Marlon Parker

Founder at RLabs

City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About

Marlon Parker is deeply committed to community, technology, and innovation, which has shaped his career and led to the creation of RLabs, a social enterprise that has reached over 65 million people in 24 countries. Recognised by Quartz as a leading African Innovator in 2017 and named among the 100 World Class South Africans, Parker has also earned accolades as an honorary faculty member at the International School of Digital Transformation, a non-resident fellow at New York University, and a member of the GITEX Impact Council. His contributions to social entrepreneurship have garnered him prestigious titles such as a WEF Young Global Leader, a Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Fellow, a Dangote Fellow, and an Ashoka Fellow. Most recently, Parker has launched RLabs Capital, which focuses on investing in and managing a portfolio of scalable technology and impact-driven companies founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Experience

  • Founder at RLabs *Reconstructed Living Lab
    Nov 2009 - Present · 16 yrs 9 mos

    Responsible for the global expansion of RLabs and strategic growth opportunities.

  • Managing General Partner at RLabs Capital
    Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 6 mos

  • Member Board Of Directors at Zlto
    Nov 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 9 mos

    Zlto increases and tracks positive behavior for young people using mobile and blockchain technologies. Youth are able to validate work or tasks completed via smart contracts and earn our zlto digital rewards that can be redeemed at more than 3,000 partner stores across our marketplace of vendors. Each Zlto user’s work history, social impact hours, and spending history is tracked and stored as a “work asset” portfolio using blockchain technology, serving as a validated store of credentials for future employers while establishing an alternative form of credit for an otherwise financially underserved population.

  • Reach Trust (14 yrs 4 mos)
    • Board Trustee
      Jul 2013 - Present · 13 yrs 1 mo

      Reach Trust is centered around using innovative technologies to create free mobile educational, health care, agricultural and community applications. The Reach Trust is committed to broad-based education and community upliftment.

    • Head: Mxit Reach
      Apr 2012 - Jul 2013 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Strategy, New Partnership, Innovation

  • Faculty Member at Graduate School of Business - University of Cape Town
    Aug 2018 - Aug 2021 · 3 yrs 1 mo