SA Innovation Week - SAIW

SA Innovation Week - SAIW SAIW'26 builds on the foundation laid by the SA Innovation Summit (SAIS)

SA Innovation Week (SAIW) is South Africa’s National Innovation Week, a coordinated platform where capital, talent and industry come together to drive real-world outcomes.

21/04/2026

South Africa is not short of innovators. What is often missing is the support that helps innovation grow.

At SAIW’26, Deputy Minister of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, spoke to a reality many founders and builders know well. The ideas are there. The talent is there. What is often needed is meaningful support, practical opportunities, and the kind of backing that helps innovation move forward.

Her message was clear. When the right people come together around a shared objective, it becomes possible to give innovators the opportunities they deserve and help more of that potential turn into real progress.

It was a strong reminder that backing innovators is not only about recognising talent. It is about helping that talent grow.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

20/04/2026

A lot of founders think failure will close the door. Sometimes it is silence that does more damage.

At SAIW’26, Toto Matshediso from the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation spoke about a challenge many startups face. Support can feel difficult to navigate, and when things go wrong, some founders disappear instead of asking for help.

His message was an important one. In research, development, and innovation, failure is part of the process. Founders should not be afraid to hit obstacles, especially when systems and support structures exist to help them work through those setbacks.

He also raised an equally important point about growth. The goal is not to remain a startup forever. The goal is to keep building, keep maturing, and move towards becoming a fully fledged business that is ready for the market.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

Networking was always meant to be a meaningful part of SA Innovation Week, and it was clear throughout the event that th...
16/04/2026

Networking was always meant to be a meaningful part of SA Innovation Week, and it was clear throughout the event that those connections were happening in real time.

Across the venue, people from different industries, backgrounds, and corners of the innovation ecosystem were engaging, exchanging ideas, and making the kind of introductions that can lead to future collaboration.

That is part of what made the atmosphere at Nasrec so valuable. It was not only about formal sessions and stage discussions. It was also about the conversations in between, the relationships being built, and the diversity of people who came together in one space.

These moments offer a glimpse into that side of SAIW’26 and the role networking played in bringing the platform to life.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

15/04/2026

Innovation becomes far more powerful when it moves beyond the idea stage.

At SAIW’26, Toto Matshediso from the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation spoke about the importance of funding and strengthening the ecosystem in ways that help innovation grow into commercial products and reach real markets.

That message matters because so much of the value of innovation lies in what happens after the concept phase. It is about helping strong ideas become market-ready, visible, accessible, and able to compete not only locally, but across the continent and beyond.

The point was clear. South Africa has innovation. The real task is making sure more of it reaches people, reaches industries, and reaches the scale it deserves.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

13/04/2026

One of the more important points raised at SAIW’26 was that the challenge is not always a shortage of capital.

Lundi Njomane of Jozi Angels speaks to a deeper issue: many entrepreneurs do not get the support they need to align their businesses with what funders and capital providers are looking for.

This is particularly relevant in Black communities, rural areas, and townships, where innovation is happening, but not always with the support structures needed to help those ideas move further. The issue is not a lack of potential. It is often a lack of access to the kind of support that helps entrepreneurs prepare, position, and grow their opportunities.

It was a valuable reminder that strengthening innovation also means strengthening the pathways that help more founders become ready for capital.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

10/04/2026

Big ideas matter, but what happens next matters just as much.

At SAIW’26, Dr Titus Mathe, CEO of the Technology Innovation Agency, spoke about the importance of staying engaged, supporting local innovation, and working together to move ideas into the market.

The message was practical and timely. Innovation grows when innovators, industry, investors, public institutions, and partners across the ecosystem step forward with shared purpose. It also grows when people are willing to start, even before every part of the plan feels perfect.

That call to move from coordination to ex*****on stood out. Progress depends on action, collaboration, and a collective commitment to turning innovation into real impact.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency , an entity of the of Science, Technology & Innovation.

The Creator Hub was one of the spaces that gave SAIW’26 its distinct character. It created room for the event to be expe...
09/04/2026

The Creator Hub was one of the spaces that gave SAIW’26 its distinct character.

It created room for the event to be experienced, captured, and shared in a way that extended beyond the venue itself. Through content, conversation, and storytelling, the Creator Hub helped reflect the energy, ideas, and people that made the week what it was.

That role is an important one. Platforms like SA Innovation Week are not only shaped by what happens on stage, but also by how those moments are documented, amplified, and carried into wider public conversation.

The Creator Hub helped make that possible at Nasrec, adding to the visibility and momentum of the week in a meaningful way.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA.

31/03/2026

Many startups feel the weight of trying to secure funding, but one of the key points raised at SAIW’26 was that the real challenge is often not only access to capital. It is readiness.

Ismail Abdoola, the Acting CEO the of Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) spoke to the importance of being prepared before stepping into funding conversations. For startups and SMMEs, that means more than having a promising idea. It means being able to show compliance, transparency, sound ex*****on, and a level of preparedness that gives investors confidence.

That shift in thinking matters. Instead of focusing only on whether money is available, founders also need to ask whether they have done the work needed to show that the business is ready for investment.

It was a practical message, and one that speaks directly to the journey of building something sustainable.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

30/03/2026

Many startups speak about the funding gap, but Sibusiso Magagula of CyberAlliance offered a different perspective at SAIW’26.

His message was that the real issue is often a readiness gap.

Having a great idea is only part of the picture. Startups and SMMEs also need to show that they are compliant, transparent, well-prepared, and ready for investment. Investors want to see that the right foundations are in place, and that the business has taken ownership of what it needs to become funding-ready.

It was a practical and important reminder that readiness is not something investors should have to pull out of a business. It is something founders need to be ready to demonstrate for themselves.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA.

27/03/2026

Seeking funding can be frustrating, especially when founders have a strong idea but are not fully clear on what funders need to see before backing the business.

In many cases, the gap is not passion or vision. It is preparation. Funders want to understand whether the business can scale, whether the market has been properly tested, and whether the solution is addressing a real problem for the right target market.

At SAIW’26, Lilah Clarke, SME Development Manager at the JSE, unpacked this clearly. Her message pointed founders back to the fundamentals: know the problem, know the market, and be ready to show that the business has real growth potential.

That kind of clarity can make a major difference before entering the funding conversation.

SAIW’26 was hosted by the Technology Innovation Agency, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

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