SAVCA VC Conference 2023 Speakers
The 2023 lineup will feature key thought leaders in Southern Africa that will explore this year's theme.
MC: Rajiv Daya
Pan-African Investment Professional
Rajiv Daya
Rajiv is an investment professional, advisor and speaker who’s been involved in over $1bn in deals and helped to manage almost $75m in funds across Africa. As Head of Investments at Founders Factory Africa, he built and led a pan-African investment team involved in 50 investments into tech startups. Prior to this, Rajiv spent almost a decade as a strategy consultant at Accenture, an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and as a development finance specialist at the World Bank. He co-authored Goldman Sachs’ “Two Decades of Freedom” report, was a contributor to the World Bank’s “Doing Business in Africa” reports, was a founding member of the World Bank’s Blockchain Lab and a founding council member of the “Digital Collective Africa”, alongside leading VCs. Rajiv is the co-host of the African Pre-Seed Podcast which has over 66,000 downloads. He has participated as a judge, speaker and mentor at various events including the Global Startup Awards, the UK’s ‘Leaders in Innovation Fellowship’, VC4A, AfricArena, Sankalp and AFSIC.
Rajiv has lived in South Africa, Kenya and the UK, where he obtained an MBA from Oxford University and chaired Oxford’s Business Forum for Africa. He was chosen by the Mail & Guardian as one of the top 200 young South Africans of 2020.
Alison Collier
Managing Director, Endeavor South Africa
Alison Collier
Alison Collier is the Managing Director of Endeavor South Africa. Alison joined Endeavor in April 2019, bringing close to 20yrs of experience in Strategy & Business Development roles – understanding what it takes to establish new offices for both large multi-nationals & start-ups both in the international markets and the power of technology to transform business & society.
She has a passion to drive business development & growth, specifically in the entrepreneurial space given the huge positive impact high growth emerging businesses have on long term job creation and economic growth.
Alison has strong commercial acumen and experience in establishing value creating partnerships having worked in senior global procurement roles for SABMiller (JHB, London, Zurich) & Unilever (Singapore) as well as having successfully led the international expansion of a Cape Town based beverage start-up BOS ICE TEA to Europe (Amsterdam, Paris). Through these global roles, Alison developed a broad understanding of the business landscape across the globe and understands the importance of appreciating the local context especially for market entry.
Alison holds a B.Bus.Sci degree with Honours Finance from UCT (2000) and an MBA from INSEAD (2004).
Amanda Fong
Health Team Lead & USAID Representative
Amanda Fong
Amanda Fong is the first USAID Representative in the U.S. Consulate General Cape Town. She is a USAID Foreign Service Officer with the USAID/Southern Africa Mission headquartered in Pretoria. She has been with USAID since 2008, with previous assignments including Partnerships Director in Power Africa, Policy and Partnerships Team Lead in USAID/Mozambique, Public Financial Management Team Lead in USAID/Afghanistan, and Private Enterprise Officer in USAID/Azerbaijan. She worked on a variety of cross-sectoral issues such as expanding access to energy, water and finance, improving agricultural policy and the business enabling environment, increasing trade and investment into priority sectors.
Prior to joining USAID, Amanda worked briefly in Beijing, China on a microfinance program and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon working with local communities to increase healthy behaviors. She has an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.
Arnold Sigauque
Policy and Advocacy Lead, Darkies In Tech (DIT)
Arnold Sigauque
Arnold is a tech entrepreneur, Global Shaper, and Tech Ecosystem Builder. As an Entrepreneur: He is the co-founder of Ghea (Gee-Yah), a workforce management software company in the Private Security space. He oversees customer acquisition and growth. Arnold has led the company to achieve a remarkable 60% year-on-year revenue growth since its 2018 launch. He is now spearheading the expansion of operations nationwide.
