Cape-based Alan Knott-Craig (junior) is a successful entrepreneur and the author of two well-known pieces on how to be positive amidst the pessimism of South Africa.

In 2009 he wrote an email to staff which when viral and resulting in a best-selling book, ‘Really, Don’t Panic!

In 2019, he wrote an article for Biznews, which again went viral, resonating with fellow South Africans that want to be optimistic, but can’t quite figure out how to find a silver lining.

Alan speaks on the formula he has devised for his own personal commitment to South Africa, and how he finds ways to be happy and optimistic.

Originally from Pretoria, he studied at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (formerly UPE) and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2002 and has subsequently invested or funded 21 companies in the TMT space (Technology, Media & Telecommunications).

Alan was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009. Forbes listed him as one of the top 10 young African millionaires to watch. He was also included in “100 Choiseul Africa”, a list of top 100 young African business leaders in 2014, and nominated as a 2015 ICT ‘Personality of the Year’ by ITWeb.

His key talk topics are:

• Doing business in the Age Of The Mobile Web
• Why the future of SA is bright
• Rise, fall, rebirth: Lessons learnt as a tech entrepreneur
• The secret to being a successful entrepreneur
• How we can roll out free WiFi for all Africa