Keep Up To Date

Our Blog

Dive into our world of development insights, where Octoco shares expert knowledge, innovative ideas, and the latest trends shaping the future of tech.

All CTO Insights Hardware IoT Projects Software Updates
Octoco, TaxTim and TwoFold Capital Announcement
  • Updates

TaxTim Acquired by Consortium Led by Twofold Capital and Octoco

We’re pleased to announce that Octoco Group is part of the consortium, led by Twofold Capital, that has acquired TaxTim, South Africa’s leading digital tax assistant.
5 steps thumbnail
  • Updates

The Five-Step Design Process, Reimagined

At Octoco, we’ve adapted SpaceX’s famous five-step design process to the world of product and systems engineering. Our approach challenges assumptions, simplifies complexity, and builds momentum — helping clients turn bold ideas into practical, production-ready technology that actually works.
The Squirrel Away Team
  • Updates

Yenza Venture Studio Completes First Investment

Octoco Group’s Yenza Venture Studio proudly announces the successful closing of its first investment from its venture programme, in Squirrel Away, a pioneering fintech startup transforming the way South Africans think about gifting and financial empowerment.
Guy on a motorcycle, holding a newspaper
  • CTO Insights

Building Ventures That Scale: How to Turn Corporate Innovation into Lasting Growth

The corporate venture scaling paradox, key ingredients for scale and two proudly South African scaling case studies – this is how to build ventures that scale in SA
qa mindset team
  • CTO Insights

The QA Mindset

Quality is a mindset, not a final step. Passing tests doesn’t guarantee your product actually solves real problems. We test like users, ask better questions early, and ensure our code delivers practical, meaningful results.
hackathon in workshack
  • Updates

Octoco x InventAfrika Hardware Hackathon

Octoco’s first Hardware Hackathon, held with InventAfrika, brought together 40 students from Stellenbosch University and UCT for 20 hours of pure creativity. The result: playful, innovative machines and a renewed sense of joy for building simply for the love of it.
octoco ai logo
  • Updates

Introducing Octoco AI

Octoco AI joins the Octoco Group as a venture dedicated to helping businesses transform ambition into action. With deep technical and entrepreneurial expertise, the team builds AI solutions that drive genuine value, empowering organisations to innovate with confidence and purpose.
what does octoco do
  • CTO Insights
  • Updates

What Does Octoco Actually Do?

Octoco has evolved from an outsourced CTO company into a full-spectrum technology partner, helping businesses build real, working products across software, hardware, and strategy. From scalable software to embedded systems and CTO support, Octoco delivers practical innovation that drives growth.
a hand holding a graph chart in the palm of the hand
  • CTO Insights

How to Get CTO Support for Your Venture So You Can Scale Smarter, Faster

Tech strategy, why you need a CTO, how much it costs and the fractional option for scale – here’s how to get CTO support for your venture in SA at any budget
5 years of octoco
  • Updates

Five Years of Octoco

This March, Octoco celebrated five years of growth from a focused CTO services provider to a comprehensive technology development company. We reflect on lessons learnt, proudest moments, core team qualities, and our ambitious vision for the next five years ahead.
A blue security locker with six compartments, labeled "TIME DELAY LOCKS," featuring a digital display and control panel on top.
  • Projects
  • Software
  • Hardware

Engineering Stability: How We Helped Intelligent Safe Create a Reliable & Scalable Security Revolution

A virtually unbreakable system, a total future-proofed platform & unlocking the ability to grow – this is how Octoco helped Intelligent Safe position itself for scale
healthtech event
  • Updates

Scaling HealthTech Innovation in Africa

Last week, Octoco had the privilege of co-hosting "Scaling HealthTech Innovation in Africa" at Workshack and Technopark SRA, bringing together some of the continent's most forward-thinking health tech leaders, innovators, and investors.

technopark stellenbosch
  • Updates

Why Octoco Calls Stellenbosch Home

Stellenbosch has emerged as South Africa's leading tech hub with the highest concentration of tech jobs per capita in the country. We're proud to call Technopark home - surrounded by innovation, world-class talent, and a thriving ecosystem.
Johannesburg city skyline with a tall tower and high-rise buildings, overlaid with a rising arrow graph indicating growth or progress.
  • CTO Insights

What is Venture Building in South Africa?

