Fundraising Fox

Steve Waidelich

Investor

Head of Growth at Founders Factory Africa

City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About

Steve Waidelich is the founder of Polarix and a growth and go-to-market specialist serving US-based technology companies. He previously built and led Lighthouse Digital, Africa's largest performance marketing agency, which was acquired by Publicis. His background includes early-stage marketing technology work in San Francisco and advisory roles focused on growth and product strategy.

Experience

  1. PolarixFoundercurrent2025 — presentCity of Cape Town
  2. Rebel Health AllianceFractional Chief Growth Officercurrent2025 — presentUnited States
  3. Founders FactoryHead of Growth2020 — 2025City of Johannesburg
  4. PolarixStartup Growth Advisor2017 — 2020
  5. Lighthouse DigitalCo-Founder, Operations Director2010 — 2016Johannesburg Area, South Africa
  6. Stonewall MediaHead of Media Strategy2009 — 2010
  7. Ziff Davis, Inc. (USA)Ad Operations Manager2007 — 2008
  8. Revcube (USA)Ad Operations2006 — 2007

Education

  1. San Francisco State UniversityCollege of Extended Learning, Graphic Design2008 — 2009
  2. University of Cape TownBusiness Science Degree in Marketing2001 — 2006
  3. Michaelhouse1997 — 2000
  4. Michaelhouse1997 — 2000

Skills & more

Digital MarketingVenture Capital2Start-up Ventures2Venture Financing2New Venture DevelopmentVenture DevelopmentEarly Stage VenturesOnline Advertising1Growth Marketing1Content StrategyGrowth HackingGrowth Strategies
+1 moreVenture

From Steve's professional profile.

Colleagues at Founders Factory Africa

Adam Morris
Product Designer at Founders Factory Africa
Adam Wakefield
Managing Editor at Founders Factory Africa
Adelaide Njoki Muthang'i
Investment Associate at Founders Factory Africa
Alina Truhina
Board Member at Founders Factory Africa
Amara Muoneke
Venture Design Lead at Founders Factory Africa
Andile Masuku
Head of Community at Founders Factory Africa
Andrew Obuoforibo
Head of Product at Founders Factory Africa
Ayotunde Aladejana
Head of Partnerships at Founders Factory Africa

Frequently asked questions

Where does Steve Waidelich work?
Steve Waidelich is Head of Growth at Founders Factory Africa.

Same school

Also attended San Francisco State University66

Ciara Campbell BowenExecutive Assistant at Sapphire VenturesJulie WalkerInvestor at True VenturesEmily RabbittInvestor at True VenturesStephanie WatkinsOperations at 8VCIndra HusfeldOffice and Finance Coordinator at Sierra VenturesCrystal TownsendManager at Buckhill Capital

+ 60 more

Also attended University of Cape Town154

Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberJames DetweilerVP of Investments at Felicis VenturesAvron MarcusInvestor at Index VenturesLaurel BowdenPartner at 83NorthAlan EzekowitzInvestor at Third Rock VenturesAndy VitusPartner at Scale Venture Partners

+ 148 more

Also attended Michaelhouse6

ThomasGeneral Partner at Acadian Ventures Management, LlcRichard CaseManaging Director, Head of BD at ArtesianMarc ConlonHilbert Capital Team at Hilbert GroupMark SuzmanCEO at Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationKyle ThorpePartner at 9Yards CapitalRowan MocklerFounder at Ekho

Shared employers

Also worked at Founders Factory59

Alexander ZemlyakPrincipal at Geek VenturesAlan HudsonInvestor at Mercuri.vcAndreaIR at NAPArjun PurkayasthaGlobal e-Commerce and DTC Brands Expert and Venture Capitalist at Sauce.vcAlex DaishVenture Design Lead at Founders FactoryLuca PessinaVenture Builder at Founders Factory

+ 53 more