Francois Van Zyl Email and Phone Number

My investing career has been an interesting progression from listed equities --> private equity --> early stage investing --> starting a business! I have found the most satisfying (and heartbreaking!) area to be early stage investing because of the close relationships you forge with the management teams and employees, and the significant influence and hopefully value-add that one can bring to the businesses you invest in. I have been part of successes and failures and every day presents new opportunities (or crises!).I am happily married with 4 children, am an avid golfer (1-handicap), occasional surfer (16-handicap), amateur oenophile, and a relatively skilled handyman by virtue of the fact that I have to repair everything my children break!More Career Detail:My post-articles career started in the Internal Audit division of Investec Bank in London during which time I began my CFA Certification. My interest in listed equities helped secure a position as an Equities Analyst at Investec Asset Management in London. After 5 years in the UK I returned to Cape Town and joined Acorn Private Equity. My time at Acorn was very rewarding and I enjoyed the active participation in the portfolio companies. An increasing number of early stage investment opportunities crossed my path and I started sharing an office with my two Venturen partners in Sea Point. Together we started 12Cape and are now involved with a number of early stage businesses.