Our Team

Marc Balkin is a seasoned venture investor with over two decades of experience in early and growth-stage investing across Africa, Europe, India, and the US. He has held leadership roles at DiGame Africa, and Hasso Plattner Ventures Africa, where he worked closely with SAP founder Dr. Hasso Plattner. Marc has served on the boards of companies operating throughout Africa and was instrumental in scaling many of them from concept to exit. He has also been actively involved in developmental investment funds such as Alitheia IDF, the Vumela Fund, and Telkom’s Future Fund, and co-founded a Nasdaq-listed SPAC with Michael Jordaan.

Marc brings extensive knowledge of the African investment landscape, deep experience working alongside entrepreneurs, and a strong grasp of governance frameworks. He has implemented best-in-class governance policies and procedures across both investment funds and portfolio companies. He holds BA and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa (non-practicing).

After completing his B.Com Honours in Corporate Finance & Investment at the University of the Witwatersrand, Sean transitioned into the Insurance sector, where he gained experience in the financial services industry. He later entered the dynamic venture capital world with Kalon Venture Partners. At Kalon, Sean plays a pivotal role using his skills to contribute to the firm’s mission of backing innovative tech startups. His expertise spans across corporate finance, private equity, and venture capital, making him a valuable asset in driving growth and financial success in the companies he works with.

Prior to joining Kalon, Melbourne was an investment finance teaching assistant and provided consultancy services to startups, assisting them in capital-raising efforts and strategic planning. His academic background includes an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Management with a major in Finance and Entrepreneurship, earned at the University of Johannesburg. Melbourne also completed an Honours and Masters Degree in Strategic Management, with a specific focus on the intersection of strategy and entrepreneurship in startups.

Leron leads the fund with over 30 years of experience across venture capital, technology, and FMCG, he has played a pivotal role in positioning Kalon as a leading tech investor in South Africa. Under his leadership, the fund has deployed capital into more than ten high-growth technology businesses.

Leron holds a BCom from the University of South Africa and a Master’s degree in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris. Leron has co-founded and led multiple technology ventures. Leron serves on the boards of several portfolio companies and is an active mentor and speaker within the startup and venture capital ecosystem.

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 BSocSci degree and an MSocSci in Industrial and Labour Studies (including Economics) from the University of Natal, as well as an Honours degree in Applied Psychology from Wits.

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.

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.

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.

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.