Phillip J Mostert 🇿🇦

Fio Capital

Fio Capital Family Office - Connect with your next big opportunity.

www.fio.group

Fio’s purpose is to change life as we know it.  The insights and services we provide help to create long-term value for clients, entrepreneurs, people, and society, building trust in capital markets.

We believe in the vital importance of people coming together to create and grow enduring, private businesses that make a difference in the world.

OUR SERVICES

Fio Capital & the Fio Group provides access to services & opportunities that help entrepreneurs achieve financial stability, upward mobility and economic prosperity- regardless of race, gender or prosperity.

www.fio.group

Vice President

World Business Angels Investment Forum

The World Business Angels Investment Forum is committed to collaborating globally to empower the economic development of the world by fostering innovative financial instruments for startups, scaleups, innovators, entrepreneurs and SMEs and to promoting gender equality and women’s participation in all sectors of the world economy. I am honoured to have been elected as Senator for South Africa and to join the WBAF global efforts to ease access to finance, promote financial inclusion, and create more jobs and social justice.

The Forum interacts with leaders in all areas of society, first and foremost in business and political spheres, to help assess needs and establish goals, bearing in mind that the public interest is of paramount importance. We engage with a wide range of institutions – public and private, local and international, commercial and academic – to help shape the global agenda.

As an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) is committed to collaborating globally to empower the economic development of the world by fostering innovative financial instruments for startups, scaleups, innovators, entrepreneurs and SMEs and to promoting gender equality and women’s participation in all sectors of the world economy. WBAF invites you to join our global efforts to ease access to finance, promote financial inclusion, and create more jobs and social justice.

WBAF accomplishes its mission through various parties and channels. These include: 138 high commissioners, senators and international partners from 79 countries; 7 country offices on 5 continents; the WBAF Business School and it's more than 50 faculty members from 32 countries; and 5 international working committees. WBAF also has an angel investment fund, partnerships with 12 global institutions, and economic cooperation agreements with 5 governments. 

www.wbaforum.org

Senator

Fio Group

Fio Group is a visionary business ecosystem dedicated to driving innovation, empowering entrepreneurs and creating sustainable impact. Founded on the principles of purpose-driven leadership, Fio Group operates across diverse industries including technology, finance, education, health and renewable energy, with a mission to tackle poverty and inequality through entrepreneurial empowerment.

. The group also champions impactful ventures such as Fio Academy, which provides e-learning opportunities, and Kasi-Solar, a renewable energy solution targeting underserved communities.

Guided by its vision to “make prosperity easier,” Fio Group integrates innovation, collaboration, and technology to build platforms that empower individuals, businesses, and communities across Africa. 

By combining business excellence with a commitment to social equity, Fio Group is redefining what it means to do business with purpose.

Med-e-Screen

Med-e-Screen is a cutting-edge healthcare initiative dedicated to making preventative healthcare affordable and accessible for organizations and individuals. 

By providing comprehensive employee health screenings, Med-e-Screen enables businesses to identify health risks early, empower their wellness strategies,
 and enhance workplace productivity.

Beyond healthcare, Med-e-Screen is a leader in creating meaningful employment opportunities for medical professionals, aligning with its mission to promote health equity and economic inclusion. 

With innovative solutions and actionable insights, Med-e-Screen equips organizations with detailed health reports that drive effective wellness campaigns, reduce absenteeism and foster a culture of care and well-being.

At its core, Med-e-Screen is transforming healthcare delivery, ensuring healthier workplaces while supporting systemic change and empowerment in the healthcare industry.

Board Advisor

Fio Connect Africa

Fio Connect Africa is a transformative telecommunications initiative under the Fio Group umbrella, focused on bridging the digital divide and empowering communities across Africa. 

By providing affordable and accessible connectivity solutions, Fio Connect Africa enables individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

The initiative offers innovative products and services such as Fio Connect SIM cards, mobile devices, and data solutions tailored to meet the needs of underserved markets. 

