What the Cross Border Roundtable covers
The Cross Border Roundtable is a structured discussion session for creators who want real comparison, not vague motivation. It brings together participants from South Africa, Kenya and other African markets to speak about pricing, production, shipping, audience fit, collaboration and how work changes from city to city.
Sessions are usually hosted from Braamfontein, Johannesburg, with hybrid options for Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Nairobi and other locations. The format works well for makers who sell products, run workshops, build creative services, or manage small teams that need better cross-border judgement before they commit time and money.
- Peer discussion on markets, customers and growth
- Moderator-led Q and A with clear topics
- Space for introductions, follow-ups and collaboration leads
- Useful for mixed groups from different countries and sectors
Session sizes and format options
We offer the roundtable in a few practical sizes so it can suit a small mentorship group or a bigger showcase crowd. Smaller sessions give more speaking time per person, while larger ones work better for shared learning and networking after the discussion. If the room is too crowded people lose focus, so we plan the seating and timing carefully.
- Small roundtable: 8 to 12 participants
- Medium roundtable: 13 to 24 participants
- Extended forum: 25 to 40 participants
- Hybrid option: in-room group plus online guests
Each format can be adapted for a chapter event, a partner venue, or a private creator meeting. For online sessions, we keep the group tighter so people do not spend the whole call talking over each other and missing the point.
Where it suits best
This programme suits spaces where people can hear clearly and speak without background noise. In Johannesburg, that can mean a meeting room in Braamfontein, a studio in Rosebank, or a chapter venue in Newtown or Soweto. It also works for partner events in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, plus online rooms for cross-border groups that cannot travel.
It is a strong fit for product designers, digital creators, workshop teams, community organisers and small business founders who want to compare practical realities. That includes topics such as supplier lead times, delivery across borders, customs delays, payment methods and how to present work for different audiences.
- Creator meetups and showcase side-programmes
- Mentorship circles with mixed-country participation
- Trade and market readiness sessions
- Community partnership activations
Setup, power and room needs
The roundtable does not need specialised equipment, but it does need a tidy room and dependable basics. For an in-person session, allow chairs in a circle or around one table, one moderator position, and enough space for a small camera setup if the session will be recorded or streamed. A quiet room matters more than fancy decor.
For power, a standard plug point is usually enough for a laptop, charger and audio equipment. If you are hosting during load-shedding, please plan for backup power or a venue with inverter support, because a dead mic or dark room can cut the discussion dead. No gas is required, and we do not need heavy utilities. If refreshments are being served, keep them simple and arranged away from cables and walkways.
- Room with low echo and minimal street noise
- Stable power point for laptop, lighting and audio
- Wi-Fi if online guests are joining
- Tables and chairs that allow clear sight lines
Care, servicing and repeat use
Because this is a discussion programme, the main care is about people and process. The session brief should be shared early, speakers should know the theme, and the moderator should have a clear run sheet. If the roundtable is repeated across several chapters, keep the core questions the same but allow local examples to change so the conversation stays relevant.
We also recommend a follow-up plan after the session. That may include a summary of key points, introductions between creators, or a short list of next steps. When a room, mic or online link is tested before the start, the programme runs smoother and there is less scrambling at the last minute, which saves time for everyone.
- Test sound, seating and online access before start time
- Keep participant details and speaker notes in one file
- Share post-session follow-up.
- Review what worked before the next chapter event
What to check before you book
Before confirming a Cross Border Roundtable, check the country mix, the session goal, and whether the group needs a public discussion or a closed working conversation. A session about pricing support will need different prompts from one about collaboration or market entry. Please also confirm if you want recordings, photography, or a private feedback segment after the main discussion.
It is helpful to know the expected number of participants, the venue type, and whether guests will join online from outside South Africa. If travel is involved, factor in border timing, venue access, and the working hours of the people speaking. A small planning mistake can become a big delay, so please check the details early.
- Number of attendees and countries represented
- Preferred format: in-person, online, or hybrid
- Need for moderation, recording or translation support
- Venue access, power backup and internet quality
Built for practical cross-border conversation
The value of this roundtable is simple: creators get to hear how others across the continent are handling the same problems, but in different markets. Someone in Nairobi may be solving a different buyer problem from someone in Durban, and that comparison can save months of guesswork. It is not about speaking for the sake of it, it is about leaving with usable insight.
PioCreat Africa runs the programme with a warm, practical approach that suits real working teams. If your group needs a honest conversation about opportunity, barriers and next moves, the Cross Border Roundtable gives you a focused space to do that. The format is calm, direct and useful, even when the issues are hard to untangle.
Key facts
| Programme type | Moderated discussion session for cross-border creators |
|---|---|
| Typical size | 8 to 40 participants depending on format |
| Format options | In-person, online, or hybrid |
| Session length | 60 to 180 minutes |
| Power needs | Standard plug point, optional backup power for load-shedding |
| Gas needs | None required |
