Technology research startup KnoGno is aiming to elevate entrepreneurship in Cape Town townships by collaborating with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Started in June 2012 by academic and former investment manager SimonJones, KnoGno aims to optimise the provision of information to consumers for making better, informed choices.
The main project areas of focus are search and networking, travel and transport, consumer finance and general online information.
Speaking to HumanIPO, Jones explained: “It’s a bit of a tech startup take on a consumer business.”
With an ultimately academic focus, the purpose is “to remain a pure research and development company with the aim to create profitable child companies.”
Set to launch officially by October 2013, its uniqueness lies in its approach rather than use of novel technology.
KnoGno aims to elevate technology in Africa with the purpose of development and NGO collaboration.
Jones has a number of Cape Town township projects in mind in order to start achieving the intended changes.
“Ideally we would have a big South African tech project with quite a substantial outreach.”
These projects are to speak of the value-creating norm embraced by KnoGno as believing in “tangible application”.
“The assumption is that you create something valuable and if it’s implemented well, there will be a commercial solution too,” Jones said.
Currently supported by angel investment from the United Kingdom (UK), KnoGno was the brainchild of three role players with combined mathematic, neuroscientific and technology knowledge and industry experience.
Based on the English and Greek words ‘knowledge’ and ‘gnonos’, the startup is experimental in its pursuit of building a consumer-friendly ecosystem.
