Dave Blakey

Dave Blakey founded Snapt in 2012 and currently serves as the company’s CEO. Snapt now provides load balancing and acceleration to more than 10,000 clients in 50 countries. High-profile clients include NASA, Intel, and various other forward-thinking technology companies. A self-made, serial entrepreneur from Johannesburg, South Africa, Dave previously launched Opteq International, a global hardware networking company. Dave received his A+ computer technician certification at age 11, the youngest candidate certified globally at the time. At age 13, Dave was certified as a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), the youngest person certified at the time in the southern hemisphere. Today, Dave has evolved into a leading open-source software-defined networking thought leader, with deep domain expertise in high performance (carrier grade) network systems, management, and security solutions. He is a passionate advocate for advancing South Africa’s start-up ecosystem and expanding the global presence of the country’s tech hub.