Through its distribution network, Fio Connect Africa empowers local entrepreneurs and distributors with opportunities to earn ongoing revenue while contributing to the expansion of digital access in their communities.

Fio Connect Africa is not just about connectivity - it’s about enabling education, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. With its mission to connect Africa one community at a time, it is redefining how telecommunications can serve as a catalyst for social and economic transformation across the continent.

Montriche Capital Group

www.montrichecapital.com

We help develop life changing businesses, which will serve generations to come.

“Green is not a colour - it’s an attitude”. We take an holistic and global view on how business should position itself in a global environment and change status quo.

Family Office

www.montrichecapital.com

The Montriche Group prides itself on the relationship it has developed as primary advisors for a number of private companies, in the capacity of Senior Strategic Advisors, Merger & Acquisition Specialists, Business Analysts and Restructuring Specialists.

Strategic Advisors, Mergers & Acquisitions.

BlackRock Mineral Holdings

Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA)

Member

International Chamber of Commerce

Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis

I help leaders unlock potential, lead with purpose, and build businesses that inspire change.

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.” – Benjamin Franklin

This wisdom inspires my journey to create meaningful change, shaped by triumphs and failures that define my leadership.

➤ 𝗠𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

I’m passionate about entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and wealth creation to alleviate poverty and inequality.
With unwavering faith and resilience, I help entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders unlock potential, scale businesses, and build legacies.

➤ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹

At Fio Capital, we embrace the Latin philosophy of “Fio” – “I become”, symbolizing transformation.
Our mission is to foster sustainable development and drive economic growth in Africa by investing in key sectors:

• 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – Empowering farmers through innovation
• 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Promoting lifelong learning
• 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 – Delivering clean, sustainable power
• 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 – Investing in wellness
• 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 – Building infrastructure
• 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 – Driving innovation

We go beyond profits—it’s about empowering communities, creating jobs, and building sustainable solutions.

➤ 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

• 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗚𝟮𝟬 𝗪𝗕𝗔𝗙 – Advocating for access to finance and fostering innovation
• 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗪𝗕𝗔𝗙 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 – Earned South Africa the title of “Most Celebrated Country” and received the International Leadership Award for advancing investment and innovation.
• 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – Partnering with 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗔, 𝗜𝗖𝗖, 𝗖𝗦𝗜𝗦, and 𝗜𝗜𝗕𝗔 to promote entrepreneurship

➤ 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲

• 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 to lead with purpose
• 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 that create jobs
• 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 that drive growth

“𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀 – 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹” reflects my commitment to empowering others.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁:

If you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or leader passionate about creating wealth, scaling impact-driven ventures, and leading with purpose, let’s connect and build something meaningful together.

Enabler

The biggest killer of African startups?
Copy-and-paste models.

Too many founders pitch borrowed slides from Silicon Valley.

But Africa doesn’t need the next Uber of X.
It needs the first solution to our own problems.

Copycats get headlines.
Builders get history.



🔁 Repost if you’re tired of copy-paste startups

📩 Tag a founder solving a real African problem

📌 Follow for grounded frameworks on Africa’s real economy & legacy

♾️

Faith · Structure · Impact | Helping African Leaders Build Credibility, Capital & Legacy

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Why is Africa’s voice treated as a suggestion… while the world’s voice is treated as instruction?

This imbalance didn’t happen by accident.
It was engineered through centuries of narrative, power, and perception.

But here’s the truth:

Africa is not silent — it’s silenced.
Not because it lacks clarity, but because it threatens the comfort of old systems.

A continent rich in talent, resources, innovation, and spiritual depth should not be spoken over.
It should be taken seriously.

The world obeys its own voice.
Africa must do the same.

Because the moment we stop asking for permission, the balance of power shifts.

— Phillip J. Mostert

♾️

Author — Faith · Structure · Impact | Helping African Leaders Build Credibility, Capital & Legacy | Governance & Entrepreneurship Development | VP, Fio Capital Family Office

We are not a poor continent.
We are a mismanaged inheritance.

