7 Most Active Investors in African startups in 2017

Gil, a well-known South African entrepreneur and investor, with a qualification as a Chartered Financial Analyst. Gil is an invaluable Non-Executive Director of the Kalon Venture Partners team. Gil co-founded The Creative Counsel (TCC) with Ran Neu-Ner in 2001 and was previously the group co-CEO. TCC was acquired by Publicis Groupe, a leading global marketing, communication, and business transformation company, in the largest deal in advertising history in South Africa and the African continent.

Gil has also shared his entrepreneurship lessons through television, featuring on M-Net’s Shark Tank South Africa and Dragons Den South Africa. Gil, along with the four other Dragons from the Dragons’ Den South African, authored I’M IN, a book to inspire entrepreneurs through their collective lessons learnt in business.

Apart from his impressive achievements, Gil has exceptional talents in mentoring and growing entrepreneurs. He has provided mentorship and support to numerous startups and small businesses in South Africa, helping them to develop and scale their operations. Gil has a wealth of experience in building successful businesses and has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the early stages of their ventures.

Gil has won many awards, notably the EY Southern Africa World Entrepreneur Award for 2016 in the Exceptional category. He was also the Johannesburg chapter chair for the Young Presidents Organisation and the Africa Regional Forum Officer. Gil adds tremendous value to Kalon Venture Partners with his wealth of experience and skills.

Nic is a Non-Executive Director of Kalon Venture Partners, bringing with him extensive experience in finance and entrepreneurship. He spent time in the United Kingdom developing strategic partnerships and successfully exiting US-based tech disruptor Jemstep. Nic’s passion for African entrepreneurship led him to join Kalon Venture Partners, where he is committed to building and growing the African Venture Capital ecosystem.

Nic completed a commerce degree majoring in finance at Bond University and gained international experience working abroad in the United Kingdom. He established a wealth management company, which was acquired by Sasfin Bank Limited where he continued to work for 4 years before leaving to set up Caleo Capital. Nic has been in finance for over 20 years and is currently the co-founder and joint-CEO of Caleo Capital, an asset management company specializing in private equity, wealth management, financial advisory, property, and venture capital.

As a non-executive director of Kalon Venture Partners, Fatima brings over 20 years of diverse executive experience across various industries. She began her career at Deloitte and Touche before holding senior positions in corporate South Africa and the South African government. Her experience covers a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, private banking, and the public sector, both locally and internationally, including Wall Street.

Fatima’s academic background is equally impressive, having earned a Master’s degree in Economics, Industrial and Labour Studies, HR and OD from the University of Natal, an Honours degree in Applied Psychology from Wits, and an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from the University of Natal.

During her career, Fatima has held a number of executive positions, including Executive Director: Corporate Services at the City of Cape Town, Executive: Corporate Services at the JDA, Regional HR executive at Telkom, GM of Absa Private Bank, Chief of Shared Services at SITA, and Assistant GM at Smarte Carte.

Fatima has been appointed by the Minister of Basic Education, to Chair the ICT Advisory Committee to the Minister of Basic Education (DBE) and the Director- General of the DBE. She has previously served on the Board of SEDA, having been appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry and currently serves on the boards of a number of companies where she sits on various board committees as well chairing these like them. In addition to being on the boards of companies, she also serves on boards of NPOs like The Bag Factory and The Gauteng Cricket Board.

Arnold serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Kalon Venture Partners. With over 13 years of experience as the Group Chief Executive of Fedsure Financial Services Group, Arnold oversaw the growth of the company’s asset base by 25% annually to R40 billion and a 20% compounded increase in its share price. Since then, he has been a strategic business consultant specializing in strategy, business development, and mergers and acquisitions across various industries.

Arnold holds a B.Sc degree in Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics from the University of Witwatersrand and is a certified actuary and financial planner. He has received numerous awards, including Insurance Man of the Year, IMM Marketing Man of the Year, Jewish Business Achiever of the Year and Lifetime Achiever, and the World Presidents Organization’s International Best of the Best Regional Chair.

Arnold’s vast experience in the financial services industry has made him a valuable member of the Kalon team. His focus on strategy and business development has helped Kalon to maintain its position as a leading venture capital firm. As Chairman of the Audit Committee, Arnold plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Kalon’s operations remain transparent and accountable.

Clive, as the CEO of Kalon Venture Partners, boasts an impressive track record of success in management consulting and technology industries. With over 28 years of experience, Clive has played numerous leadership roles, including the Chief Operating Officer of Accenture South Africa, where he managed various businesses, including Technology, Resources, and Utilities sectors. He has also helped build technology businesses across the globe, having worked in several technology hubs such as Silicon Valley, Boston, New York, and Bangalore.

Clive began his career in 1985 with Arthur Anderson (now Accenture) after graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand with a B.Sc. degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. Since 2013, Clive has been supporting and mentoring various technology businesses, enabling them to achieve growth. His passion for technology led him to establish Kalon Venture Partners in 2016, with a focus on investing in digital disruptive technologies.

Having worked across multiple industries such as Financial Services, Resources, Retail, Automotive, and Communications, Clive has gained deep technology skills that he has leveraged to drive significant shareholder value for many South African clients. Currently, Clive sits on the boards of several of Kalon’s portfolio companies. His vision and expertise in digital disruptive technologies have positioned Kalon Venture Partners as a leading venture capital firm in South Africa.

As the Chief Operating Officer of Kalon Venture Partners, Leron brings over 20 years of experience in technology and business building to the table. He is responsible for raising and deploying funding into scalable tech businesses, and has developed a wealth of expertise in strategy, operations, sales, and marketing.

Leron completed his BCOM degree at the University of South Africa and his Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at HEC Paris. He started his career developing websites, managing and supporting networks, and learning the ins and outs of all things technology-related. Leron’s entrepreneurial flair led him to found and run a multitude of companies in the fast-moving consumer goods space, gaining experience in sales and distribution, marketing and branding, and overall operational expertise in running a multi-million-rand business.

During his tenure of 9 years at the helm of the business, Leron negotiated with major multi-national brands and oversaw a turnover of a billion rand. In addition to his consumer goods background, Leron co-founded technology businesses in the development, location tracking, and networking service space. He also led a variety of tech projects, including online budgeting and billing systems and business intelligence and analytical tools, while managing teams of analysts and developers.

Leron is incredibly passionate about the world of disruptive innovation and is excited about identifying and growing entrepreneurs in the venture capital tech space. With his extensive experience and expertise, he plays a vital role in the success of Kalon Venture Partners.

As a Non-Executive Chairman at Kalon Venture Partners, Romeo brings over two decades of experience in the Information Communication and Telecoms industries to the table. He has previously served as the CEO of Vodacom/Vodafone International, responsible for all the African markets, and as the Executive Commercial Director on the board of Vodacom South Africa. Romeo is also the CEO and Co-Founder of LLH Capital, where he continues to showcase his leadership and commercial strategy skills.

With a proven track record of building teams, creating value, and turning around underperforming businesses, Romeo has established himself as an accomplished leader and commercial strategist. He serves on various private company boards and holds a Master Degree in Commerce along with executive management certificates from esteemed institutions like WITS, INSEAD, and HARVARD Business School.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Romeo is a South African celebrity appearing on the South African version of Shark Tank. His impressive background and expertise make him an invaluable member of the Kalon Venture Partners team.