AO Group Logo

AO Innovate

To Serve. To Solve. To Evolve.

Connect Now
A hand holding a glowing lightbulb against a dark city skyline

Overview

Building the Ventures That Shape Tomorrow

AO Innovate is AO Group’s future-growth engine — designed to imagine, develop, and accelerate the tools, technologies, and businesses that will define tomorrow’s economy. We build what the market will demand next, and what businesses need today to grow faster, smarter, and more efficiently.

Whether it’s AI-driven platforms, internal performance tools, or fully independent ventures, AO Innovate reshapes what’s possible.

About AO Innovate

AO Innovate is the future-thinking soul of AO Group.

We combine innovation, technology, data, and commercial storytelling to build solutions that:

  • Solve real problems
  • Unlock new revenue streams
  • Create new categories
  • Improve operational efficiency
  • Expand AO Group’s influence in the market
  • Position AO as a leader in business innovation in South Africa and beyond

We operate in a hybrid model:

Part R&D lab, part product team, part venture studio, part business accelerator.

This allows us to:

  • Experiment with bold ideas
  • Rapidly prototype solutions
  • Validate market opportunities
  • Build sustainable businesses
  • Launch internal tools that strengthen AO Group
  • Launch external ventures with their own brand, team, and revenue model

Our Venture Portfolio

AO Innovate has already built high-impact ventures that are shaping the direction of AO Group and the markets we operate in:

KORA AI

KORA AI is the backbone of AO’s future marketing intelligence. It acts as a smart assistant, strategist, and execution partner for marketers and sales teams, automating repetitive work, analysing data, and delivering insights with precision.

KORA AI helps teams:

  • Make faster decisions
  • Create better campaigns
  • Eliminate manual work
  • Improve accuracy and performance
  • Operate with predictive intelligence
KORA AI Platform
KORA KOMPLY Platform

KORA KOMPLY

Compliance in marketing and digital execution is complex, KORA Komply simplifies it. This platform automates compliance workflows, captures approvals, and ensures every campaign meets brand, legal, and regulatory standards.

Its built for agencies, corporates, and marketing teams who want risk-free execution.

Send Me Some

Send Me Some connects brands with real consumers by digitising the product sampling industry.

Brands can:

  • Distribute samples
  • Collect feedback
  • Analyse customer behaviour
  • Drive awareness and conversion through real product experience

Consumers get access to new products. Brands get measurable, actionable insight. A whole new media channel is born.

Send Me Some Platform

What We Do

AO Innovate’s capabilities span the full innovation and venture lifecycle.

1. Technology R&D

We explore emerging technologies, test new models, and experiment with ideas before the market catches up.

2. Internal Innovation

We build tools, platforms, and systems that empower AO Group to perform at a higher level.

3. Venture Creation and Incubation

From concept to launch, we build businesses that stand on their own and scale independently.

4. AI Development

Our AI teams focus on automation, predictive analytics, conversational intelligence, and intelligent workflow systems.

5. Tools for AO Clients

We build client-facing tools that improve marketing, sales, customer experience, and operational efficiency.

6. Acquisition Exploration

We identify businesses we may acquire or integrate in the future once AO Group’s venture expansion timeline matures.

7. Selective Innovation Consulting

For select brands, we provide strategic innovation direction and custom-built solutions that fast-forward their growth. We operate wherever opportunity and growth intersect.

Our Approach to Innovation

Innovation is not random.
At AO Innovate, it is structured, data-driven, and commercially grounded.
Our methodology is based on proven global innovation frameworks combined with AO Group’s proprietary marketing, sales, and behavioural systems.

We study markets, consumer behaviour, trends, friction points, and data to uncover opportunities that aren’t obvious yet.

We evaluate opportunities using criteria such as:
• Market size
• Recurring revenue models
• Consumer need
• Revenue potential
• Scalability
• Technological feasibility
• Competitive landscape
• Long-term value

We use human-centred design principles to map the solution, user journeys, and commercial model.

We build quickly, low-fidelity prototypes, MVPs, and beta versions that allow us to test hypotheses fast.

We gather real feedback, measure adoption, analyse performance, and adapt accordingly.

When a concept proves strong, we build it fully, launch it internally or externally, and begin scaling.

Every venture goes through ongoing optimisation, automation, and expansion.

There is no finish line, only progress.
We innovate with discipline, creativity, and commercial intelligence.

The Venture Model

AO Innovate follows a dual-lane venture architecture:

Rocket Icon

1. Internal Innovation Stream

These initiatives give AO Group a competitive edge. They improve our delivery, enhance client experience, and create proprietary technology that differentiates us.

Examples include:

  • AI-powered tools
  • Automation systems
  • Workflow enhancement platforms
  • Data engines
  • Compliance automation

This stream focuses on operational excellence and client value.

Box with Rocket Icon

2. Independent Venture Stream

These are standalone businesses built to scale beyond AO Group.

Key traits:

  • Independent revenue model
  • Separate brand identity
  • Long-term scaling potential
  • Built to attract investment or acquisition
  • Ability to expand into new markets

This stream focuses on new revenue ecosystems and long-term strategic advantage.

Acquisition Strategy

While AO Innovate primarily builds, we also maintain a pipeline of potential acquisitions.

Our future acquisition targets will typically include companies with:

  • • High-growth potential
  • • Recurring revenue models
  • • Proprietary software
  • • Data-driven products
  • • Automation potential
  • • Strong market positioning
  • • Synergy with AO’s infrastructure

The goal is not to acquire for size — but to acquire to accelerate AO’s future.

AI & Automation Lab

The AI lab inside AO Innovate builds intelligent systems that make work smarter, faster, and more accurate. Our focus includes:

AI for Performance:

Predictive analytics,
campaign optimization,
sales forecasting.

AI for Efficiency:

Workflow automation,
content generation,
real-time data engines.

AI for Accuracy:

Compliance checks,
error reduction,
quality control.

AI for Experience:

Chat interfaces,
customer service automation,
hyper-personalisation.

We believe AI should be useful — not flashy — and everything we build is focused on real business impact.

Why It Matters

AO Innovate is not just about building cool things. It is about building the future AO Group will live in. Here’s why it matters:

  1. 1. Growth Beyond the Core Marketing alone cannot scale a company forever. Ventures create new engines of revenue and long-term value.
  2. 2. Innovation as Competitive Advantage In a world of sameness, innovation is the differentiator.
  3. 3. Future-Proofing AO Group We build solutions that ensure we remain relevant, competitive, and ahead of evolving market forces.
  4. 4. Stronger Value for Clients Our tools and systems make our clients better, faster, and more successful.
  5. 5. Talent Attraction & Retention Innovative companies attract top-tier thinkers, technologists, and creators.
  6. 6. Market Leadership AO becomes more than a marketing agency — we become a technology-driven powerhouse with real IP, real assets, and real ventures.

AO Innovate is how we build the next decade of growth.