Africa’s people are not the problem.
In fact, our people are our greatest advantage.
Resilient. Gifted. Resourceful.
We rise from conditions that would break most nations.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Africa’s struggle has never been talent —
it has been the systems surrounding that talent.

Mismanagement is not our curse.
It’s the gap where builders with conviction must step in.
And for those of us who carry a calling for this continent,
this work is not opinion — it’s obedience.

The world keeps misreading Africa.
They see chaos where God has placed potential.
They call us poor while standing on the richest soil on earth.
They underestimate the very people built to endure and innovate.

But Africa is not waiting for rescue.
Africa is waiting for structure.

Fix the architecture,
and you unlock the strength that has always been here.

Let’s start with the truth.

— Phillip J. Mostert

♾️

Who moved my cheese?

Africa keeps asking this question
as if the answer is unclear.

It isn’t.

The cheese didn’t disappear.
It was captured.
Signed away in bad deals.
Extracted through corruption.
Protected by systems that rewarded proximity to power, not service to people.

State capture wasn’t a moment.
It was a model.

While citizens were told to be patient,
others were redesigning the maze — legally, quietly, profitably.

This is not just a political failure.
It’s a geopolitical one.

Because when governance collapses,
capital migrates,
sovereignty weakens,
and dependency becomes policy.

The real question was never who moved the cheese.

It’s why we tolerated systems that allowed it to be taken at all.

Enough of pretending this is normal.
Enough of confusing stability with justice.
Enough of managing decline instead of rebuilding structure.

Faith demands truth.
Structure demands accountability.

And Africa’s future belongs to builders who reclaim systems — not those who inherit excuses.

This isn’t about cheese.

It’s about sovereignty.

— Phillip J. Mostert

♾️

As Group CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Fio Capital, I lead the strategic expansion of our investment portfolio with a clear mission: to empower entrepreneurs across Africa and unlock job creation as a pathway to eradicating poverty and advancing financial inclusion.

Fio Capital is a private family office with long-term holdings in privately owned companies across Africa’s key impact industries, including:

Technology | Healthcare | Energy | Agriculture | Education | Real Estate

In my capacity as CEO, I focus on building and scaling our subsidiaries, strengthening partnerships, and cultivating networks that allow our portfolio companies to create lasting value. By fostering these relationships, I position Fio Capital as a trusted partner and a key enabler of entrepreneurial success on the continent.

As Chief Investment Officer, I chair and actively participate in the investment committee, overseeing the identification, evaluation, and structuring of new opportunities. My role ensures that our capital is deployed into high-impact ventures that generate both strong financial returns and measurable societal change.

Through this dual mandate, I am committed to aligning conscious capital with Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—fueling innovation, driving sustainable growth, and contributing to a more inclusive and economically empowered future for the continent.

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer

World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

I am an International Partner of the World Business Angel Investment Forum, proudly representing South Africa on the global stage. In this role, I am dedicated to promoting angel investment in entrepreneurs as a catalyst for economic growth, as well as advancing digital and financial inclusion across diverse cultures and communities.

My work involves close collaboration with government bodies, regulators, and the private sector to create a more accessible and inclusive investment landscape. By advocating for policy reforms and fostering partnerships, I aim to make it easier for entrepreneurs in South Africa and beyond to access the capital they need to scale their ventures.

I am passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and driving sustainable economic development. By bridging the gap between investors and founders, I strive to unlock opportunities for innovation, job creation, and community upliftment. My role allows me to champion initiatives that enable a more inclusive economy, where entrepreneurs from all backgrounds can thrive and contribute to a more equitable future.

International Partner

I am the CEO of Fio Group and its subsidiaries, a business management consultancy dedicated to helping business owners achieve their dreams and goals. Our mission is to support entrepreneurs in strategising and improving various aspects of their businesses through effective management.

