Johan Hanekom (born 26 September 1984) is a South African entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. He is the CEO of Askari, a company that develops artificial intelligence tools to assist businesses in aligning employee decision-making with corporate sustainability and net-zero goals.

Johan Hanekom was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He attended Paul Roos Gymnasium and later studied at the University of Cape Town as an Isaac Ochberg Scholar.^[1] Hanekom graduated with a degree in Criminology and Psychology (Cum Laude) from the University of South Africa. He then studied Political Economy at Kellogg College, Oxford University.

Hanekom's early career involved building and scaling startups. He later transitioned into private equity, where he focused on cleantech investments. He then worked at eMotorwerks in Silicon Valley, contributing to developments in electric vehicle technology. Hanekom also worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the Principal for Sustainability and Innovation, where he supported companies in achieving their net-zero goals through technology and innovation.

Hanekom has served in the South African Police Service and the British Army.

Hanekom founded Askari, a company focused on helping businesses become more sustainable. The company’s primary product is an AI tool designed to help employees make decisions that align with corporate sustainability and net-zero strategies.

In 2024, Hanekom launched a podcast focused on innovation, its everyday applications, and its impact on society and the environment.

Hanekom has written articles for Forbes and Entrepreneur on topics of sustainability, innovation, and technology's role in addressing climate change. He is the author of Garage Thinking: How to Build a Culture of Innovation like The Magnificent Seven, which discusses how companies foster a culture of innovation.