A Collective of
Ecosystem players
Working Together for a
Better Future
We are a collective that represents the South African entrepreneurship ecosystem, which includes investors, incubators, accelerators, and founders, uniting to support growth within the country by encouraging the development of policy that will benefit high growth startup entrepreneurs. We believe that South Africa needs a Startup Act in its legislation.
The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is a group of people passionate about the vision of having a Startup Act in South Africa. They bring to the table their expertise in the South African entrepreneurial ecosystem and assist in guiding the process toward the actualization of a Startup Act in South Africa. The companies and individuals are reflected on this page, with their resumes or profiles.
Alison Collier
Managing Director | Endeavor South Africa
​Alison has close to 20 yrs of experience in Strategy & Business Development roles in Africa, Europe & Asia.
She has first-hand experience in establishing global offices for multi-national companies, expanding start-ups from South Africa into the global markets and raising capital to finance growth.
Matsi Modise
Vice-Chairperson | SiMODiSA
Founding CEO of Furaha Afrika Holdings, Matsi is on a mission to contribute to Africa’s skills revolution and boost South African entrepreneurs.
She sits on several boards and is
Vice-Chairperson of SiMODiSA, non-executive Director of Innovation Hub, and Chairperson of Kuehne + Nagel.
Zimkhitha Peter
CEO | Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy South Africa
Zimkhitha joined AGGPSA as the CEO in 2020, and has led the pursuit to foster collaboration across the Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropic ecosystem to address unemployment and poverty by supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in its countries of operation.
Dr. Audrey Verhaeghe
Chairperson | SA Innovation Summit
Audrey is an active angel investor. She spearheaded the commercialisation of the SA Innovation Summit as a Southern African Institution and main innovation event for the country.
Her vision is to raise multiple rounds of funds to support 10 000 enterprises over the next 10 years across Africa.
Aurelia Albert
Founder & CEO | Innovate Durban
Aurelia Albert is the founder and CEO for Innovate Durban , an entity set up to support
and promote innovation and the start up ecosystem in Durban. Her previous work involved being the Programme Manager for Innovation at the eThekwini Municipality. Her passion lies in innovation management and social development.
Anton Ressel
Strategic Head: SME Support | Fetola
Anton is a Director of ARC Consulting, the Senior Mentor and Entrepreneur in Residence at Fetola, an award-winning mentor for SAB’s Kickstart programme, the Head Coach for the SAB Foundation Social Innovation & Disability Empowerment Awards, a mentor and consultant for Edge Growth, and a Director of the Fetola Foundation.
Christophe Viarnaud
Co-Founder & Chairman | Methys
Cape Town-based Serial entrepreneur and early-stage investor. Passionate about Technology, Systems Thinking, Energy sustainability, Media, and Education.
Saberi Marais
Innovation Commercialization Manager | University of Cape Town
Saberi has extensive experience in deep technology invention valorisation, project and business funding, deal structuring, investment funds management through the different stages of technology development and raising venture capital.
Shelley Lotz
Head of Regulatory Affairs | SAVCA
Shelly is currently focusing on leading SAVCA’s engagement and advocacy efforts with regulators including National Treasury, SARS, SARB, and the FSCA.
Shelley has extensive experience in the financial services sector which includes 6 years at Horizon Equity Partners, where she was responsible for all fund reporting, valuations and compliance.
Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray has worked for the past 25 years in policy research, economic development planning, and public sector reform. His focus throughout has been on ecosystem building, partnership facilitation, and co-operative leadership development.
Advisor| Minister of Small Business Development.
Ingrid Osborne
Co-Founder & CEO | Saryx Engineering Group
Ingrid's expertise and experience include project design and management, business strategy and negotiations, the development and implementation of operations management tools, and document and regulatory compliance.
She enjoys learning about new technologies, taking on new challenges and inventing viable solutions to impossible problems.
Adrian Dommisse
Lawyer with 20+ years experience in international structuring and corporate finance - as UK investment banker, financial analyst (credit ratings agency), founder of commercial law firm, founder of UK-based "offshore establishment consultancy" Nomad Professional Services.
Director and Founder| Dommisse Attorneys Inc
Join the Movement
By joining the Startup Act movement, you will be helping us drive awareness for the development of policy that encourages the growth and development of innovative and high-growth enterprises in South Africa. As a cornerstone of our country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Startup Act will play a key role in supporting South Africa’s high-growth entrepreneurs and people and will in turn encourage job creation and socio-economic development.
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