About Us

The Challenge

Agrifood technology innovation remains crucial to meet the challenges posed by strong population growth, rapid urbanisation and changing consumer preferences. It is projected that the African population will increase from 1.3 billion in 2020 to 2.5 billion by 2050, with the urban population expected to increase from 400 million to 1.2 billion during this period.

The challenge is even greater given that our continent is currently not food self-sufficient with an average of US$ 45 billion in food products being imported each year. Africa has the human capital and natural resource capacity to meet these challenges in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way if agrifood tech innovation and entrepreneurship are enabled.

Our Solution

Agventure is Africa’s leading agrifood tech group. We invest in privately-owned agrifood companies with the potential to transform the African agrifood sector due to their innovative technology and dynamic entrepreneurship. We are more than an investor – we become a partner and assist investee companies to build their businesses and expand across Africa. Our head office is in South Africa.

Our Team

Gerhard Visagie

Founder, CEO

 

Qualifications:
B.Compt (Hons), CA (SA)

Experience:

  • 12 years agrifood private equity experience.
  • Shareholder and director of Acorn Private Equity, a specialist agrifood private equity firm.
  • Executive of Acorn Agri & Food (previously Acorn Agri).
  • Co-founded Acorn Agri, a leading South African agrifood corporate.

Renier Kriel

Director

 

Qualifications:
B.Eng (Industrial)

Experience:

  • More than 15 years’ managerial experience in software industry.
  • Strategic consultant to various tech businesses.
  • Founder & ex-CEO of 4i Software.

Andrew Bateman

Director

 

Qualifications:
B. Com (Hons) (Financial Accounting); B. Sc. (Mathematics Economics); M. Phil (Applied
Theology)

Experience:

  • 9 years’ experience in senior management role at a multinational enterprise software business, j5 International, which was acquired by a Swedish multinational in 2019.
  • 12 years’ experience in various finance related roles.

René Taylor

Office Assistant

 

Qualifications:
BA Social Work

Experience:

  • 20 years experience as Guest House owner and manager.
  • 5 years experience as Client Service Manager, Medi-Clinic, Stellenbosch.

Founding Shareholder

African Investment Specialists

Paladin Africa is an investment firm specialising in African private equity and public equities. It was founded in 2013 and is based in South Africa and Rwanda.

Paladin Africa aims to unlock Africa’s greatness by using capital as a force for good by accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa and distributing a portion of its profits to fund social upliftment initiatives in Africa. It identifies and invests in the most compelling countries, industries and companies that are leading Africa’s long term economic growth and transformation.