Built with AI
Thu Sep 4, 17:30 - Thu Sep 4, 19:00
Innovation City
ABOUT
South African Founders on the Frontlines of Innovation
Generative AI is no longer experimental, it’s foundational. Across South Africa, a new wave of founders is using it to solve real problems, move faster, and rethink what their products can do. But beneath the hype, what does it really take to build with AI, not just on AI?
This founder-led panel cuts through the noise and dives into the realities of building AI-powered products in the South African context.
Who It’s For:
This session is designed for:
- Startup founders and product leads building with (or considering) AI
- Technical teams and engineers making infrastructure and model decisions
- Investors evaluating which AI solutions have real staying power
- Corporate innovation leads exploring how AI is being practically applied
- Anyone tired of AI hype and curious about real traction and use cases
What to Expect:
- How real South African startups are integrating GenAI and what they’ve learned
- When to train, fine-tune, or rent models and the implications of each
- How to avoid the “Wrapper Trap” and build durable, differentiated products
- Why local data, cultural context, and user feedback loops are key
- The risks and realities of scaling AI responsibly and sustainably
SPEAKERS
Mark is a serial entrepreneur, chess champion, and generative software innovator with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry. He co-founded Trixta, a platform that helps aspiring tech entrepreneurs to ideate and build software better, faster, and cheaper without a CTO or big funding.
At Trixta, Mark leads the strategy of the platform, which allows you to build software at the speed of ideation, with interacting swarms of: humans + AI-assistants + autonomous-AI-agents.
Suzette Ferreira is the Founder of Proto Care, a Cape Town-based healthtech startup focused on transforming primary healthcare in South Africa. With a strong belief in patient empowerment and preventative care, she leads the development of tech-enabled solutions that improve accessibility and outcomes. A hands-on entrepreneur with expertise in healthcare informatics and clinical transformation, Suzette combines leadership, operational oversight, and a passion for patient advocacy to drive meaningful change in the healthcare system.
Per Lagerstrom is Co-Founder of sens, a thought leader and founder of BehaviorTech, pioneering the use of AI and human science to drive transformation. With 30 years of experience in venture building, strategy consulting, and board roles, he focuses on creating innovative solutions that improve business and life outcomes. As CEO of Yellowspot, he leads ventures in financial planning, marketing innovation, and education. Per is a futurist, connecting AI, technology, and economics to solve complex challenges.
Bridging Art & Algorithms | AI Strategist & Evangelist
With an Aeronautical Engineering degree, Computer Science qualification and a successful career spanning two decades as a software entrepreneur, Migal brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help unpack and understand the opportunities and challenges that AI presents.
Migal founded and led an award-winning, 100+ person Microsoft-focused ISV and software consultancy, serving clients in 36 countries with over 300,000 users of its products. Following its acquisition in 2015, he now focuses on business mentoring and helping startups and small businesses practically integrate AI into their operations, strategy, and product development. His approach is grounded and pragmatic, cutting through the hype to explore where AI truly adds value, and where caution is still warranted.
In addition to his work in the technology domain, Migal is also an award-winning commercial photographer and new media artist, running a successful studio in Cape Town, South Africa. His multidisciplinary background allows him to bridge the gap between creativity and computation, offering a unique and insightful perspective on how AI is shaping the future of business, human connection, and culture.
PARKING
Location: We're just off Kloof Street on Darter Road.
Traffic Alert: Please be cautious of traffic heading into town.
Parking Options:
- Parking options around Kloof Street
Recommended: It's always best to use Uber for convenience.
VIDEO
INNOVATION CITY MEMBERS
NOTE: Innovation City members can get free access to all IC weekly events. (You will find the discount code on the IC app.)
EVENT ATTENDANCE
Our team dedicates significant time to creating and curating these events. We encourage a culture of commitment and follow-through.
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We look forward to welcoming you to Innovation City and appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
DISCLAIMER
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