Allon Raiz is regarded both locally and globally as a pioneer and maverick in the business-incubation industry. He is the founder and CEO of Raizcorp which, according to The Economist, is the only genuine incubator in Africa and which currently supports over 500 businesses.

Allon is the author of two best-selling entrepreneurial books – Lose the Business Plan and What to Do When You Want to Give Up. He hosted the first national radio show on entrepreneurship in South Africa in 2004; wrote and hosted the first South African prime-time entrepreneurship reality television show; and created and published an ongoing entrepreneurial cartoon strip.

Allon Raiz is currently hosting his eighth season of the popular The Big Small Business Show on Business Day TV, and is a regular columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine.

Allon Raiz is a co-founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation South Africa and Rural Roots, and is on the advisory and judging boards of numerous local and international NGOs and entrepreneurial awards. His passion for and focus on the development of entrepreneurs attracted the attention of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which, in 2008, recognised Allon as a Young Global Leader.

As an accomplished international speaker, Allon Raiz was invited to speak at the 2011 WEF Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.

In 2011, he was also invited to become a member of the WEF’s Global Agenda Council on Fostering Entrepreneurship, making him one of 15 recognised global experts in the field. More recently, he became a member of the WEF’s Global Future Council.

In 2013, Allon Raiz received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Oliver Transformation and Empowerment Awards. The following year, he became the country winner, regional winner and continental winner of the Titan Award for Building Nations.

Since 2014, Allon has guest lectured annually at Oxford University where he is recognised as the Oxford University Saïd Business School’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

In 2015, Allon received an invitation from the White House, on behalf of President Barack Obama, to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Kenya.

His passion and focus on the development of entrepreneurs attracted the attention of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which awarded Allon as a Young Global Leader on the 11th of March 2008.

Whilst working towards a Doctorate in Entrepreneurial Studies and Innovation, Allon is an accomplished international speaker. He was invited to speak at the 2011 WEF Annual Meeting, held in Switzerland.

In 2011, Allon Raiz was invited to become a member of the WEF’s Global Agenda Council on Fostering Entrepreneurship. He is one of 15 recognised global experts in this field.