Albert is a fervent cryptocurrency enthusiast and the co-founder of IvyParse, a cutting-edge technology research company. His career began in civil engineering, where he specialized in the design and construction of mine waste storage facilities. This foundation paved the way for his exploration of the digital frontier, applying his ability to dissect complex information to blockchain technology. His early forays into cryptocurrency investments showed keen foresight, while his in-depth research reports have investigated blockchain venture funding dynamics. His latest achievement, co-authoring the African Blockchain Report, showcases his dedication to understanding the future of digital currencies and decentralized technologies.

Andrew Forson is the Head of Growth of the Zurich Switzerland-based Hashgraph Association - the enterprise enablement and empowerment arm of the Hedera DLT ecosystem. Trained as a Financial and Risk Engineer, Andrew is a Trust and Estate Practitioner and sometimes computer programmer who is a practicing martial artist with two blackbelts - one in Tae Kwon Do, and the other in Brazilian JiuJitsu.

Current Head of Growth at VALR, the largest digital assets exchange headquartered in Africa. Formerly a Consultant at Bain & Company, focusing on Private Equity. Fascinated with fintech, decentralised financial systems and applying these in the real world. Passionate about Africa and the courageous people building technology to improve the lives of the people on our continent.

Brenton Naicker is a Fintech professional with vast experience and qualifications within the Cryptoasset and Blockchain space. Before joining CV VC he spent two years as the Head of Business Development & Partnerships for Binance in Africa, playing an instrumental role in their growth and dominance across the African continent.

Charné Thompson, aka the web3 lawyer. With a BA Law, LLB, and LLM in her arsenal, Charné stands as a legal ally in the field of blockchain and decentralized technologies. A fun fact: Charné's interest in the web3 realm led her to secure special permission from the university's Dean to focus her master's degree on smart contracts during the 2017 academic year. This exemplifies her unwavering dedication and expertise in the subject matter. Beyond her legal prowess, Charné has co-founded a climate tech business, leveraging her commercial acumen to drive positive environmental impact and walk the talk alongside her start up clients. Moreover, as the appointed lead of Women in Web3 for the African chapter, she advocates for women leadership and amplifies female voices within the industry.

Christo de Wit serves as the country manager for Luno in South Africa. Although originally from South Africa, de Wit brings a wealth of experience from the global business arena. Prior to joining Luno, he held leadership positions at TrueMoney, a fintech unicorn boasting over 65,000 outlets across six countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In his tenure at TrueMoney, he undertook various marketing roles and served as the country managing director in Myanmar. At Luno, Christo is dedicated to fostering the growth of the platform by promoting awareness of cryptocurrency as a viable long-term investment. With a specific focus on the South African market, he aims to sustain the momentum of enabling customers to securely and effortlessly purchase and store their cryptocurrencies on the country's most reputable crypto platform. Before joining Luno, de Wit led regional marketing efforts in Asia for Rocket Internet's Everjobs, which subsequently merged with Jumia

As the Director and Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets at Moore Johannesburg, I have over six years of experience specializing in disruptive technologies, with a keen focus on blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital assets. An ambitious leader, I am committed to making a significant impact in the industry. I am motivated, disciplined, and constantly seeking opportunities to leverage and enhance my skills and those of my team. I value exploration, connection, and engagement with others who share my passion. Funny Fact: Only thing I love more than blockchain is the Boks, and if I could do anything in the world it would be fly helicopters.

Dominic Schwenter is the Chief Project Officer at Lisk. As such, he leads the company’s migration to a Layer 2 (L2) ecosystem chain built on the OP stack and all efforts to expand its reach and develop relationships within the blockchain ecosystem and the tech industry‌ as a whole. In 2016, after a career in sales and project management, Dominic became curious about blockchain technology and has been working towards establishing Web3 businesses since. Over the past seven years, he has gained vast experience and his name is associated with the professionalism and dedication he represents. Dominic is originally from San Francisco, USA, and currently resides in Rome, Italy where he lives with his wife and son.

Serial entrepreneur by day, blockchain believer by night, I'm on a mission to wake up the sleeping giant: Africa's $300 billion agriculture industry. Having wrangled telcos in Africa for over 5 years, I ditched the suits and founded two startups to chase my own ventures. Now, I'm channeling my inner tech wizard to revolutionize agriculture with the power of blockchain. Get ready for a future where your morning cup of Kenyan coffee comes with a transparent, tamper-proof journey straight from farm to table.

