About

Riël Malan

Riël Malan

Riël grew up on a farm in Paarl, South Africa, close to Franschhoek, where his family ancestor Jacques Malan arrived from France and settled in 1680 to become a farmer. He matriculated at Paarl Boys High and pursued economics before he naturally continued the family legacy of agricultural pursuits. This makes him the 11th generation to derive their livelihood from the land. However, after 300 years, a change in this model became inevitable, and in 2000, he co-founded a business called Fruits Unlimited to “corporatise” and integrate their farming operations.

This venture later gave rise to the formation of the Unlimited Group (www.unlimited-group.co.za) in 2006, to which he dedicated 12 years of his life. It transformed from a fragile startup in 2000 into a business with a turnover of R1 Billion, employing over 1000 individuals. The Unlimited Group now comprises seven operating businesses across various food sectors, all of which they initiated rather than acquired. Riël started and encountered failures in far more ventures than the seven successful ones, estimating roughly a 20% success rate, which he considers respectable. He’s experienced the highs and lows of starting and closing a business, with the exhilaration of creating something from nothing being his primary motivation for entrepreneurship, rather than monetary gain.

In 2019, Riël embarked on what he views as the “second phase of his entrepreneurial journey.” He stepped down from their role as Managing Director of the Unlimited Group in 2020 and joined EXEO Capital full-time in July 2020. EXEO Capital is a private equity fund manager that focuses on investing in high-impact entrepreneurs and businesses in South- and Sub-Saharan Africa. Essentially, he is now investing in businesses similar to the one he founded and managed for the past two decades, reflecting the cyclical nature of life.

Over the past 20 years, he’s had the privilege of meeting remarkable individuals in the business world and has learned most of his knowledge through observation, conversations, and numerous personal mistakes. He also became a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), where he had the opportunity to connect with even more inspiring peers and mentors, allowing him to measure his progress against others. The learning process continues, and he constantly reminds himself of how much more he has yet to learn. Continuous learning remains one of life’s greatest joys, facilitated by technology. Podcasts, in particular, serve as an excellent means of tapping into the wisdom of successful and intriguing individuals. Riël’s hope for their podcast is to share the privilege of his extensive network and delve deeper into the lives of those who have made a significant impact in their respective corners of the world. These are the conversations Riël aim to share with a broader audience.


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Benjamin Shaw

Benjamin Shaw

In the dynamic South African business and investment landscape, Benjamin Shaw has established himself as an experienced executive and investment professional with a track record of entrepreneurial enterprise. His experience has spanned several domains, sectors, and business stages, enabling him to contribute significantly to numerous ventures throughout his career. Across a diverse range of experiences and with a strong commitment to mentorship, Ben has, over the past several years, played a significant role in shaping the African entrepreneurial ecosystem.

One of Ben’s notable accomplishments is the founding HouseME in 2015, a pioneering platform that transformed the South African real estate industry. He led the company as Chief Executive Officer until 2020, during which time HouseME gained recognition for challenging established players and serving a substantial user base of 50,000 registered users.

Ben’s entrepreneurial endeavours extend beyond HouseME. He played a role in establishing a start-up accelerator, co-founded a private investment holdings partnership, and served as the Managing Director of Varsity View, a student-led educational blogging and podcast platform. Presently, he co-hosts “Shapers” alongside Riël Malan, where they contribute to public discourse through engaging with leaders and entrepreneurs.

Ben’s professional journey started as an M&A investment banker, and he currently serves as an Associate at EXEO Capital. Ben holds various leadership positions in investment firms Balihle, ANZA and XVF, demonstrating his involvement in the investment process across various stages and sizes of businesses. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Ben is deeply committed to facilitating growth in small companies and is passionate about mentorship.

Ben’s influence reaches beyond his business pursuits. His writings have been featured in respected publications like Flux Trends, and “The First Kudu” marks his debut as a published author. His private equity investment focus includes late-stage financial technologies, marketplace platforms, regulated financial services, education technology, and property technology.

Ben’s educational journey led him to the renowned University of Cape Town, where he received his degree. He is an Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellow and represented South Africa in the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Currently based in Cape Town, South Africa, Benjamin Shaw continues contribute to the world of entrepreneurship and investment.