As a Tech Ecosystem Builder: Arnold coaches and supports founders on their journey from idea to venture. Having worked with organizations such as: - The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, - Redefine Properties, and several other venture creation programs. He is also a founding member of Darkies in Tech, a community of over 250 black entrepreneurs and professionals. He actively contributes to communities policy development and advocacy efforts. As a Global Shaper: He founded Kasi Digital, an initiative empowering young people from South African townships to become software developers and find employment in the tech industry. The initiative aims to produce 1,000 developers by 2025 and foster talent for the S.A Tech Startup industry. Through his professional and personal contributions, Arnold is committed to realising a South African tech startup ecosystem that will rival the best in the world.
Brendan Mullen
Co-founder and Managing Director, Secha Capital
Brendan Mullen
Secha Capital is a growth capital impact fund in Southern Africa employing an Operator-Investor value-add model and investing in traditional industries making the green economy, tech-enabled transition.
Brendan was previously a consultant with Bain & Company. Previous to Bain, Brendan worked at SJF Ventures. He began his career as a bond analyst at Putnam Investments. He holds an MBA from Duke University.
Brent Shahim
Managing Partner, Venture Capitalwork
Brent Shahim
Brent completed a BCom with Honours in Business Information Systems at the University of the Witwatersrand. On completion of his post graduate degree, he took up a post in Faculty of Business as a junior lecturer. During his time as a faculty member he completed his Bachelor of Accounting degree and went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant having articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In 1998, Brent co-founded Aqua Online – one of the first e-commerce services and digital marketing agencies in the country. Aqua grew to be the largest digital agency on the African continent with a staff compliment of 550 people servicing clients in 18 countries.
Aqua’s client base included blue chip brands such as MTN, Coca-Cola, Ford, Standard Bank, Microsoft and Multichoice.
In 2008 Aqua was acquired in by WPP – the world’s largest advertising network. Brent remained with the WPP group as a senior executive, responsible for managing their digital assets in the Middle East and Africa regions until 2014.
Brent went on to co-found Lucky Beard in 2015, a new age consultancy established to assist organizations with identifying and accelerating digital transformation. Lucky Beard has built a global footprint of 100 staff with offices in Johannesburg, Dublin and London. Brent is the non-executive Chairman of the Group.
Brent is currently Managing Partner of VCW. Venture Capitalworks is a Global Emerging Market Growth Fund that incubates and invests in disruptive high-growth, high impact businesses, in the financial, education and health verticals.
The Venture Capitalworks approach is a high-touch one, where they take significant stakes in a select portfolio of businesses and actively partner with the management teams to drive commercial growth and sustained socio-economic impact.
Brett Commaille
Partner, Hlayisani
Brett Commaille
Brett Commaille is a distinguished figure in the world of venture capital, known for his unwavering commitment to fostering high-growth businesses in emerging markets. As a Director and Partner at Hlayisani Capital, a pioneering venture capital fund manager based in South Africa, Brett spearheads initiatives that facilitate the global expansion of promising enterprises.
With an extensive background in finance, Brett's journey began as a Chartered Accountant, honing his skills at industry giants Deloitte and PWC in South Africa and the Middle East. His foray into merchant banking at Standard Corporate Merchant Bank further enriched his financial acumen. He entered Venture capital as the first CEO of Remgro’s venture Capital arm but his entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found AngelHub Ventures, South Africa's inaugural angel investment group, which he successfully elevated into one of the nation's most influential venture capital funds.
Drawing from a wealth of experience, Brett's greatest insights have emerged from the dynamic landscape of start-ups and young businesses. He is a fervent advocate for recognizing the pivotal role these enterprises play in driving authentic economic growth, especially in burgeoning markets. His advocacy extends to championing the critical support that both these businesses and the venture capital sector require from governmental bodies, businesses, and the broader investment industry.
Brett serves as a trusted director and advisor to numerous young businesses at varying stages of global expansion. His multifaceted expertise and dedication aim to inspire and shape the trajectory of emerging enterprises, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of venture capital.
