Introducing Octoco AI

Today marks an important milestone for the Octoco Group as we proudly introduce Octoco AI — a new venture dedicated to helping businesses realise the full potential of artificial intelligence.

While many are still debating AI’s possibilities, Octoco AI is already building solutions that create measurable business value. The team believes that in today’s rapidly evolving landscape, standing still means falling behind. Their mission is clear: to help businesses transform AI from a buzzword into a practical tool that enhances operations, reduces friction, and empowers people to focus on what matters most.

“We build with conviction, curiosity, and a commitment to staying agile and focused on the mission.”

From concept to creation

Octoco AI was founded on the belief that the AI era demands more than incremental change — it demands bold reinvention. The venture was established by a team with extensive experience across the technology landscape, including engineering, entrepreneurship, and venture building.

Drawing on Octoco’s proven track record in delivering complex solutions across industries such as IoT, telecommunications, and logistics, Octoco AI focuses on helping organisations move beyond proof-of-concept to production-grade solutions. Too often, AI projects stall before reaching implementation. Octoco AI takes a different approach — identifying high-impact opportunities, validating ideas rapidly, and building tools that seamlessly integrate into existing systems to deliver long-term results.

A venture built on expertise and vision

At the helm of Octoco AI is Nolan van Heerden, an accomplished systems engineer and entrepreneur. As the co-founder of iKubu, Nolan helped develop the Garmin Varia Bike Radar — the world’s first rear-view radar for cyclists. Following iKubu’s acquisition by Garmin in 2015, he continued to expand the Radar product line, contributing to one of the company’s most successful consumer categories.

Since 2021, Nolan has supported over 30 startups across sectors including EdTech, BioTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and IoT. His unique blend of technical depth and entrepreneurial insight allows him to guide businesses in identifying real opportunities for transformation and delivering solutions that scale.

Joining him as Co-Founder and Fractional CTO is Heinrich de Lange, Octoco’s CEO, whose leadership has been instrumental in building ventures that push the boundaries of technology and possibility. Together, they bring a shared passion for meaningful innovation — one rooted in experience, curiosity, and a desire to see technology enhance human potential.

Beyond consulting: co-creation at its core

Octoco AI’s philosophy is simple: don’t just consult — co-create. The team partners closely with clients to ideate, validate, and build. Their approach blends technical excellence, entrepreneurial insight, and product rigour to support business leaders at every stage of their AI journey.

Octoco AI helps organisations:

• Identify high-impact AI opportunities that align with long-term strategy
• Validate ideas quickly to de-risk investment and confirm commercial potential
• Build production-grade AI solutions that integrate seamlessly into operations
• Co-create new AI-native ventures designed to capture emerging opportunities

“We remove the most frustrating parts of people’s work so they have more time for meaningful interactions.”

This guiding principle shapes everything Octoco AI builds. By automating repetitive tasks and simplifying complex processes, their solutions give teams the space to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and engage meaningfully with their work and customers.

A bold step forward

The launch of Octoco AI marks an exciting new chapter for the Octoco Group. It expands the group’s ability to support clients not only in building complex systems, but also in reimagining how technology can fundamentally change the way they operate.

Octoco AI’s partners are bold thinkers — leaders who are navigating uncertainty and betting on AI to redefine how they work and serve their customers. With Octoco AI, those bets are grounded in expertise, agility, and the drive to deliver measurable value.

In a world where technology evolves faster than ever, Octoco AI is here to ensure that innovation keeps pace with ambition.