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News > ODU Events > OD Entrepreneurship Network

OD Entrepreneurship Network

Combined OD and Old Stithians Association evening
31 Aug 2018
South Africa
ODU Events
Blockchain anyone?
Blockchain anyone?
Chad Fichardt (1994O) reports:
A blockchain themed OD event was hosted in conjunction with the St. Stithians Old Boy Union in Johannesburg.
The event saw OD and St Stithians Blockchain entrepreneurs and cryptocurrency enthusiasts learning and sharing ideas on practical applications of the technology.
Ex-College Headmaster, Grant Nupen, who also has strong ties with St. Stithians, talked about his exploits in the world of Bitcoin mining, recounting the highlights of what he called his “post retirement entrepreneurship” journey.
With LEAP school learners listening on in awe, one of the highlights of the evening included an interview with Tumelo Ramaphosa, a St Stithians Old Boy. Ramaphosa, who lives in the USA, was back in the country to promote his Unlocking Africa Blockchain conference, which included high profile figures from the world of entertainment and fintech and business. 
Ramaphosa is the founder of Studex Wildlife Coin, the first blockchain play protecting endangered game. He has also been instrumental in setting up Chunkura, one of the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchanges with current trading volumes of R75 million per day. He shared his trials and tribulations in putting together Africa’s largest Blockchain event, Unlocking Blockchain Africa where he gathered together some of blockchain’s most powerful leaders.
We were delighted that a few of the big names in Blockchain attended our event, including the co-founder of Ethereum, Charles Hoskinson.  
Bishops was represented by an equally fascinating project founded by Stephen Larkin (1990F), called the Aziza project, that is using Blockchain and their own asset backed cryptocurrency, the Aziza Coin to provide clean energy to Sub-Saharan Africa. 
The evening proved a great success and we are exploring more joint old boy networking opportunities.

The event was held on Thursday 23 August 2018 at 'The One and All' - home of the Old Stithians Association. A very big OD 'Thank You' to Stephen Larkin for his tremendous efforts to make this event a reality, and for continuously promoting Entrepreneurship in the ODU. Thank you also to past College Principal Grant Nupen for his honest and insightful blockchain feedback, and for all the life-changing work he continues to do for Leap Schools. Thank you also to Chad Fichardt who anchored the evening with his thought-provoking interview with Tumelo Ramaphosa. Thank you too for Michael Crosland (2011K) who came out from the United Kingdom to give a powerful personal testimony of what it is like to be a young entrepreneur.
And lastly a very big 'Thank You' to Alastair Stewart from the St Stithians Advancement office who looked after ODs so professionally.
Some other ODs in attendance included: James Bashall (2007O)Adrian Steven (1987O)Warwick Smith-Chandler (1975S), Mark Lewis (1974W) and Brendon Earp-Jones (2000G).
For more photographs, please see 'OD Entrepreneurship' under 'Photos'.
 

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