As CEO, my primary responsibility is to expand Fio’s service offering and ensure that all our consulting departments deliver exceptional service. I have a deep passion for entrepreneurship and job creation in Africa. I believe that by equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge and human capital, we can empower them to scale their businesses, create more jobs, and drive meaningful economic impact.

For me, it’s never just about the money — implementation is key! With over 70 specialist consultants and a track record of serving more than 5,000 clients globally, Fio Group is committed to working with entrepreneurs from all walks of life.

Chief Executive Officer

Fio Africaneurs

As an Executive Board Member of Fio Africaneurs, my role is to empower African entrepreneurs by fostering high-impact networking, collaboration, and investment opportunities.

I focus on:
	•	Strategic Leadership – Shaping the vision and direction of Fio Africaneurs to create meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs across Africa.
	•	Ecosystem Building – Expanding networks that connect entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and key stakeholders.
	•	Investment & Growth Support – Identifying high-potential businesses and providing guidance on scaling sustainably.
	•	Advocacy & Influence – Engaging with policymakers and business leaders to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship.

I am committed to unlocking Africa’s business potential, driving innovation, and ensuring that entrepreneurs have the tools, connections, and capital they need to succeed.

Executive Board Member

Fio Connect

Fio Connect is a revolutionary telecommunications company committed to redefining connectivity for consumers and businesses alike. Established with the mission to empower individuals and fuel entrepreneurship, Fio Connect offers innovative SIM card solutions that are not only more affordable but also come with the unique advantage of never-expiring data. At Fio Connect, we believe that seamless connectivity is the key to fostering smarter societies and driving entrepreneurial success.

Ajay is a Fio Connect customer and promotes Fio Connect to other entrepreneurs.

Connector

RooTiva

As the Commercial Director of Rootiva, my role is to drive growth, profitability, and market impact. I’m responsible for developing and executing our commercial strategy, identifying new opportunities, and expanding our market presence.

I lead our sales, marketing, and business development efforts, ensuring our innovative solutions — like RooTiva Hydrogel and SANI-99 — are accessible to farmers and industry partners. I also manage key partnerships, negotiate strategic deals, and oversee revenue targets to ensure sustainable growth.

At its core, my role is about creating value, fostering partnerships, and driving impact. By helping Rootiva scale its sustainable agricultural solutions, I aim to empower farmers, promote environmental stewardship, and build a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector.

I am an Executive Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer of Med-e-Screen, a primary healthcare business dedicated to bringing affordable healthcare solutions to underserved communities.

In my role as Chief Commercial Officer, I play a strategic advisory role on the board, fostering valuable relationships and partnerships with suppliers and key stakeholders to drive growth and expand our impact.

Fio Real Estate

Ajay is the Director of Fio Real Estate, A Technology first real estate agency in South Africa.

Executive Director

WBAF Global Startup Committee

Ajay is a committee member of the Global Startup Committee of the World Business Angel Investment Forum where he plays a important role in this global organisation to provide insights and support to startups globally to become bankable.

Committee Member

Solidariteit

Ajay is a Strategic Adviser for the Financial Adviser Network of Solidariteit were they look at opportunities to grow and support the financial services sector of South Africa.

Strategic Advisor

Group CEO & Chief Investment Officer | Fio Capital Group

I lead Fio Capital Group, a private family office and investment holding company dedicated to backing visionary entrepreneurs and scaling businesses that transform societies. My mission is clear: to align smart capital with capable individuals, building enterprises that create jobs, drive inclusive growth, and leave a lasting legacy.

Purpose-Driven Capital

At Fio Capital, we invest with intention. Our portfolio is built across technology, healthcare, education, energy, agriculture, and real estate—industries that shape Africa’s future and hold the greatest potential for long-term impact. We follow a buy-and-hold strategy, partnering closely with entrepreneurs to ensure businesses not only thrive financially but also deliver measurable impact for communities and the planet.