Gideon is a driven South African entrepreneur with a fervent interest in innovative startups. He has held several high-impact leadership positions in the technology industry and has a strong track record of successfully exiting ventures. His passion for early-stage investment was ignited while seeking venture capital for his own startup. Gideon is a seasoned expert in funding growth strategies and has worked with various enterprises in this capacity. His interest in blockchain technology led him to become Managing Director of CV VC Africa, where he leverages his extensive knowledge to make an impact in the industry.

Hank is currently the Strategic Partnerships Manager at VALR, where he plays a vital role in nurturing and developing key partnerships that are central to the exchange's international expansion efforts. His foray into the technology and cryptocurrency fields began almost a decade ago, driven by a keen interest in exploring alternative, independent financial systems. Before joining the team at VALR, Hank co-founded a crypto startup dedicated to improving decentralized fund storage. He is also the co-author of the African Blockchain Report.

James Woolley Bitcoin since 2013, and gaming before he could walk. Serial entrepreneur, investor and digital marketing aficianado. Favourite quote: "Bitcoin is dead"

Justin expands the BITKRAFT global footprint as its first employee based in Africa. He joins the team from an early-stage VC firm, where he led investments across the globe and led the firm's web3 investment focus. He has also advised a number of top-tier South African startups, helping them to raise some of the largest seed-stage funding rounds on the continent.

Justin expands the BITKRAFT global footprint as its first employee based in Africa. He joins the team from an early-stage VC firm, where he led investments across the globe and led the firm's web3 investment focus. He has also advised a number of top-tier South African startups, helping them to raise some of the largest seed-stage funding rounds on the continent.

Kieno, our MC for CV Summit Africa 2023, is an Innovation Executive and Co-founder of Innovation City, a Cape Town collaboration hub for the most innovative businesses. Kieno also sits on the Board of TSIBA Business School and Business Ireland South Africa. Kieno is educated as a Small Enterprise Consultant, is a prolific dot connector and innovation strategist.

Before founding Silvertree Holdings, Manuel co-founded Zando in South Africa, and served as co-CEO; and co-founded Jumia in Nigeria. Before relocating to South Africa Manuel worked as a Vice President for Corporate Development and Investments in Frankfurt for the Altira Group, focusing on African, renewable and German mid-cap investments. Manuel started his career as a Management Consultant for the Boston Consulting Group, where he focused on corporate finance and industrial goods projects in Germany, UAE, India, UK and South Africa. Manuel holds a B.Sc from University of Maastricht and Universita Luigi Bocconi.

Mathias is an inspirational entrepreneur and investor that has been in the digital startup scene for over 20 years. Before turning his focus to blockchain, he built and exited several successful online and media companies, such as FaroTV and Europe’s crowdsourcing pioneer Atizo. Mathias has co-founded the Swiss Blockchain Federation, where he serves as a Board Member and Chairman of the Expert Council. He is a driving force behind the development of the global blockchain startup ecosystem.

Matt is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion and innovation, dedicated to expanding Tether's presence across the African continent. He is committed to fostering collaborations, driving growth, and empowering communities in Africa through stablecoin adoption.

Mic is CEO of Africarare and Co-CEO of SingularityU South Africa. He is a storyteller, futurist, entrepreneur, investor, and speaker on how exponential technologies can help to #futureproofAfrica. Mic and his partners brought Singularity University to Africa and, over the last 9 years, have been educating, inspiring, and empowering South Africans, in order to build a global community of change-makers who want to make a positive impact. Mic has been developing and making various types of online games for the last 19 years and is regarded as one of the leading experts in Virtual and Augmented Reality globally, developing some of the most exciting new digital spaces and environments with his studio and regularly speaks about VR, AR, the future of work, the new online global economy, gaming, blockchain gaming, education and the changing role of professionals. Mic is an avid investor in web3, NFT’s, and various metaverses. In 2021 as co-founder Mic launched Africa’s first metaverse, Africarare, which is focused on unlocking African potential and connecting Africa to the global digital economy.

Miriam Kiwan is Vice President of MEA at Circle, a global financial technology company helping money move at internet speed, with a mission to raise global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value. Prior to this, Miriam led digital assets and tech ecosystem development at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). She held various strategic roles within the technology, financial services and nonprofit in the UAE and Europe. She holds a Global EMBA from TRIUM, a joint program between London School of Economics, New York University and HEC Paris.

