Joburg-based tech start-ups, geeks, makers and aspiring tech innovators, take note, there’s a (red) bull of disruption coming your way. Back for the second instalment, the Red Bull Basement hatch will be held on Saturday, 13 April in Braamfontein’s Tshimologong Precinct between 10 am and 4 pm.

Red Bull Basement is a global programme which fosters positive change through creative solutions aimed at improving society through the use of technology. The programme connects innovators who seek to use their skills and creativity to solve challenges in the world.

What is this Basement hatch that they are talking about you might ask? It’s an interactive session of workshops, debates and lectures on the topic of technology for good. It provides aspiring innovators with a platform to share knowledge and gain hands-on experience. 

The hatch will include a Makers’ space, where communities of innovative makers will create and engage in various maker activities. The Geek idols space features a show and tell session by tech start-ups. Renowned Techie, Lebogang Madise, will run a Women in Tech corner session. It features live demos and tips on how innovators can avoid losing their technological abilities by gaining knowledge needed to stay ahead of trends.

Tech Entrepreneur and Futurist, Stafford Masie, the main guest speaker, will focus on the use of emerging technology in Africa. The event will be concluded by a technology debate examining whether South Africa has enough technical skills to compete with the rest of the world.

Furthermore, there will be team coaches to give advice along the way:

• Arnaud Mukenge Kim Chulu Amina is an entrepreneur in technology and a lecturer in User Experience & Graphic Design.
• Tom van De Bon is an Embedded Developer at Cartrack/Onecell.
• Lucky Mokalusi is interested in IoT, Big data, Telecommunication, Broadcasting engineering.
• Tiyani Nghonyama, COO of Geekulcha.
• Phathwa Senene is the founder of ATINOV and the creator of the Scova Fire Reporting Device.