Newsletter: FinTech innovators and capital need to partner | Grant Morgan, Dimension Data: making savings in the cloud | FinTech Africa event as it happened

CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 30 July Dear CFO South Africa Member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles FinTech Africa event: as it happened (with all the tweets!) Disruption, the value of failure, attitude, innovation and collaboration were some of the keywords during a riveting FinTech Africa event at GIBS Business School in Johannesburg on Tuesday 28 July 2015. With lifehacker Martijn Aslander as keynote speaker, FinTech guru Nicole Anderson and Wizzit CEO Brian Richardson as presenters and a bunch of the most exciting FinTech experts on a lively panel, the energy in the room was palpable. With well over 100 people from the FinTech ecosystem attending the event, we're already looking forward to putting together the next one. FinTech innovators and capital need to partner - Charles Savage, GT... In South Africa entrepreneurs tend to be very poor at articulating or selling their ideas to capital, that’s according to Charles Savage, Chief Executive Officer at online trading company GT247.com. “When it comes to valuing an income statement, we can compete with the best in the world, but when it comes to valuing a business plan, not so much, because it requires a greater leap of faith,” says Savage. Grant Morgan, Dimension Data: making savings in the cloud "We used to treat our servers like pets, giving them nicknames like Superman... Now we have entire farms of nameless “creatures”. This is automation. Cloud solutions never have IP conflicts or bring down your network and you only pay for what you use,” Grant Morgan, General Manager of Cloud at Dimension Data told the delegates at the inaugural MyBroadband Cloud & Hosting Conference at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, on 9 June. “The motor industry was mechanised to provide quantity and quality at the same time. Machines make fewer mistakes. Today, the same thing is happening in IT." Read more exclusive articles on CFO.co.za - FinTech - MFS starts intra-African remittances revolution through m... Register for the Money Expo 2015 Hear from some of the country's leading experts on innovative financial solutions, ideas and unique perspectives and gain access to 50 invaluable workshops and learning opportunities. Be a part of the experience and join the 5000 attendees and key members of the financial advisory community 21 & 22 August at the Sandton Convention Centre. Speakers include: - Nadir Thokan, Investment Strategist - Kyle Hulett, Head of Multi Asset Class Investments at Argon Asset Management - Haley Parry, Co-Founder of the Money School - Andrew Newell, Head of Business Development at Cannon Asset Managers - Andrew Dittberner, Seniot Portfolio Manager at Cannon Asset Managers - Tim Powell, Director at Forex Capital - Gary Kayle, Co-Founder at The Money School Get insights on smart trading, launching your first start-up, advancing your wealth after 40, maximising investments at 50 and securing your financial comfort in your later years. Register now at TheMoneyExpo.co.za Today CFO Event "Executing an effective growth strategy for 2016 and beyond” Part 2: Executing an effective growth strategy for 2016 and beyond Today at the Nedbank Head Office, Johannesburg 16.00 - 20.00 Numerous business leaders and finance executives have long recognized the need for CFOs to step out of a numbers-focused role and into a true partnership with the business - by participating in strategic planning, providing essential input on funding, managing growth plans and helping to maximize shareholder returns. But now, a growing chorus is calling for a significant new shift in the finance function toward truly business partnership activity and engagement. In this two part series we bring CFOs insights that will help drive their own perspectives and strategies and share best practice for becoming a genuine business partner. Join the CFO South Africa Event today. Program: 16.00 Opening & Reception By Managing Director CFO South Africa, Graham Fehrsen 17.00 Master Class - Executing an effective growth strategy We ask Deon Viljoen, CFO of the Year 2015 (Alexander Forbes), Anthonie de Beer (Ethos Private Equity), Karel Janse van Rensburg (Nedbank) and Natalie Kolbe (Actis) who have been there and done that, what some of the key challenges are and how they see CFOs delivering effectively. 18.30 CFO Café Interact, learn, connect and discuss the challenges that you are facing with, with your peers over a drink at the CFO Café. Build your network and meet other top CFOs and financials. Register here now. Sponsors CFO South Africa Event: Continuous Professional Development Points Did you know all events of CFO South Africa are eligible for SAICA CPD points? By attending CFO South Africa's events and training courses you will stay compliant. Sign up for the next mind-blowing Fintech Event in Stellenbosch Join the FinTech Africa Event 20 October in Stellenbosch. At this meeting 100 insiders, experts, startups and investors discuss the developments and challenges for FinTech in Africa. Program: 15.30 Welcome and introduction to the African FinTech initiative By Graham Fehrsen, Country Manager CFO South Africa and FinTech Africa 16.05 Big organisations are doomed by Martijn Aslander, international speaker Why small companies are better, smarter and faster and more fun. Why big corporates fear for their future. Why the age of abundance will change everything. 17.00 Panel discussion "The future of FinTech in Africa" Startup, bankers, investors and industry insiders discuss the challenges & opportunities for FinTech in Africa. Are we missing out in Africa?This event is organised by FinTech Africa. The ecosystem that connects FinTech startups, investors, corporates and advisors. Join the next Fintech event in Stellenbosch and register now for Tuesday 20 October - 15.30 - 19.00. Upcoming CFO South Africa Events Join the CFO Events with inspiring hosts and experts who will share their insights and experiences with you. Register now for these events and boost your company, network, career and knowledge. CFO South Africa Events in 2015 July 30 Nedbank Johannesburg | Executing a growth strategy for 2016 Sept 17 Johannesburg | Digital Transformation Oct 15 Johannesburg | Finance Transformation Oct 20 Stellenbosch| Fintech Investment Event Nov 19 Johannesburg | Risk, Compliance & Control Register now for one of the upcoming CFO South Africa Events. Please note that all our CFO South Africa events are for senior financial executives. CFO South Africa offers Platinum memberships to CFOs and finance directors. For more information please have a look here and contact Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. Stay connected with CFO South Africa Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter and LinkedIn Stay up to date on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter @CFOSouthAfrica and LinkedIn. Next to that you can keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. Feel free to contact us Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] To control which emails you receive from CFO South Africa, please change your email preferences at cfo.co.za by selecting under settings "I do not want to receive emails from CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa"