On March 5, 2025, ParallelScore officially launched its Corporate Innovation Lab in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking a significant milestone in our journey to bridge the gap between emerging technology and real-world applications.
The event gathered a room full of innovators, policymakers, and tech leaders, all driven by a shared mission: to explore how AI and innovation can redefine industries, economies, and communities without leaving anyone behind.
One thing became clear AI is no longer the future. It’s here.
And the way enterprises, governments, and startups integrate it today will determine Africa’s role in shaping global innovation tomorrow.
Event Highlights: A Look at the Day’s Key Moments
Setting the Stage: The ParallelScore Story
The day began with a powerful keynote from our Program Director for South Africa, Bakang Moetse, who took the audience on a journey through ParallelScore’s origins in 2016, our expansion across the U.S., Nigeria, and now South Africa, and our commitment to human-centered innovation.
She emphasized our core mission to bridge the gap between emerging technology and real-world impact and how the Corporate Innovation Lab is the next step in that vision.
The AI Imperative: Fireside Chat with Industry Leaders
One of the most thought-provoking sessions of the day was the Fireside Chat featuring our co-founder Chika Umeadi, alongside Spectra Asala (Africa AI) and Mbali Ndandi (Lelapa AI).
The discussion kicked off with a bold question:
👉 “Is AI just hype, or is there real substance behind it?”
The panelists agreed hype or not, Africa must lean into AI as an essential skillset and driver of economic growth. The conversation touched on critical themes:
AI and the Future of Work: How AI can complement industries rather than replace jobs.
Africa’s Position in AI Innovation: The importance of data ownership in shaping AI models that serve African needs.
Building Responsible AI: Questions every business should ask before adopting AI-driven solutions:
- What is the base model for this AI system?
The chat ended with a resounding call for responsible AI development, one that empowers communities rather than exploits them.
Building the Future: ParallelScore’s Vision
Next, our founder Adebayo Dawodu took the stage to present ParallelScore’s vision for innovation.
He shared our customer-centric approach to innovation and emphasized why enterprises must rethink their strategies for building AI-driven products.
One highlight was the live demo of SDOH Lafia a healthcare AI solution developed at ParallelScore to tackle real-world challenges in social determinants of health. This showcase underscored the lab’s mission to create practical, scalable solutions that drive impact.
Key Takeaways: Critical Conversations Shaping the Future
Beyond the inspiring sessions, the event sparked deep, strategic discussions:
AI is a UI/UX Revolution: Our co-founder highlighted that the future of AI is in its design how we make it accessible, intuitive, and inclusive for all. If Africa is to bring more people along, especially in rural areas, the focus must be on user experience, not just the tech itself.
Data is the Competitive Edge: The companies that own and manage data will lead the AI revolution. We explored the importance of data-driven decision-making, drawing parallels to Apple’s strategy of strategic cannibalization how retiring the iPod Touch helped pave the way for the iPhone and the App Store’s success.
Keep the Momentum Going: What’s Next?
The launch event was just the beginning.
Relive the experience & explore event photos here: Corporate Innovation Lab Gallery
What’s Next?
The launch event was just the beginning.
📩 Let’s Build Together
The energy in the room showed a strong desire for collaboration, partnerships, and real action.
If these ideas resonate with you, let’s continue the conversation.
We’d love to explore ways to work with you.
Reach out to us at marketing@parallelscore.com to discuss how we can shape the future, together
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