Toybox is home to the Born Curious.
We are a network of top experts from diverse disciplines who see the world differently and are committed to making things that matter.
Toybox Fellows have access to resources such as a world-class lab space, like-minded collaborators, and market and investment opportunities.
ABDUL-KHAALIQ MOHAMED
AIRobotics
Design Thinking
Abdul-Khaaliq Mohamed
Abdul-Khaaliq is an Information/Electrical Engineer with a MSc in Biomedical and Control Engineering. He has 11 years of work experience in numerous fields, including telecommunications, financial risk analysis, biomedical research and development, electrical systems for commercial buildings, energy efficiency, green technologies and solar energy.
ADAM ROSMAN
Aeronautical EngineeringUAVs
Entrepreneurship
Adam Rosman
Adam showed an early passion for aircraft and engineering, and went on to obtain a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. His first job was at a rocket design company, followed by a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone) operations company, where he was involved in anti-rhino poaching initiatives.
ARLENE MULDER
MathematicsCorporate Finance
Data Science
Arlene Mulder
Arlene is passionate about driving the development of the tech industry and growing digital problem-solving capabilities in Africa. She has always loved exploring the power of mathematics and coding to transform the way we face challenges.
BEN NORTIER
3D PrintingRobotics
IoT
Ben Nortier
Ben is an electronic and software engineer with diverse experience. He studied a BSc and MSc Electronic Engineering with Computer Science, developing a GPS receiver for satellite operations. He then worked as a software engineer, building CAD tools for electromagnetic simulation.
BENJAMIN ROSMAN
Machine Learning & AIRobotics
Research
Benjamin Rosman
Benjamin is a Principal Researcher in the Mobile Intelligent Autonomous Systems group at the CSIR in South Africa, and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he runs the Robotics, Autonomous Intelligence and Learning Laboratory.
CO-PIERRE GEORG
BlockchainFinance
Information Theory
Co-Pierre Georg
Co-Pierre is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He also holds part-time positions as Research Economist at Deutsche Bundesbank and policy associate at Economic Research Southern Africa. Co-Pierre is the convener for the MPhil in Financial Technology at UCT where he teaches courses on fintech and cryptocurrencies.
GARETH STEELE
VR/AR/MRDesign/Conceptual Thinking
360 Photo/Video Production
Gareth Steele
Gareth is the co-founder of Eden Labs, an emerging technology R&D house which develops technology and shows for contemporary art.
GIANCARLO BEUKES
EntrepreneurEngineering
3D Printing
Giancarlo Beukes
Giancarlo is an inventor and entrepreneur with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering. He has developed numerous medical devices in fields such as asthma, public health, allergy, sports medicine and orthopaedics.
GOKUL NAIR
Engineering3D Printing
Medical Device Regulations
Gokul Nair
Gokul has an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering. He often thinks through complex philosophical issues and grapples with the bigger questions, and he is able to incorporate these thinking processes into the work that he does.
KANINA FOSS
Systems ThinkingSoftware Engineering
Research
Kanina Foss
Kanina spends a lot of time thinking about the future we all want and how to get us there. She is deeply optimistic about human potential and loves engaging with human ingenuity. She believes Africa has profound contributions to make in this regard.
KENNY INGGS
Software ArchitectureDevelopment Methodologies
Cloud & Shared Infrastructure
Kenny Inggs
When Kenny was still learning to spell, his dad brought home an 8088 IBM PC. It asked for his name, he typed it in and to his amazement, it said “Hello Kenny”. He’s been playing with computers ever since.
MATTHEW PROXENOS
RoboticsMachine Learning
Teaching & Mentorship
Matthew Proxenos
Matthew is a mechanical engineer, biomedical engineer and all-round enthusiast about the world. He enjoys thinking about optimizing processes and about the James Webb Telescope.
NICK ALLEN
Hardware TechnologiesRenewable Energy
Food Tech
Nick Allen
Nick Allen is a civil engineer with an MBA and additional education in IP management, Venture Capital, Private Equity and corporate Governance. He has a passion for building businesses from first principles.
PHATHWA SENENE
IoTElectronics
3D Printing
Phathwa Senene
Phathwa is a self-taught inventor who focusses on creating inventions that have a direct impact on improving people’s lives.
REFILOE MPAKANYANE
CommunicationsBroadcasting
IoT
Refiloe Mpakanyane
Refiloe spent 14 years in radio and television as a news anchor, presenter and producer. She also acted in two films: Clint Eastwood’s 2010 film, Invictus and Roli Nikiwe’s 2012 film, Nothing for Mahala. Her website and YouTube channel, RefilloeLife, focused on addressing the gap in the mainstream media’s offering to women who were not thirst trapping, fashion blogging and generally living only for the gram.
RICHARD POPLAK
WritingDirecting
Producing
Richard Poplak
Richard trained as a filmmaker and fine artist at Montreal’s Concordia University and has produced and directed numerous short films, music videos and commercials.
RICK TREWEEK
Virtual RealityAugmented Reality
3D Printing
Rick Treweek
Rick is the co-founder of Eden Labs, an emerging technology R&D house which develops technology and shows for contemporary art.
SAM BECKBESSINGER
Design thinkingFinancial literacy
Behavioural change
Sam Beckbessinger
Sam is a South African writer, UX designer, product manager, fintech entrepreneur and money dork who has spent most of the past 10 years building tools to help people manage their money better.
SIMON DINGLE
CryptocurrencyDesign Thinking
Communications
Simon Dingle
Simon is a broadcaster, designer, technologist and entrepreneur, with a focus on fintech. He believes we are doing money wrong and is trying to fix it.
VIROSHAN NAICKER
MathematicsEconomics
Blockchain
Viroshan Naicker
Viroshan is trained as a mathematician and completed a doctoral degree in graph theory which is the study of networks. He has at various points been an economist, physicist, applied mathematician, data scientist, business analyst, school teacher, box packer and driver.