Unlocking Africa’s Exponential Potential: Highlights from the 2025 NEXT176 Innovation Summit
Sep 5, 2025
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3
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On Friday, 13 June 2025, Old Mutual's Mutualpark in Cape Town played host to the 2nd Annual NEXT176 Innovation Summit, a dynamic gathering of visionaries, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and ecosystem builders united by a shared mission: to unlock Africa’s exponential potential through bold innovation and purposeful collaboration.
Held under the theme “Exponential Potential”, the summit was a celebration of progress, possibility, and partnership. It showcased how NEXT176, Old Mutual’s innovation and new growth arm is catalysing impact across key sectors including health, education, employment, income protection, debt management and sustainability as well as industry verticals such as financial services, telecommunications, automotive, technology, and retail.
A Day of Inspiration and Action
From the moment the doors opened, the energy was electric. The summit featured:
One of the standout moments was the emphasis on collaboration as a catalyst. Whether it was corporate-backed ventures, cross-sector partnerships, or community-driven innovation, the message was clear: Africa’s future will be built together.
Voices That Moved Us
The summit featured powerful voices from across the continent and beyond. From startup founders to corporate changemakers, each speaker brought a unique lens to the conversation. The video recap captures some of these moments beautifully—highlighting the passion, purpose, and potential that defined the day.
Looking Ahead
As NEXT176 continues to back bold ideas and build ventures that matter, the NEXT176 Innovation Summit remains a cornerstone of its mission. It’s more than an event—it’s a movement. One that’s reimagining what’s possible for Africa, and inviting everyone to be part of the journey.
We’re already looking forward to what 2026 will bring. Until then, let’s keep building, collaborating and innovating because the future is exponential.
