From Cape Town to Silicon Valley: Pieter de Villiers on Securing Over R2 Billion in Venture Capital
Thu Feb 20, 17:30 - Thu Feb 20, 19:00
Innovation City
ABOUT
Join us on February 20th at Innovation City for an exclusive session with Pieter de Villiers, CEO and Co-Founder of Clickatell. Pieter will share his journey from founding Clickatell in Cape Town to expanding globally, including raising over R2 billion in venture capital from esteemed investors like Sequoia Capital and Arrowroot Capital. Gain insights into the challenges and triumphs of securing funding both locally and internationally, and discover strategies to attract top-tier investors.
Who Should Attend:
- Aspiring and established entrepreneurs
- Startup founders and co-founders
- Venture capitalists and angel investors
- Business development professionals
- Students and academics interested in entrepreneurship
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the venture capital landscape in South Africa and the U.S.
- Strategies for attracting and securing funding from top-tier investors
- Lessons learned from Clickatell's funding journey, including becoming the first African company to receive investment from Sequoia Capital
- Insights into building a global tech company from a South African base
- The importance of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship
SPEAKER
Pieter de Villiers is a visionary South African-born entrepreneur and global thought leader in Conversational AI and Chat Commerce. Recently featured on CNN for his groundbreaking work revolutionizing e-commerce across Africa, Pieter has dedicated over two decades to transforming the global telecoms, mobile messaging, and mobile payments landscape.
As the CEO and co-founder of Clickatell, Inc., he has propelled the company into a leading global provider of Application-to-Person (A2P) mobile messaging and transactional services. Under his dynamic leadership, Clickatell was the 1st company globally to enable Chat Banking and Chat Commerce in WhatsApp and the company has grown into a $130 million+, profitable enterprise operating across multiple continents, empowering Fortune 500 brands and over 13,000 businesses in 224 countries and territories.
Pieter's entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in his roles as a dedicated ‘pay it forward’ Endeavor Entrepreneur and YPO member. He is the founder and chairman of SiMODiSA (www.SiMODiSA.org) an initiative passionately focused on accelerating startup success for South African entrepreneurs. Committed to fostering innovation and collaboration, he also co-founded and serves on the board of The Collective X (www.TheCollectiveX.org) aimed at establishing South Africa as a serious role player in the global digital economy.
His innovative contributions have earned him prestigious accolades, including an IT Personality nomination and recognition by Fast Company. Early in his career, Pieter was named one of Global Telecoms Business's "Top 40 Under 40" executives poised to lead the telecoms industry into the future.
A recognized authority in the mobile industry, Pieter actively participates in leading organizations such as the GSM Association, CTIA, Open Mobile Alliance, Wireless Application Service Provider Association, and Mobile Data Association. His expertise makes him a sought-after speaker at global conferences, including the GSM Mobile World Congress, Mobile Money Africa, and the International CTIA Wireless Conference.
Having spent approximately a decade in Silicon Valley, where he raised over $120m in venture capital from institutional investors including Sequoia Capital, Ethos Private Equity, Founder Collective, etc. Pieter serves as adviser to several parties including early stage companies and as venture partner. Pieter honed his passion for leveraging technology to empower people and businesses. His commitment extends to banking the unbanked and driving financial inclusion through mobile banking and mobile money initiatives.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Pieter is a proud father of three wonderful children and has been happily married for over 25 years. An avid mountain biking enthusiast, he balances his dynamic career with his love for adventure, enduring friendships and family.
Specialties: Conversational AI, Chat Commerce, Mobile Messaging, Mobile Banking, Mobile Money, Telecoms, Banking the Unbanked, Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Angel Investment, Innovation and Leadership.
PARKING
Location: We're just off Kloof Street on Darter Road.
Traffic Alert: Please be cautious of traffic heading into town.
Parking Options:
- Parking options around Kloof Street
Recommended: It's always best to use Uber for convenience.
VIDEO
INNOVATION CITY MEMBERS
NOTE: Innovation City members can get free access to all IC weekly events. (You will find the discount code on the IC app.)
EVENT ATTENDANCE
Our team dedicates significant time to creating and curating these events. We encourage a culture of commitment and follow-through.
Should you no longer be able to attend, please update your RSVP status via the link on your emailed ticket.
We look forward to welcoming you to Innovation City and appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
DISCLAIMER
*Disclaimer: By purchasing a ticket to this event, you acknowledge and agree that your access to the venue is contingent upon presenting your ticket for entry. By registering for this event, you agree to subscribe to Innovation City's weekly newsletter. You are welcome to cancel the subscription at any time. Innovation City members attend for free.