Catherine Young
Managing Partner, Grindstone Ventures
Catherine Young
Catherine Young is an African entrepreneur with substantial experience growing and building startups. Catherine’s extensive industry experience is underpinned by a huge passion for the start-up landscape and a deep engagement and care for people. Entrepreneurial development, including managing and coordinating efforts across SME ecosystems in Africa, funding, and working with clients in entrepreneurship development, has seen her established as a trusted voice in the African Entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Claudia Manning
Principal, SA SME Fund
Claudia Manning
Claudia Manning is a Principal at the SA SME Fund, a fund of funds established by the CEOs of the largest 40 corporates in South Africa as well as the PIC, with a mandate to invest in growing small and medium businesses.
The SA SME Fund has become one of the largest institutional investors in Venture Capital in South Africa, having provided capital to 7 VC Fund Managers in Fund 1 and a further 4 Funds in the new Venture Capital Fund of Funds.
Claudia’s role at the SA SME Fund comprises portfolio management responsibilities, and she co-led the SA SME Fund’s capital raise for the new Venture Capital Fund of Funds which achieved a first close at R700m.
Claudia has over 25 years of experience in the investment and finance sector, initially as an investment transactor at a development finance institution, focusing on the infrastructure sector, later as a shareholder and executive of an investment holding company. She has also served as Managing Director of the Southern African business of the global development implementation company, DAI.
She has extensive governance experience, having served on numerous Boards as a non-executive director, including financial institutions such as the DBSA and PIC, where she also served on the investment committees. She is currently an independent non-executive director on the Board of listed pharma company Adcock Ingram, financial advisory company Rothschild & Co, and is Chairman the board of the social enterprise, Mondi Zimele.
Ebrahim Fakir
Political Commentator and Senior Research Associate
Ebrahim Fakir
Awarded the Ruth First Fellowship for 2014 at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg – Ebrahim Fakir until recently headed the Political Parties and Parliamentary Programme at EISA [2010-2016]. He was formerly Senior Researcher and Analyst at the Centre for Policy Studies in Johannesburg (2003-2009), he worked at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) [1998-2003] at both IDASA’s Pretoria and Cape Town offices and he also worked at the first democratic Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (1996-1998) in the Legilsation amd Oversight Division. He writes in the popular press as well as academic and policy journals on politics, development, and the state. He is used as a commentator and facilitator by the domestic and international media, business and other organisations.
Eric Osiakwan
Managing Partner, Chanzo Capital
Eric Osiakwan
Eric Isiakwan is an investor and developer of new businesses with 25 years of experience spanning 32 countries in Africa gained through a number of successful tech start-ups. Eric is a leading pioneer of internet in Africa having worked in multiple countries building internet service providers (“ISP”) and ICT businesses. Some of his successful exits include iBurst in South Africa, One2Net in Uganda, BusyInternet in Ghana, etc. Eric also founded and ran the Africa ISP Association for eight years, during which the ISP industry grew by almost 120%. He then moved on to leading efforts to build submarine cables on the continent. Eric was part of a public-private partnership in Kenya that built and launched the TEAMS submarine fibre cable, the first to connect East Africa to the rest of the world. He subsequently contributed to the building of terrestrial fibre networks in Ghana and Nigeria.
Eric has been seeding and investing in early-stage tech ventures across the continent. In 2013, he co-founded www.angelafrica.net, an Africa-wide network of angel investors, and then www.angelfairafrica.com which brings select entrepreneurs to present to potential investors. Over the 10 years of the event, $58M of investments have been made with one exit in 2019. He was an ICT Consultant for the World Bank, Soros Foundations, UNDP, USAID, USDoJ, USDoS, African governments, and private firms.
Eric currently serves on the board of the Pan Africa Project, Ghana Cyber City, Nyaho Medical Centre, Star Assurance and StarLife Assurance.
