Jeni Kostova, Group Executive Marketing, Ayo Technology Solutions, is intrigued and enthused by how technology is influencing just about every aspect of our life, business, economic flow and the opportunities it can bring for transformation and advancement.

Speaking eight languages (4 fluently) and with a Degree in Actuarial Science combined with several qualifications in, and a passion for, marketing, Jeni has worked across the globe on creating brand equity for a number of household names. With a knack for spotting the next opportunity, Jeni has also created (and owns) a number of very successful commercial events, which have covered a variety of sectors - from FOREX to health and beauty.

Her experience as a business analyst has also assisted her in understanding the value and potential of the technology sector, where she now finds herself helping to create Africa’s first African-owned and led tech giant.

Dr Audrey Verhaeghe is founder and Chairperson of the SA Innovation Summit. She has founder three companies and is currently scaling the SA Innovation Summit into other African countries. Building the ecosystem of founder -led economic activity is her life-long mission that she loves and hope to expand year on year.

Shigeru Handa is a seasoned professional with over 20 years in business development consulting experience in the private sector as well as in international development. Shigeru is a Director of Asia Africa Investment and Consulting Pte Ltd, currently in charge of sourcing and evaluating innovative businesses, especially startups in growth, as well as advising companies on formulating their business and partnership strategies for business expansion in Africa and the Middle East.

He holds a Bachelor of Law from Kyoto University, a Master of Accounting and Master of Public Administration, both, from the University of Southern California (USC), USA.

Xolo Motswasele is a celebrated ICT professional with more than 20 years in the industry. Since the dawn of technology development in South Africa, Xolo has worked with renowned tech-pioneers like Alcatel and Nokia Siemens Networks and contributed as an executive at Sentech Soc and BT SA. She is now a Group Executive at AYO Technology Solutions, working on identifying and exploring business development opportunities for scale and growth of innovative technology companies within the group.

I am an experienced investor in Africa. I am one of the Partners of Dazzle Angels, the first SA female angel fund, only investing in women-led tech businesses in South Africa. I have also expanded her activity in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Through this platform, I am regularly advising hubs (including incubators, accelerators and innovation labs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as entrepreneurs. I am also a guest lecturer in entrepreneurship at the African Leadership Academy, teaching and advising entrepreneurs on growth strategies, market expansion and operations in particular. Congolese (DRC), I am currently based in Cape Town and travel extensively on the Continent. I am also a regular speaker, host, panellist, judge of start-up competitions.

Wakeel holds a B.Com (Acc.) Hons degree from the University of South Africa. He is a Chartered Accountant and completed his articles at Moore Stephens (now Moore), after which he continued to become an Audit Manager. With 10 years’ experience in practice, a passion for problem solving and finding himself involved in complex audit engagements, he developed a passion to embark on a journey into Commerce. After working as a financial manager in the mining industry for Mineral Commodities listed in Australia, Wakeel joined African Equity Empowerment Investments Ltd as the Group Financial Manager in 2015, whereafter he was promoted to Chief Investment Officer in 2019. As most of the M&A transactions were involving ICT, he joined AYO as the Group Executive of Investments.

He has successfully completed four acquisitions for AYO and currently sits on the boards of two the Groups subsidiaries.