The Mobile Applications Laboratory Southern Africa (mLab SA) has appointed Derrick Kotze as its new CEO, with effect from 15 June.
A regional lab for mobile technology entrepreneurs, application developers and innovators, mLab SA opened in September.
Kotze is currently the developer outreach and marketing manager of East and Southern Africa at Nokia, where he spent the last two years working with local developers and ecosystem partners to help facilitate the mobilisation of their ideas, content and brands through mobile applications and services.
Simple vision
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says Kotze is passionate about the creation of new businesses within the mobile space, and believes the Southern African region has the right talent and resources to place it among the top innovation markets in the world.
“Mobile entrepreneurs not only hold the key to creating new jobs and stimulating rapid economic growth in the region, but also to democratising many services and opportunities that have historically eluded many across the continent,” says Kotze.
“I have a simple vision for mLab SA. That's to make it synonymous with opportunity.” Kotze adds that there is very little standing in mLab SA's way to achieve great things.
“We are excited about Kotze joining the initiative driven by Meraka, The Innovation Hub and Ungana-Afrika. He has strong capabilities and experience in building the mobile ecosystem, which is exactly what we are looking for so that we can give developers opportunities to realise the power of mobile computing,” says CSIR Meraka Institute executive director and chairman of the mLab SA steering committee, Laurens Cloete.
Mobile entrepreneurs
mLab SA was inaugurated by business and government leaders with the participation of around 150 stakeholders eager to make use of it.
The facility is co-hosted by the CSIR Meraka Institute, The Innovation Hub, InnovationLab and Ungana-Afrika. Financial support is provided by the Department of Science and Technology and infoDev, a World Bank Group global programme focusing on supporting technology-driven SMEs.
The mLab provides networking and training opportunities, support for the development of a viable business model, mentoring, subsidised office space, and technical and financial support. These services are aimed at helping the mobile entrepreneur navigate the vulnerable start-up phase, which is when most fledgling efforts flounder.
While the mLab hub is in Pretoria, a number of satellite offices are planned throughout the country, including in Cape Town.
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