He authored “The KINGS of Africa’s Digital Economy”, co-authored the “Open Access Model”, adopted globally by the telecommunications industry, “Negotiating the Net” – the politics of Internet Diffusion in Africa and “The Internet in Ghana” with the Mosaic Group. He was invited to contribute ideas to Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa. Eric is an MIT, Harvard and Stanford Fellow and holds a master’s in Finance and Investment Management from Salford Business School.
Ian Lessem
Managing Partner, HAVAIC
Ian Lessem
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Ian’s passion for building businesses runs in his genes. Coupled with over a decade of pan-African investing and investment banking experience, he is ideally placed to invest and advise early-stage, high-growth businesses. Ian has a unique talent for raising capital and is an expert at strategically aligning businesses for international growth, investment, and exit.
HAVAÍC is a venture capital and advisory firm that specialises in investing in and supporting early-stage, high-growth post-revenue African technology start-ups with global prospects. As a complementary offering, HAVAÍC provides corporate advisory and capital raising services to its portfolio companies, which assists when scaling locally and internationally.
The HAVAÍC team has extensive local and international experience and networks. We are passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging our portfolio companies to retain their independence and unique cultures. We are deeply invested in ensuring alignment with founders on vision, strategy, and long-term objectives and work tirelessly to prepare our portfolio companies for global growth, impact, and high-returning exits.
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Ian’s passion for building businesses runs in his genes. Coupled with over a decade of pan-African investing and investment banking experience, he is ideally placed to invest and advise early-stage, high-growth businesses. Ian has a unique talent for raising capital and is an expert at strategically aligning businesses for international growth, investment, and exit.
HAVAÍC is a venture capital and advisory firm that specialises in investing in and supporting early-stage, high-growth post-revenue African technology start-ups with global prospects. As a complementary offering, HAVAÍC provides corporate advisory and capital raising services to its portfolio companies, which assists when scaling locally and internationally.
The HAVAÍC team has extensive local and international experience and networks. We are passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging our portfolio companies to retain their independence and unique cultures. We are deeply invested in ensuring alignment with founders on vision, strategy, and long-term objectives and work tirelessly to prepare our portfolio companies for global growth, impact, and high-returning exits.
Janice Johnston
CEO, Edge Growth Ventures
Janice Johnston
Janice has a deep and diverse investment background, spanning over 20 years with highly regarded financial institutions in South Africa and the UK. She has significant debt, venture capital and private equity investment experience across multiple sectors and business stages and is a CFA Charterholder. Janice is committed to strategic leadership of impact investments into innovative, growth businesses in key sectors with the potential for significant environmental/social impact and financial return through collaboration, diversity, and inclusion.
Janice spent 10 years with Prudential Capital plc (part of M&G) in London as a senior member of its Principal Finance team prior to joining Edge Growth, a leading SA impact investor and accelerator for SMEs. She ended up as CE of its Growth Equity portfolio which invests in innovative, high growth companies with the potential for significant financial return and social impact. Thereafter, Janice joined the Identity Partners Group, a majority black women led investment group.
Having worked in the Presidential Climate Finance Task Team which led the negotiation of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP), Janice was a Financing Advisor tasked with facilitating and co-ordinating the implementation of the JET IP. She is involved in several mentorship initiatives and is the chair of 100 Women in Finance in South Africa.
Janice has re-joined Edge Growth Ventures as CEO of the fund management business from July 2023.
Johan Steyn
Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advocate and thought leader
Johan Steyn
Johan Steyn is a Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advocate and thought leader and speaks globally at conferences on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Emerging Technologies. 2019 award winner Best AI & Robotics Management Consultant by Wealth & Finance magazine (UK). He has worked in senior roles for Nedbank, Accenture and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
He is a Global AI Ambassador with Swiss Cognitive and is recognised as one of the top 50 global thought leaders in Artificial Intelligence. He is a Research Fellow at the School of Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University (South Africa). He is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Business at Woxsen University (India).