Mohamed Abdou is a highly skilled and experienced digital currency and blockchain technology professional. With a Master's degree in digital currency and blockchain from the University of Nicosia and a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mohamed Abdou has a wealth of knowledge and experience in software engineering, information security and cryptography. With over nine years of experience in the blockchain industry and 25 years of experience in software engineering, information security and cryptography. In 2019, Mohamed Abdou founded Pravica, a blockchain infrastructure provider that works to help enterprises transfer to web3 and blockchain-based services.

Ecosystem builder, entrepreneur, and innovation strategist. Nonkululeko is a co-founder and governor of H.E.R. DAO South Africa working to promote diversity and inclusion within web3 and AI. She's the founder of Eredo Africa an immersive innovation hub focused on education and building using emerging technologies within the African context. She is also an advisor for two tech startups and continues to collaborate and innovate with other entrepreneurs and builders.

Oluwatobi Ajayi is the Co-founder and CEO of Ivorypay, a crypto payment startup enabling blockchain-based remittances for businesses in Africa. Tobi’s expertise spans product development, and growth strategy for the blockchain and fintech industry, honed through his work with organizations like The World Bank African Centre of Excellence Programme, Lagos Business School, Vault Hill, and Finance Bridge Academy where he had an exit. Tobi has a Master’s degree in International Relations, and also in Consumer Neuroscience and NeuroMarketing. He is a member of the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing. His passion lies in alternative payments, DeFi, and mixed reality technologies, believing in their transformative potential for Africa.

Paolo Ardoino is the CEO of Tether and the CTO of Bitfinex. He's a technology enthusiast with a background in distributed systems and cryptography. Paolo's career journey has seen him co- found Keet, a secure video calling app, and assume leadership positions in the cryptocurrency and tech sectors. He's a driving force behind innovation in finance and technology, empowering global communications and promoting financial freedom.

Marked by diverse experiences, starting as a security analyst at a Swiss asset management firm and then owning a traditional manufacturing company before transitioning to the blockchain industry, Rie offers a unique perspective, blending traditional business acumen with insights into cutting-edge technology.

Over 20 years in banking across Retail and Corporate banking, now leading the team looking at Blockchain use cases and Digital Assets.

As an investor committed to long-term strategies, we bring a seasoned approach to scaling Tech / SAAS and recently also to Web3 companies located in Europe and introduce a fresh openness in our approach to African engagements. Our focus is on working closely with ambitious teams, offering not only financial backing, but also strategic insights and support in shaping a healthy corporate culture. Rony arrived in CT back in 1998..as a windsurfer. He fell in love ... knowing that he will make a living in CT one day.

As the co-founder of Mzansi Web3 ICP.Hub Southern Africa, I am deeply immersed in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Through my extensive business development experience, I've cultivated a diverse network that encompasses layer 1 protocols, DeFi platforms, infrastructure solutions, alongside marketing and advisory services, as well as venture capital firms. My expertise extends to providing crucial funding options and advisory services to an array of projects, guiding them through the intricacies of the blockchain ecosystem. My commitment lies in ensuring these ventures not only secure the necessary capital but also gain access to valuable insights and strategies that are paramount for their success. Currently, my focus is channelled towards cultivating a robust ecosystem for Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) and Web3 technologies in Southern Africa. This initiative is not just about technology adoption; it is a comprehensive effort to foster innovation, facilitate knowledge sharing, and create a supportive community for startups and entrepreneurs in this space. Through Mzansi Web3 ICP.Hub, we are laying down the groundwork for a future where Southern Africa stands as a significant player in the global blockchain narrative. By empowering local projects and contributing to the regional tech ecosystem, we are paving the way for a decentralized, secure, and interconnected future.

Simon is founder of the Inves group of companies including ZARP Stablecoin.

As Head of Product at NODO, Sowmya possesses a proven track record of driving successful end-to-end product planning and execution. With a focus on delivering exceptional value and exceeding client expectations, Sowmya has cultivated strong client partnerships across diverse industries, including Information Technology, Finance, and WEB3 sectors. Sowmya has previously worked for major Binance-portfolio-backed companies, which have raised USD $18M, and currently oversees Product Strategy & Marketing Execution in NODO.

Dad of 2 high performing infants whilst navigating the blockchain industry. Been in the space since 2017 and aim to stay here for the years to come.

Yosuke Yoshida brings 20 years of professional experience in M&A and cross border trading business as the manager of Marubeni, Japan's largest investment company in the power sector. He has led multiple international and government projects in Indonesia, Vietnam and in the Philippines. Yoshida is the former CEO of EMURGO Japan, where EMURGO was first established and started its business in 2017.