What is venture building, who is it for, the risks, benefits and the entire process unpacked as a step-by-step corporate venture building playbook in South Africa
Two men sitting at a table, focused on a laptop screen, with one typing and the other watching intently. Black and white image.
  • CTO Insights

What is a Fractional CTO? When You Need One & Why It’s a Game-Changer

All tech ventures need a CTO, but not always full-time. The solution? A fractional CTO to come in and unlock the strategic tech advantage you need to win – at a fraction of the cost
steve wozniak
  • Updates

Engineering Over Everything

Steve Wozniak's approach to building Apple wasn't about business growth or leadership; it was about engineering excellence. His hands-on philosophy and passion for elegant simplicity offer valuable lessons for modern CTOs navigating today's complex technology landscape.
Six people smiling in front of a modern glass building backdrop, depicted in black and white.
  • CTO Insights

What is a CTO, When Would You Need One & What Exactly Do They Do?
A glowing light bulb with a visible filament against a dark, minimalist background.
  • CTO Insights

Lack of Innovation: The Risks of Standing Still in Competitive Markets

Why tech innovation is crucial, the risks of standing still, barriers to innovation and how to overcome them – this is how corporates can overcome a lack of innovation and maintain competitive advantage
Hexagonal icons depicting technology concepts like AI, robotics, cloud computing, and service, connected in a network pattern.
  • CTO Insights

Next-Level Corporate Diversification Strategy: Using Tech & Ventures to Unlock New Revenue Streams

A tech-driven diversification strategy for growth, redefined leadership and opening new opportunities – this is how SA companies can create new revenue streams with corporate ventures
A robotic arm interacts with a touchscreen displaying digital charts and diagrams in a modern industrial setting.
  • CTO Insights

How to Identify Opportunities to Improve Operational Efficiency with Tech

A new theoretical framework: Business segments, investigative methods and practical approaches – this is how to spot opportunities to improve operational efficiency in your business
The image displays the word "Yenza" in a sleek, modern font against a dark, blurred background.
  • Updates

Octoco Launches Yenza Venture Studio In Stellenbosch

Octoco is excited to announce the launch of Yenza Venture Studio, a Stellenbosch-based initiative designed to accelerate early-stage, tech-enabled startups.

Laptop displaying a LeaseSurance webpage with illustrations of houses and information on lease protection options against a dark background.
  • Software
  • Projects

Innovation Enabled: How We Helped Prep LeaseSurance to Revolutionise SA Rental Property

Advanced risk profiling, accurate pricing and streamlined claims processes – this is how Octoco helped enable LeaseSurance to scale its groundbreaking “no rental deposit” PropTech revolution
workflow automations
  • CTO Insights
  • Software

Scaling SA Tech Ventures: Why You Need Workflow Automation Early on in South Africa

What is workflow automation, why you need it, where to apply and how to get started – this is why you need workflow automation (with examples) in tech in South Africa
Futuristic digital workspace with holographic building model, multiple screens, data charts, and technology icons in a dark setting.
  • CTO Insights

Scaling Your Property Game

All about workflow automation in PropTech, why it matters, and how it empowers high-volume, low-cost models to succeed – complete with real estate industry insights
Starship rocket ready to launch aerial view
  • CTO Insights

How to Build Better Products: 5 Steps to Help Increase Your Chances of Success

The Octoco interpretation of Elon Musk’s 5-step design process – this is how we’ve used Musk’s algorithm to help real SA ventures build and launch better products.
Rockets launching at SpaceX
  • CTO Insights

How to Make Your Requirements Less Dumb

A deep-dive into step 1 of Elon Musk’s 5-step design guide – this is how to make your requirements less dumb for smarter, success-ready products.
Heinrich from Octoco and Patrick from Polymorph
  • Updates

Polymorph Joins the Octoco Group

Octoco is pleased to announce that Polymorph Systems, a leading South African software product development consultancy, has joined the Octoco Group of technology companies.

Close-up of interlocking black gears of various sizes, showcasing mechanical complexity and industrial design
  • CTO Insights
  • IoT

Unlock Operational Efficiency: The Tech Playbook for Engaging Your Growth Engine

How tech transforms corporate operations, the role of leadership and unlocking your growth engine – this is the blueprint for SA companies using tech to drive operational efficiency