My Journey

Entrepreneurship has been part of my DNA from the beginning. I launched my first successful business at 17, which ignited my passion for building and scaling ventures. With a strong background in finance, investment, and risk management, I became a licensed financial service provider in 2012. By 2018, I founded Fio Capital to channel capital into the industries and ideas that matter most.

Today, Fio Capital operates as a family office with a diverse portfolio that reflects my commitment to conscious capitalism—balancing profit with purpose, and short-term execution with long-term stewardship.

What I Do
	•	For Entrepreneurs: I provide capital, networks, and strategic guidance to help founders grow sustainably.
	•	For Investors & Partners: I open doors to co-investment opportunities that blend returns with tangible impact.
	•	For Ecosystem Builders: As an International Partner of the World Business Angel Investment Forum (WBAF) in the G20, I collaborate with governments, regulators, and private stakeholders to expand access to capital for entrepreneurs globally.

Philosophy of Leadership

I believe true leadership lies in empowering others. My vision is to build ecosystems where entrepreneurs can thrive independently, where businesses outlive their founders, and where capital becomes a force for transformation—shaping not only profitable enterprises but also resilient communities and a more sustainable future.


Ajay Wasserman 🇿🇦

Africa’s next trillion-dollar industry won’t be fintech. It’s agriculture — rebuilt with technology, climate adaptation, and soil science at the centre.

Agriculture 2.0: Africa’s Quiet Food Revolution

For decades, people said Africa must “catch up.”
But something far more powerful is happening: we’re leapfrogging.

A new generation of farmers, innovators, and agribusinesses is building Agriculture 2.0 — a system defined by precision, resilience, and sustainability.

Here’s what’s rewriting Africa’s food future:

1️⃣ Drones are becoming the new farmworkers
Not replacing labour — amplifying it.
From crop-health mapping to targeted spraying, drones are making data-driven farming accessible and affordable.

2️⃣ Precision irrigation is solving Africa’s water crisis
Water scarcity is rising, but so is innovation.
Smart irrigation now delivers exactly what crops need, reducing wastage and enabling year-round production.

3️⃣ Organic soil treatments are restoring Africa’s greatest asset
After decades of depletion, soil restoration is back at the centre.
Biofertilisers, regenerative inputs, and organic treatments are building long-term fertility with higher yields and lower costs.

4️⃣ Climate adaptation is no longer optional
Heat-tolerant seeds, micro-irrigation, regenerative farming, and AI-powered weather tools are helping farmers survive — and thrive — in increasingly volatile conditions.

5️⃣ Water management is becoming a national priority
From smart metering to micro-catchment systems, Africa is rethinking water at scale.
Food security depends on it — and the shift has already begun.

The result?
Africa is moving from vulnerable importer… to emerging global food powerhouse.

Investors are waking up.
Entrepreneurs are innovating.
Farmers are transforming the continent one hectare at a time.

If you want to see where Africa’s next economic leap will come from, don’t look at boardrooms — look at farms.

Which innovation do you think will have the biggest impact on Agriculture 2.0?

Top 50 Global VC Influencer | CEO & CIO, Fio Capital Family Office | G20 WBAF International Partner | Faith-Led Growth & Impact Investor | Driving Purposeful Capital in Africa & Beyond

🚀 The REAL Entrepreneurship Boom No One Is Talking About in Africa

Forget the VC charts for a moment.
Something far bigger — and far more transformational — is happening across the continent.

Here’s the untold story:

🔹 1. The informal sector is Africa’s ultimate innovation lab.
Millions of entrepreneurs are building, scaling, and problem-solving without pitch decks, accelerators, or investor praise.
They iterate daily. They survive. They win — quietly.

🔹 2. Digital adoption is exploding from the ground up.
Mobile payments, e-commerce via WhatsApp, micro-apps, AI-assisted business tools…
Africa isn’t catching up — it’s leapfrogging.

