Vusi Thembekwayo is a South African entrepreneur, investor, author, and globally renowned public speaker. He is the founder and CEO of the pan-African impact investment firm, MyGrowthFund Venture Partners. 

Early life and rise to prominence

• Born and educated: Born in Benoni, South Africa, in March 1985, Thembekwayo studied at the University of the Witwatersrand.
• Discovery of public speaking: After a challenging school experience, his teachers encouraged him to compete in a public speaking competition. Although his initial attempt failed, the incident motivated him to dedicate himself to the craft, and he went on to win international public speaking awards.
• Professional career: Thembekwayo combined his speaking talent with business acumen, initially running a forensic marketing agency. At the age of 22, he was hired by a struggling multinational company. By 25, he was in charge of a division that achieved the highest revenue within the group. 

Career highlights and achievements

• Venture capitalist: He is the founder and CEO of MyGrowthFund Venture Partners, which focuses on investing in and nurturing start-ups across Africa. He is also the managing partner at Watermark Afrika, a private equity firm.
• Author: Thembekwayo has authored two books, including the international bestseller The Magna Carta of Exponentiality.
• Television personality: From 2014 to 2015, he was an investor on the South African edition of the TV show Dragons’ Den.
• Advisor and coach: He is a respected business coach, mentor, and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies.
• Public speaker: Widely recognized as one of the most impressive public speakers on the international circuit, Thembekwayo has delivered hundreds of keynotes on six continents.
• Board memberships: He serves on the boards of multiple companies, including a JSE-listed entity. 

Recognitions and accolades

• Wealth and influence: He has been featured on the cover of Entrepreneur magazine and is known as one of Africa’s wealthiest young people.
• Industry awards: MyGrowthFund Venture Partners won the “Best Impact Investment Firm 2020—Africa” at the Worldwide Finance Awards