As South Africa’s current G20 presidency reinforces the country’s & continent’s geo-political importance, Counder, the global network connecting visionary leaders, is announcing key themes focused on Africa’s rapid technological evolution for its flagship Counder Conference 2026, chosen to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from January 27-29 2026.
With global macro-trends like AI-driven innovation, renewable energies, biotech and digital assets to play a big role at the future-forward Conference, African themes, with a specific focus on technology, will play an important role too — as of the chosen event location and rising importance of the continent globally.
The time and place of the event reflects a key moment for South Africa’s and the continent’s international positioning. While the G20 presidency reinforces the country’s growing global significance, Counder Conference 2026 will look to sustain this momentum through private sector engagement, bringing together 500 carefully selected global leaders to continue high-level international dialogue.
Private Sector Tech Innovation Following Global G20 Recognition
Under the theme “Trusted Connections in Cape Town,” Counder Conference 2026 will welcome invite-only participants, including venture capital partners specialising in emerging markets, family office principals exploring tech opportunities, fintech and other investors, and top tech and diversified entrepreneurs from across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
The Conference represents a carefully curated extension of international focus on South Africa as host country of the G20 2025 and the broader African continent. By creating a trusted space for private sector players to forge partnerships, they can explore co-investment opportunities, for example in African tech ventures, and drive collaborative action on emerging trends, for example in digital themes across the continent.
Africa-Focused Tech Trends & Innovation Themes
Counder Conference 2026 is designed around exchange, connection and collaboration on emerging trends and markets. The format emphasises expert-guided roundtables, strategic breakouts with industry veterans, and a proprietary matchmaking system designed to facilitate meaningful connections.
The Conference will focus on tomorrow’s most important opportunities — with selected themes exploring the continent’s digital transformation. For this, rather than theoretical discussions, seasoned tech operators and investors from the region will exchange insights with fellow, international attendees.
To facilitate one focus of the Conference to be on Africa and technology trends, this publication, TechCabal, has partnered with Counder as a media supporter — and our CEO, Tomiwa Aladekomo, will join the global leaders in Cape Town in January as well.
African technology themes and confirmed leaders in this sector include:
- South Africa: Fintech Gateway to Africa — Examining the country’s position as the continent’s leading fintech hub and its evolving digital payments infrastructure.
Attending from South Africa are Counder Members like Michael Jordaan, fintech pioneer behind FNB’s digital revolution and current tech investor; Joshin Raghubar, venture developer focused on African tech scalability.
- Nigeria: Africa’s Tech Unicorn Factory — Exploring the continent’s largest tech ecosystem, home to companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Africa’s most active startup environment.
Attending from Nigeria are Counder Members like Kola Aina, venture capital investor backing African tech companies and digital innovation pioneer.
- Egypt: North Africa’s Digital Bridge — Investigating fintech and e-commerce opportunities in North Africa’s tech hub, connecting Middle Eastern and African markets.
Attending from Egypt are Counder Members like Sherine Kabesh, payments technology entrepreneur and fintech ecosystem builder.
- The Continent’s Digital Century — Broad discussions on Africa’s mobile-first technology adoption, leapfrogging infrastructure, and demographic-driven digital transformation.
Continental tech leaders attending represent Africa’s most dynamic growth markets. From Kenya, James Mwangi brings in climate technology investment expertise. Additionally, innovative energy tech solutions are covered by leaders like Reyburn Hendricks; fintech innovation is brought in by the likes of Johan Bosini — and many others will provide international attendees essential insights into Africa’s technology-driven future.
Previous Counder gatherings have facilitated tangible business outcomes including strategic partnerships, co-investment opportunities and cross-border deals.
Global Tech Leaders Confirmed to Attend
Confirmed participants for Counder Conference 2026 include visionary technology leaders from around the world — exemplifying Counder’s mission to unite global innovators looking to positively impact the future through collaborative investment and development.
International attendees from the technology field include diverse decision-makers and transformation thought leaders — from Anuradha Das Mathur, economist from India exploring emerging market technology solutions, to Dr Oliver Merkel, serial tech entrepreneur from Germany with African market interests, to Sudeep Ramnani, sports technology and venture investor based in the UAE, to Andrew Stewart, venture capitalist from the USA focused on emerging tech trend opportunities.
These leaders exemplify the spirit of the Counder collective — united by an open mindset toward innovation, curiosity about new markets, and a shared willingness to collaborate on new ventures.
They will be welcomed at Cape Town’s most inspiring venues, as Counder has partnered with locations including the Norval Foundation in Tokai and The German Residence by the German Government in Bishopscourt. Technology-focused excursions will also showcase Cape Town’s growing tech ecosystem — from startup hubs to innovation centres in the city.
Representing 25+ individual global backers of the Counder network, CEO Michel Weiss and Chairman Leonard Stiegeler are excited to bring the world’s and Africa’s tech leaders to Cape Town in January 2026.
Michel Weiss says: “South Africa’s G20 presidency demonstrates the country’s capability in hosting world-class conversations — with technology and innovation being so crucial. While government leaders shape policy frameworks in these spaces, we believe Cape Town should also welcome the world’s most influential private sector tech investors and entrepreneurs.”
Leonard Stiegeler added: “Africa, with its young, tech-savvy population, mobile-first infrastructure, and innovative fintech solutions, represents the future of global technology adoption. It’s only natural to host a future-forward conference on this continent. South Africa, as a gateway for international tech investment into Africa, provides the perfect foundation for this.”
About Counder
Counder is a global network that connects visionary leaders to collaborate on tomorrow’s most important opportunities. Through its four pillars — Conference, Calendar, Connect, and Context — Counder creates a trusted environment for high-calibre leaders to explore emerging trends, forge strategic partnerships, and drive meaningful collaboration across industries and continents. Counder represents 30+ nationalities and facilitates over 5,000 trusted connections annually through its invite-only network.
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