🔹 3. Youth are redefining entrepreneurship.
No permission. No gatekeepers.
They create because the problems are real and the stakes are personal.
This generation is not waiting for opportunity — they’re manufacturing it.

🔹 4. Local problem-solving is becoming the new competitive edge.
The most resilient businesses today are the ones built closest to the pain points:
water, energy, mobility, agriculture, logistics, financial access.
This is where the next billion-dollar companies will emerge.

And here’s the part few global investors understand:

Africa’s entrepreneurship boom isn’t measured in funding rounds.
It’s measured in ingenuity, survival, and scale born out of necessity.

The capital will follow — it always does.
But the innovation?
That’s already here.

Africa is not the next big story.
Africa is the story.

What part of this entrepreneurial wave inspires you most right now?

Africa’s hottest source of capital in 2026 isn’t coming from banks — it’s coming from private credit. And it’s changing everything.

The Rise of Private Credit in Africa
Why entrepreneurs and major projects are choosing private debt over traditional banks — and what it means for growth.

Across the continent, one shift is accelerating:
Private credit is stepping in where banks are slowing down.

Here’s why founders prefer it:

1. Speed
Banks take months. Private lenders move in weeks.
In Africa, timing is the difference between scaling and stalling.

2. Flexibility
Banks want collateral.
Private credit structures deals around revenue, assets, or milestones — not red tape.

3. Real economy impact
Across energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure, private credit is powering the projects that create jobs and build industries.

4. Closing the SME gap
With Africa’s SME financing gap over $330bn, private lenders are stepping in — fast.

The 2026 Opportunity

More capital deployed.
More entrepreneurs backed.
More jobs created.

Private credit isn’t alternative finance anymore.
It’s the new backbone of African growth.

Is private credit the future of SME and project financing in Africa? Where do you see the biggest opportunity in 2026?

The lesson I keep coming back to in 2025: Nothing moves without God. 

Every strategy, every deal, every breakthrough — all of it rests on a foundation far bigger than our own ability. This year reminded me again that provision is not earned… it is entrusted. Protection is not guaranteed… it is given.

Here’s what God pressed on my heart in 2025:

1️⃣ Provision comes where purpose is aligned.
Doors opened this year that I could never have engineered. When your calling and your character line up, God supplies what the assignment requires.

2️⃣ Protection is often invisible but always intentional.
The meetings that didn’t happen, the partnerships that fell through, the delays that felt frustrating — they were protection. Not punishment.

3️⃣ Stewardship matters more than success.
God doesn’t bless ambition. He blesses responsibility. When you steward well, He entrusts more.

4️⃣ Calling is clarified through pressure.
This year had moments that stretched me more than I wanted. But pressure didn’t break me — it aligned me.

And as I reflect, I’m reminded of this simple truth:

If God is the source, then fear loses its power.
If God is the guide, then missteps can’t derail the mission.
If God is the provider, then scarcity is only a perception.

As we close out the year, I’m grateful for every moment of grace — seen and unseen. My prayer for you:

May 2026 be a year of bold obedience.
May God’s favour go before you.
And may you recognise His hand in places you once thought were coincidences.

What was one moment this year where you saw God’s provision or protection clearly?

The older I get, the more I realise: God’s timing is never late… it just rarely matches my calendar.

As we approach year-end, many entrepreneurs feel that familiar pressure building up — the deadlines, the loose ends, the goals we still want to hit before the clock resets.

But here’s the truth I’m holding onto this December: there is peace in God’s timing, even when our plans feel delayed.

This year reminded me that:

- Some doors stay closed because they’re protecting you.
- Some delays are actually divine redirections.
- Some breakthroughs need you to grow before they can arrive.
- And sometimes, the waiting season is the preparation season.

If you’re feeling the weight of unfinished work or the rush to make everything happen before 31 December, breathe.
You are exactly where you’re meant to be.
Progress is happening behind the scenes. Provision is being aligned. Strength is being built in silence.

