Toby Shapshak: Innovation Technology

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
Formats:
Audiences:
Outcomes:
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Johannesburg

Keynote Topics

Talent Short Bio

Toby Shapshak writes and speaks about how innovation is better in Africa. His TED talk on how Africa is solving real problems has had over 1,4-million views; and he has been featured in the New York Times. He is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Stuff magazine; is a contributor to Forbes and writes a weekly column for the Financial Mail.
He has been co-hosting a weekly TV show on CNBC Africa for the past two years.
He believes Africa is a mobile-driven continent, about which he has written for CNN, The Guardian in London and for Forbes. He is writing a book on innovation in Africa, looking at how the problems Africa is solving for itself will benefit the rest of the world.
Toby has spoken at the South by South West (SxSW) conference in Austin, Texas, (thrice) on how mobile is being used in Africa (2013) and how music is being consumed (2014); and The Guardian’s Activate: Johannesburg on innovation out of necessity.
He has also spoken at Intel’s IDF conference in San Francisco, Germany’s Zukunftskongress (Future Congress), TEDxGateway in Mumbai, Pivot East in Nairobi, and Tech4Africa in Joburg.

Toby Shapshak – Innovation Technology

Toby was named in GQ’s top 30 men in media and the Mail & Guardian newspaper’s 300 influential young South Africans list; and has been the ICT Journalist of the Year. GQ said he “has become the most high-profile technology journalist in the country” while the M&G wrote: “Toby Shapshak is all things tech… he reigns supreme as the major talking head for everything and anything tech.”
As a news and political journalist, he ran Mail & Guardian newspaper’s website when it was the first news site in Africa, shadowed Nelson Mandela when he was president, and covered the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Toby Shapshak has interviewed a range of tech industry luminaries, including Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
Formerly a senior newspaper reporter covering everything from crime to politics, he has been writing about innovation, telecoms and the internet and the impact it has on our lives for more than 20 years; including the Sunday Times, Business Day, Mail & Guardian, The Financial Mail, The Times, City Press, ThisDay, and The Weekender.

Toby Shapshak was named in GQ’s top 30 men in media and the Mail & Guardian newspaper’s 300 influential young South Africans list; and has been the ICT Journalist of the Year.

GQ said he “has become the most high-profile technology journalist in the country” while the M&G wrote: “Toby Shapshak is all things tech… he reigns supreme as the major talking head for everything and anything tech.”

Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Speakers Contact

Speaker Enquiry Form

Talent Resources

Talent Resources to download

Speaker Gallery

View further speakers

Anne Hirsch is a distinguished South African comedian, writer, and master of ceremonies (MC) whose unique blend of humor and charisma has captivated audiences nationwide. Her comedic style, characterized by sharp wit and relatable anecdotes, resonates with diverse audiences, making her a sought-after figure in the entertainment industry.​ Born and raised in Bloemfontein, Anne pursued […]

  • Comedian. Emcee

In the ever-evolving world of live entertainment, few acts manage to capture energy, charm, and musical excellence the way Me and Mr Green does. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, this high-impact live band is the brainchild of acclaimed frontman Dan Green, whose legendary performances with Me and Mr Brown made him a household name […]

  • Variety Band

The 1925 Band started in February 2011 and has grown from performing one or two shows a month to one of the most demanded bands in South Africa. 1925 Band are three incredibly talented brothers, Reno, Jeff and David-Lee Gericke, with a passion for music who sings in angelic harmony. They are interesting and gets […]

  • Variety Band
  • Featured
Mango Groove is South Africa’s legendary pop-fusion band, blending marabi, kwela, and modern pop into a globally celebrated, joyful sound.
  • Pop Fusion Band
Entrepreneur and Trendspotter behind Musgrave Gin and Brandy, inspiring with innovation, resilience, and epicurean brand creation.
  • Business Innovation
Serial tech entrepreneur and investor who shares practical lessons from building mobile and startup ecosystems to help teams scale digital products and business models.
  • Expert Technology

Nozipho Tshabalala is a world-class facilitator and CEO of The Conversation Strategists, a trailblazing organization devoted to curating and moderating high-impact conversations that move societies forward. Renowned for her unique talent to steer transformative dialogues, Nozipho is the trusted voice in rooms where ideas shape policy, influence global economies, and ignite systemic change. Her work […]

  • Event Emcee

Allon Raiz is regarded both locally and globally as a pioneer and maverick in the business-incubation industry. He is the founder and CEO of Raizcorp which, according to The Economist, is the only genuine incubator in Africa and which currently supports over 500 businesses. Allon is the author of two best-selling entrepreneurial books – Lose […]

  • Business Speaker
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

Newsletter Signup

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Speakers Inc Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

We promise to not spam you!

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

speakers inc
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.