What stage does Knife Capital invest at?

Knife Capital invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth, Late Stage stages.

What sectors does Knife Capital focus on?

Knife Capital focuses on Deep Tech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic, Space Tech.

Where is Knife Capital located?

Knife Capital is headquartered in Cape Town, ZA.

Does Knife Capital lead rounds?

Yes, Knife Capital leads investment rounds.

Knife Capital

Venture capital

Cape Town · Seed–Late Stage · 20 people tracked

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✨ Fox Verdict

Investment thesis

Knife Capital seeks out and backs companies that demonstrate deep technological competence alongside the potential to succeed internationally. The firm, connected to South Africa's tech ecosystem, focuses on scalable, innovation-driven businesses and supports them toward global growth and eventual exits.

Invests inDeep Tech SaaS Sector Agnostic Space TechAfricaCape TownGlobalSouth AfricaUnited Kingdom

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage

Seed–Late Stage

Cape Town, ZA

Leads rounds

Leads

Instruments

Equity

Founded

2010

AUM

$50M

Tracked investments

Team · 20 people

from the firm's website & public directories

Eben van Heerden· Partner· London

Co-founder of Knife Capital with over 25 years of experience in M&A, private equity and venture capital, and a key figure in establishing VC as a credible asset class in South Africa.

e•••@knifecap.comreveal

Keet van Zyl· Partner· Cape Town

A partner with around 20 years of investment and venture capital experience, focused on propelling African high-growth startups onto the global stage and building a credible VC asset class.

k•••@knifecap.comreveal

Catherine Young· Partner· Cape Town

An entrepreneur and investor, partner at Knife Capital and founder of Thinkroom, specializing in scaling growth-stage businesses and developing entrepreneurial ecosystems.

c•••@knifecap.comreveal

Davey Gant· Partner· Jersey

Joined as Head of Risk and Legal in 2019, combining legal expertise with a Cambridge MBA; advises on M&A activity and manages compliance and risk across the portfolio.

d•••@knifecap.comreveal

Craig Ivy· Investment Manager· Cape Town

Joined as Investment Manager in July 2025; a qualified CA(SA) with expertise in listed credit, equity and private debt.

Johnathan Smit· Investment Manager· Cape Town

Supports portfolio growth, drawing on a background in digital innovation and technology transfer at a leading African research university.

j•••@knifecap.comreveal

Julien Draper· Venture Partner

Former Knife Capital partner with experience across private equity, venture capital and ESG; led the FIND custodianship and two portfolio exits, and holds a board seat at Octiv.

Mike Joubert· Venture Partner

A marketing and brand executive with a 30-year-plus career including CMO and CEO roles at companies such as Computicket, Diageo South Africa and Levi Strauss & Co.; founder of The BrandsRock Group and Chairman of the board of portfolio company Quicket.

Richard Dewing· Venture Partner

Entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of various technology businesses with global market appeal; serves on the Investment Committee for KNF Funds I and II.

Abraham van der Merwe

External board/IC member and successful South African serial tech entrepreneur.

Chris Seabrooke

External board/IC member; director of many listed companies and CEO of Sabvest.

Francois Malan

External board/IC member; digital imaging and space industry veteran, investor and Venture Partner; board member at Simera Sense.

Joshua Miller· Investment Analyst· Cape Town

A qualified CA(SA) with B.Acc degrees from Stellenbosch University, focused on analysis and valuation.

Karl Engelhard

External board/IC member; Portfolio Manager at Skybound Capital focused on private debt, private equity and alternative investments.

Nchaupe Khaole

External board/IC member; Chief Investment Officer at the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC).

Peter Gain

External board/IC member; Chairman of Draper Gain Investments Ltd and director of various private investment companies.

Thandiwe Maqetuka· Investment Associate· Johannesburg

A Chartered Accountant skilled in financial modelling and strategic consulting who supports Knife's investment activities.

Valter Adaô

External board/IC member; CEO of Cadena Growth Partners and former Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Deloitte Africa.

Vivienne van der Westhuizen· Group CFO· Cape Town

Manages Knife Capital's fund structures and LP relationships and provides financial coaching to portfolio companies.

Ayanda Bolani· Investment Associate

a•••@knifecap.comreveal

Investments · 21 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

d6 Group

Dataprophetdataprophet.comin

Granitewmsgranitewms.comin 𝕏

Grindstone Ventures

Grindstonexlgrindstonexl.comin 𝕏

Inqubainquba.comin 𝕏

Kashakasha.co

Octiv

Octivfitnessoctivfitness.com

Optique

Outsizedoutsized.comin

PharmaScout

PURA

Purabeveragecopurabeverageco.com

Simera Sensesimera-sense.comin

Snapplifysnapplify.comin

Sticitt

Stone Threestonethree.comin

VoxCroftvoxcroft.com

VoxCroft Analytics, Inc.

Wamlywamly.ioin

Frequently asked questions

What stage does Knife Capital invest at?: Knife Capital invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth, Late Stage stages.
What sectors does Knife Capital focus on?: Knife Capital focuses on Deep Tech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic, Space Tech.
Where is Knife Capital located?: Knife Capital is headquartered in Cape Town, ZA.
Does Knife Capital lead rounds?: Yes, Knife Capital leads investment rounds.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Keet van Zyl on Knife Capital

iAfrikan Media · Keet van Zyl

The story of Keet van Zyl, Knife Capital, Africa

Ansarada · Keet van Zyl

Evolution of the venture landscape - Keet van Zyl - Co-founder of Knife Capital

Outsourced CFO · Keet van Zyl

Images

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