Johan has collaborated with organisations such as the United Nations, Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
He was one of the finalists for the 2022 IT Personality of the Year Award (hosted by the IITPSA, Gordon Institute of Business and ITWeb).
Sean Culey, the celebrated author of Transition Point: From Steam to the Singularity, wrote that "he is now rightly recognised as Africa’s leading AI commentator".
He is a published author who regularly contributes articles on thought-leadership to well-known publications such as Reuters, Business Day, the Sunday Times, Finweek, News24, ITWeb and Brainstorm Magazine.
Joshua Janks
Partner, Corporate & Private Equity, Bowmans
Joshua Janks
Joshua will help your business grow. He works with public and private companies, private equity firms and other investment houses, combining his transactional expertise with a deep knowledge of key industry sectors including FinTech, Renewables, Real Estate and Agriculture.
He advises on M&A and finance transactions, and various other corporate and commercial matters, with his private equity practice covering all aspects of private equity work, including fund formations and acquisitions, as well as venture capital work for VC funds, founders and entrepreneurs.
He is well known for his cross-border work in Africa and beyond..
His experience enables him to anticipate key issues, giving you a quicker response. He focuses on front-end planning and really getting to know his clients, to maximize efficiencies and minimize the time spent by your legal and business teams.
He has worked with clients in the Venture Capital and FinTech sectors for many years and delivered some of the first transactions in this sector in South Africa. He has advised on all aspects of VC and FinTech and has stayed with clients through start-up, investment and growth. He has a clear understanding of what drives and motivates business in the sector and uses his experience to deliver excellent, forward-thinking advice in a practical and commercial way.
Kagiso Makhele
Portfolio Manager, EPPF
Kagiso Makhele
Kagiso Makhele holds the position of Private Equity Portfolio Manager at the EPPF with primary responsibility within the EPPF Private markets portfolios. He has previously worked in listed equities in the past. Kagiso Makhele has over 15 years’ experience in investing in the Private Markets.
Ketso Gordhan
CEO, SA SME Fun
Ketso Gordhan
Ketso is the CEO of the SA SME Fund. He has considerable experience in the private equity and impact investing space, both as an investor and fund manager. Since joining the SA SME Fund in September 2018, Ketso has been responsible for the strategic repositioning of the SA SME Fund, specifically the focus on supporting SMEs through investing in Fund Managers that focus on venture capital, growth capital and impact investing.
Prior to joining the SA SME Fund, Ketso held the following positions:
- Commonwealth Development Corporation (2014-2016) - Head of Africa.
- PPC Cement (2012-2014) - Chief Executive Officer.
- The Presidency, Government of South Africa (2009-2010) - Advisor.
- FirstRand Financial Services Group (2000 -2009) - Head of Private Equity.
In addition to the expertise above, Ketso was the first post-apartheid Director General in the Ministry of Transport; the City Manager for the City of Johannesburg during 1999-2000; and an advisor to the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency in 2009-2010. In the latter role, he sought to develop and institute performance outcome metrics and targets for all government ministries.
Ketso is passionate about impact investing and manages a personal investment portfolio with a focus on education in SA and Rwanda. Ketso also served as Africa advisor to the Omidyar Network.
Previous Advisory Board/ Board positions: Ketso has served on numerous private sector, foundation and non-profit boards.
Qualifications: BA (Politics and Sociology), M.Phil. (Development Studies)
Keet van Zyl
Founding Partner, Knife Capital
Maryanne Ochola
Managing Director, Endeavor Kenya
Maryanne Ochola
Maryanne is an impact driven professional passionate about entrepreneurship and its impact on job creation and long term economic growth.
She's worked with entrepreneurs across twelve African markets as a commercial banker at Barclays Bank, impact investment professional and a network builder at ANDE and Endeavor. Maryanne has a deep understanding of the evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem in East Africa and its key actors.
