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.
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Buntu Majaja
CEO | SA Innovation Summit
Buntu Majaja, the CEO of The SA Innovation Summit, is dedicated to fostering innovative businesses and empowering entrepreneurs to contribute to the growth of the continent. With a wealth of expertise, he collaborates with development agencies and corporates to design impactful programs connecting entrepreneurs with vital resources and opportunities.
Caitlin Nash
Co-Founder | Loudhailer + GIIG Africa
Caitlin is an innovation engagement strategist supporting innovators and leaders to build and lead innovation-based economies for a Global Africa. Caitlin has over a decade experience in the epicentre of the innovation scene in Africa with a focus on innovation diplomacy and co-creating pan-African innovation projects, visibility and global networks for emerging Startup Nations.
GIIG Africa operates the Global Startup Awards Africa in 54 African countries alongside a profit and purpose fund to navigate the global megatrends through an Africa innovation lens and invest in Africa’s future markets. Loudhailer is pioneer engagement agency focused on raising visibility and building partnerships for innovation.
Sanjay Soni
Executive/Ecosystem lead | Jozi Angels
Sanjay is an accomplished entrepreneur, business strategist, chartered accountant, investor and board member, having founded/co-founded over 10 start-up enterprises. He has 25 years’ professional experience working across a multitude of sectors
Cleola Kunene
Head of SME Development | Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Cleola had demonstrated her capability as a precision business growth expert. She has grown companies in excess of 53% in revenue and aided in increasing jobs, reducing red tape and supporting economic development. Her expertise include business coaching, capital readiness, capital access, market access and strategic pivoting. She honed her skills as an entrepreneur and aiding hundreds of companies in their growth journey. Most notably as part of the JSE she has successfully built the most successful Accelerator Programme in Africa.
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.
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Arnold Sigauque
Ecosystem Lead| Darkies in Tech
Arnold spearheads Darkies in Tech, the preeminent community of Black tech startup founders in South Africa, where he assumes the role of Policy and Advocacy Lead. Additionally, through his affiliation with the World Economic Forum Global Shaper community, he initiated Kasi Digital, a pioneering tech skills development program. Kasi Digital is dedicated to equipping historically disadvantaged youth with essential skills, thereby augmenting the talent pool available to burgeoning tech startups in the region
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.
Raadhika Sihin
Policy Specialist |Policy and Advocacy Specialist
Raadhika Sihin is financial services policy expert, with over 25 years of combined public and private sector experience. She has specialised notably in payments, financial inclusion, AML/CFT and regulatory advocacy. Having worked in several geographical regions, Raadhika brings a unique perspective on new technologies, market-led innovative business models, the risks and opportunities.
Formerly from Meta Fintech Technologies, Raadhika was the lead for the EMEA region, responsible for public policy on payments, blockchain and fintech. Here, she played a pivotal role in shaping the world of payments and digital innovations through regulatory advocacy, particularly on digital assets.
Adrian Dommisse
Founder and Director | Dommisse Attorney's Inc
Motivated by a passion for unravelling intricate legal matters, he harnessed diverse experiences in law firms and financial institutions to make significant contributions to South Africa's tech sector. Standout roles include being the lead attorney for Yuppiechef's acquisition by Mr Price Group and playing a key role in establishing a $20 million venture capital fund for Imperial Global.
His true dedication lies in empowering South African tech companies. In 2022, he founded IP Incubator to assist clients in attracting offshore funding and strategically managing intellectual property for global success, overcoming challenges posed by exchange controls.
Safeera Mayet
Head of Policy and Regulatory affairs | SAVCA
Safeera is an admitted attorney and brings over two decades of providing services encompassing corporate and commercial law, financial structuring, international law, risk management, corporate finance, competition law, and company secretarial guidance. She previously held senior management roles in Tiso Group, Kagiso Tiso Holdings, Tiso Blackstar Group, Idwala Industrial Holdings and Tiso Investment Holdings.
Head of Webber Wentzel Fusion| Webber Wentzel
Aalia Manie
Aalia is a lawyer, technologist, entrepreneur, She currently leads Webber Wentzel Fusion, the AI, legal technology and NewLaw division of leading African law firm, Webber Wentzel.
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.
Michel Weiss
Founder & CEO | Counder
Michel started his career as an engineer and has been building ventures since 2013.
Since moving to Africa in 2018, Michel has been fully committed to supporting African entrepreneurs and bridging the (investment) gap between Europe and Africa. Through his company, Counder, he fosters synergies between the private investment sector, local governments, support organisations and academic communities to accelerate startup and investment growth and maximise impact. Michel resides between Germany, Sweden and South Africa.
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.
Sponsors
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