As leaders, founders, and dreamers, we push hard — but faith teaches us to trust harder.

This year-end, I’m choosing peace over panic, purpose over pressure, and trust over timelines.
God has never failed me yet. And He won’t start now. 🙏

How are you grounding yourself as we close out the year?

Failure didn’t break me. It built me.
Every African entrepreneur knows exactly what that means.

Failing Forward & Why Setbacks Sharpen Leaders

Failure is not the opposite of success.
In Africa, failure is the training ground.

Entrepreneurs on this continent face a reality the world rarely understands:
Cash-flow gaps. Team burnout. Delayed deals. Broken systems. Investor hesitation. Projects that demand more than you planned for.
Yet we keep moving.

Because African entrepreneurs don’t quit — we adapt.

Setbacks sharpen leaders in ways comfort never can:

• They deepen emotional intelligence
• They refine decision-making
• They expose blind spots
• They build mental resilience
• They cultivate humility and stewardship
• They force innovation when resources are limited

This is why entrepreneurs from Africa are some of the strongest, most creative problem-solvers on earth.
We’re not just building companies.

We’re building ecosystems, creating jobs, and proving that world-class entrepreneurship can thrive on African soil.

So if 2025 hit you harder than you expected…
If you stumbled…
If you failed forward…

Congratulations — you were being sharpened for what’s coming next.

2026 will reward those who stayed in the fight.

Africa is ours to build. Ours to grow. Ours to shape.

And setbacks are simply the teachers preparing us for the next level.

What setback taught you your biggest lesson this year?

Share below — someone needs that wisdom today.

Thank you, Lachezar — I truly appreciate the kind words and the opportunity to be part of The Venture Network.

It’s encouraging to be surrounded by investors who think long-term, across asset classes, and who understand that real returns are built by backing strong people, strong fundamentals, and meaningful impact.

Africa has no shortage of opportunity — what it needs is aligned capital, patient partners, and platforms like this that connect the right minds and resources.

Grateful for the work you’re doing in building this community, and I look forward to many value-adding conversations and collaborations ahead.

Building the Venture Network - Investment Community | Associate Partner at NB&A Investment Company | Raising Capital Globally | Talk to me about art, science, business, and philosophy

👋 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 Ajay Wasserman 🇿🇦!

A member of The Venture Network — our private investment community with 300+ members investing across asset classes!

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁:

✅ 𝗖𝗘𝗢 & 𝗖𝗜𝗢, 𝗙𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 — Leading purpose-driven investments across Africa in technology, healthcare, education, energy, agriculture, and real estate.

✅ 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗪𝗕𝗔𝗙 (𝗚𝟮𝟬) — Expanding access to capital and supporting entrepreneurship globally.

✅ 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗙𝗶𝗼 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 — Empowering African entrepreneurs through high-impact networking, mentorship, and investment opportunities.

✅ 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟱𝟬 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗖 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 — Championing values-driven investing, sustainable impact, and entrepreneurship that leaves a legacy.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗷𝗮𝘆?

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𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀.

#FOs #impactinvesting #venturecapital #Africa #innovation

Phillip J Mostert 🇿🇦, Hr Dr. Takahisa Karita

Emotional discipline: the most overlooked business skill of 2025

Everyone talks about strategy, capital, networks, tech, scaling, valuations.
But very few talk about the one thing that quietly decides whether you’ll rise… or burn out:

Emotional discipline.

The ability to stay steady when the market turns, when deals fall through, when people disappoint you, when pressure is suffocating, and when the future looks uncertain.

Most entrepreneurs think business fails because of bad models.
Often, it fails because the leader couldn’t regulate their emotions.

Here’s what emotional discipline really looks like in business:

	•	Not reacting to stress… but responding with clarity.
	•	Not taking things personally… but analysing objectively.
	•	Not lashing out at your team… but leading with calm authority.
	•	Not making rushed decisions… but stepping back to see the whole board.
	•	Not letting fear run the company… but letting principles guide it.