She's also a trained financial journalist passionate about fueling economic growth in Africa through data driven journalism. Maryanne holds an MBA from IE Business School and is currently the Managing Director at Endeavor Kenya.
Paula Mokwena
CEO, Fireball Capital
Paula Mokwena
Paula is an engineer by training who has extensive experience in private equity, investment management and development finance. Paula’s career started in corporate and investment banking at Standard Bank, after which she went on to gain experience in stockbroking, development finance, consulting, private equity and, most recently, venture capital. Her initial involvement in the venture capital industry occurred during her tenure at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). At the IDC, she worked for a grant funding programme designed to promote technology development in South Africa called the Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII). SPII provides financial assistance for the development of innovative products, processes and/or technologies, specifically focusing on the development phase, which begins at the conclusion of basic research and ends at the point when a pre-production prototype has been produced. She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Technology Venture Capital fund, which provides business support and seed capital for the commercialization of innovations and technologies funded by SPII.
She is currently the CEO of Fireball Capital, an integrated and diversified venture capital platform that makes direct investments in early-stage tech-enabled businesses and in established and emerging venture capital funds in South Africa. Paula believes that Africa is beaming with potential and that, despite the many challenges facing the continent and the as-yet unfulfilled promise of Africa rising, bold innovation and technology have the greatest potential to accelerate economic development. Her role at Fireball Capital has given her a glimpse into the incredible talent and groundbreaking innovations that exist in South Africa and other parts of the continent. As such, she hopes that Fireball Capital will become a key contributor to the venture capital ecosystem in Africa generally, and South Africa in particular, in the decades to come.
Robin Padberg
USAID Mobilizing Investment, Chief of Party
Robin Padberg
With over 20 years of international management experience, Robin Padberg offers a unique blend of private sector and development expertise. Mr. Padberg is currently the Chief of Party (COP) of the USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment Activity headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, and implemented by DAI Global. Prior to arriving in South Africa Robin acted as the COP for the USAID-funded, Feed-the-Future Nguriza Nshore Activity in Rwanda also implemented by DAI.
From 2012 – 2013, Robin played a pivotal role as an independent consultant in structuring and negotiating the terms that culminated in the sale of the historic Hôtel Villa Créole in Haiti. Robin also served as Chief Executive Officer of Communication Cellulaire d’Haïti S.A. (ComCEL), Haiti’s leading mobile telecommunications provider -- owned by Seattle-based, Trilogy International Partners, operating under the brand name, Voilà, which was successfully sold to the Digicel Group in 2012. Having joined the company in 2007 as Chief Commercial Officer, he was promoted to CEO in February 2008. Returning to Haiti in December 2004, Robin was appointed as Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in November 2005 and subsequently promoted to Honorary Consul General in 2014. Robin is a seasoned international executive having previously held senior positions with companies such as Descartes Systems Group, Tech Inspirations and Baan USA. Robin holds dual graduate degrees from the University of Miami, an MBA and a MS in International Business.
Rudigor Kleyn
CEO, Capitan Finance
Rudigor Kleyn
Over a career of 24 years at FirstRand, Rudigor fulfilled various roles at RMB, FirstRand and Ashburton Investments. Most recently, he and his partners have founded Capitan Finance.
- Managed 3 Corporate CDO’s (2005-2010) without incurring any losses or defaults through the GFC;
- Founding member of Ashburton Investments;
- Started Ashburton’s Alternatives Investments business: Launching its first Private Debt, Private Equity and Hedge Funds;
- Rudigor led the biggest AUM gathering channels for Ashburton, growing it to one of the largest Institutional fixed income and private debt managers in South Africa;
- Started investing, on a personal basis, into Venture Capital in 2019;
- Founding member of Capitan Finance;
- 2016-2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship contestant. Mountain biker & road cyclist, runner, avid wildlife enthusiast & traveller.
