2019

Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town

Cost: Early adopter tickets: R16 650 (ends Sunday 10 March), Standard tickets: R18 500, Late mover tickets: R20 350. Tickets limited to 1,000 attendees. 

What to bring: An exponential mindset and your networking skills

REGISTER here