In Africa, especially, where volatility is normal, this skill is a superpower.
The leaders who win long-term are not the loudest or most talented.
They are the ones who keep their inner world in order.

Because when you master your emotions, you master your decisions.
And when you master your decisions, you master your outcomes.

The biggest upgrade your business needs in 2026?
Not another tool.
Not another strategy.
But a more emotionally disciplined you.

What do you think — is emotional discipline a born trait or a learned skill?

The Digital Inclusion Wave: The Silent Revolution Reshaping Daily Life in Africa

Here’s the truth no one is talking about: connectivity is becoming the new currency of upward mobility.

And Africa is quietly building one of the fastest digital adoption curves on the planet.

Let me show you why this matters:

1️⃣ Affordable data is unlocking participation
For the first time, millions can access the internet daily, not occasionally.
This isn’t just entertainment — it’s entry into markets, education, jobs and opportunity.

2️⃣ Mobile money has become Africa’s financial backbone
From Kenya to Ghana to South Africa, digital wallets are doing what banks never could:
bring financial inclusion to every community, no paperwork, no waiting rooms.

3️⃣ AI tools are closing knowledge gaps at scale
From farmers improving yields…
to students getting personalised tutoring…
to entrepreneurs improving operations…
AI is democratising expertise that used to cost a fortune.

4️⃣ Remote work is rewriting the geography of opportunity
Young Africans are earning in dollars and euros without leaving their hometowns.
Talent is finally being valued globally — not just locally.

5️⃣ E-learning is upgrading skills in real time
Degrees used to take years.
Now skills can be acquired in weeks.
This is accelerating mobility at a pace Africa has never seen before.

⸻

Here’s the compounding effect nobody fully grasps yet:
When connectivity becomes universal, entire nations leapfrog traditional development paths.
You don’t just uplift individuals — you uplift ecosystems.
Productivity rises. Markets expand. Capital flows. Innovation explodes.

This is more than a tech trend.
It’s a generational shift in access, agency, and economic power.

Africa is not catching up.
Africa is accelerating.

⸻

What part of the digital inclusion wave excites you the most right now —
💸 Mobile money?
📶 Cheaper data?
🤖 AI adoption?
🌍 Remote work?
🎓 Digital learning?

I’m curious to hear.

Africa’s capital markets aren’t “emerging” anymore — they’re accelerating. And 2025 proved it. 🚀

Africa’s Capital Markets Are Quietly Transforming
Here’s what most global investors missed this year — but can’t afford to ignore in 2026:

1. Bond yields are falling — signalling confidence, not chaos.
Across several major African economies, yields tightened to multi-year lows. That’s not a small technical shift — it’s a sign that sovereign risk perception is improving and liquidity is returning.

2. Equity markets rebounded harder than expected.
Local bourses saw record inflows, driven by banks, infrastructure plays, digital services, and commodities. The “Africa discount” is starting to narrow as fundamentals stabilise.

3. Fintech rails rewired the investment landscape.
Instant payments, cross-border settlement layers, and tokenised debt structures changed how capital moves. Africa is quietly becoming one of the most efficient regions for retail and institutional money flow.

4. Sovereign reforms created new predictability.
From debt restructuring to FX reforms, several governments adopted policy shifts that improved transparency, tightened risk management, and attracted new classes of investors.

Why this matters for 2026:
Global funds are paying attention.
Family offices are entering early.
And African entrepreneurs now have more legitimate pathways to raise capital than ever before.

The continent is not waiting for validation — it’s building momentum.
The next decade belongs to those who understand Africa’s new capital playbook today.

Question for you:
What shift in Africa’s financial markets do you think is most underestimated right now?

taplio

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The Battle

Phillip J Mostert 🇿🇦

Ajay Wasserman 🇿🇦

Followers

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Phillip J Mostert 🇿🇦's LinkedIn Performance

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