Up to December 2009, Rudigor fulfilled various roles in his 10.5 years at RMB. The "Class of" program provided a holistic learning opportunity, as Rudigor was deployed to areas such as Treasury, Private Equity, Credit & Structured Finance. Rudigor later became a US High Yield debt investment analyst and a structured credit & high yield debt portfolio manager before venturing into distributing alternative product to the institutional and UHNW market, both locally and abroad.
In FirstRand Rudigor formed part of a small team that incubated Ashburton Investments for nearly 3 years under “Third Party Funds”, with his role being product development and distribution of various alternative assets ranging from hedge funds, private equity, distressed, preference shares etc before launching Ashburton Investments in July 2013.
Rudigor’s roles up to September 2023 have varied at Ashburton Investments, from strategy & overall business development, heading up the Fixed Income & Alternatives (Private Debt, Private Equity & Hedge Funds) business to heading up the Corporate & Institutional client business. Rudigor’s Corporate & Institutional team achieved a 36% CAGR in AUM growth over a period of 10years, growing Ashburton into one of the largest Institutional fixed income and private debt managers in South Africa.
In October 2023, Rudigor alongside his partners and ex colleagues founded Capitan Finance, along with an initial R2bn private debt fund, with an emphasis on transforming and empowering people’s lives. Capitan’s private debt financing will focus on affordable, social and student housing, infrastructure logistics stops and clean energy installations.
Sam Hutchinson
Sam Hutchinson – Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sendmarc
Sam Hutchinson
Sam Hutchinson, the Co-founder and CEO of Sendmarc, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in 2004, founding his first business, an email marketing solution that later grew to become Africa's largest email communication provider, which was then acquired by a strategic investor in 2016.
In 2018, Sam's vision materialized in the form of Sendmarc, a groundbreaking venture that aims to make the internet a safer place through cutting-edge technology. With his technical passion and belief for entrepreneurship, Sam leads the charge, driving innovation and ensuring Sendmarc's place at the forefront of email security.
Spencer Horne
Founder and CEO, Cloudline
Spencer Horne
Spencer Horne is the founder and CEO of Cloudline, a South African venture building a network of autonomous airships with far-reaching applications and game-changing unit economics for aerial access.
Spencer hails from Kuils River, on the outskirts of Cape Town, where he first honed his love of transportation technology and contemplated the impact of structural inequities on individual and community outcomes. He is a graduate of Harvard University and African Leadership Academy.
Themba Ntini
Investment Manager, IDF Capital
Themba Ntini
Themba started his career at the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) in Philadelphia, USA.
He joined IDF Capital in 2011 and occupies the role of Investment Manager driving due diligence, structuring, deal execution, exits, value crea2on and portfolio management at large. He was lead transactor for 7 funds under management, has invested more than R400m in +150 companies. Some notable investments and exits include SweepSouth, Zulzi, Droppa and Sula Group. Current directorships include The Virtual Agent, Mortgage Market, Droppa, LED Lighting South Africa, and Alice Group. Themba brings to IDF Capital his passion, skill, investment discipline, and knowledge to source quality investments and furthers the success of IDF’s stakeholders.
Tshepiso Kobile
CEO, SAVCA
Tshepiso Kobile
Tshepiso hails from a financial services background, having served as an investment professional with the Development Bank of Southern Africa and as a property finance manager with Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking.
Through her involvement in both the public and private sectors, she has gained unique skills in senior management roles, representing various players along the property value chain and structuring partnership agreements. Her recent position was as the Senior Programme Manager for Catalytic Projects at the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal, as well as Chairperson of SAIBPP KZN. She has also served on the boards of the South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners and the National Housing Finance Corporation, in addition to previous roles representing Business in the KZN and eThekwini Economic Councils. She holds a BSc (Honours) Degree in Property Studies from the University of Cape Town and a Certificate in Company Direction (IoD (UK)).