The year was 2013. A chance phone call. Kagiso picks up. Ayanda asks a harrowing question: “Can you get me back to London?” What followed was an anxious and risky ‘yes’, a desperate sigh, a money transfer, a plane ticket, and an unforeseen, unshakeable business partnership five years later. This is SV Capital – the story of two unassuming strangers turned best friends turned business partners – and today, they’re taking aspiring South African investors on one helluva innovative journey.
Meet Ayanda Majola and Kagiso Tloubatla, Co-Founders of South Africa’s young and rising investment hub, SV Capital, the only investment firm in the country that is making cattle cool, investments simple, and iLobola Funds possible. In this up-close and personal interview, we uncover their reasons, their ambitions, and the secret to a friendship that’s transcended the books.
Take us back to your first encounter:
Ayanda:
I was training in London on Investec’s TOP Programme (Training out of Public Practice) to become a Chartered Accountant; Kagiso was the program’s assigned PB (private banker at Investec) from South Africa. I’d never met him in person.
Kagiso:
I was more like the overdrafts guy to Ayanda; she ran out of money with her friends in Budapest, and guess who got the call?
Ayanda:
I just got myself into a bit of a pickle…
Kagiso:
A pickle? More like a whole jar of achar!
What went through your mind on the phone?
Ayanda:
I'm definitely going to be stuck in Budapest...
Kagiso:
I’m definitely going to be fired!
How did you get Ayanda out of her ‘pickle’?
Kagiso:
Honestly, I was concerned for this quasi-colleague’s well-being; I advanced the funds with immediate effect, against all logic and protocol, and I made her promise to pay it back. She did.
Ayanda:
In my defence – I also promised I’d come and find him when I returned to SA, I’d shake his hand, and we’d become friends for life. Guess who followed through?!
What did the start of your entrepreneurial journey look like?
Kagiso:
Like a spaza shop. We knew we wanted to do something impactful with our finance skillset, but we needed to figure it out upfront.
Ayanda:
We spent a year juggling our careers on one hand and our dreams on the other. Dreams take time.
How did you come up with the name SV Capital?
Ayanda:
On WhatsApp. I was in a conference, Kagiso was in his car, and we kept pinging ideas around.
Kagiso:
We needed a name that stood for simple, smart investments that would appeal to everyone. And so, SV Capital… ‘Smart-vestment'.
Growing up, did your household discuss money matters openly?
Ayanda:
Yes, we spoke about it. I was always taught to save for a rainy day. As a result, I’ve come to respect money, but I am also not fearful of it. Money must work for me.
Kagiso:
My parents taught me that money is an energy; it comes and goes. Once you understand that, it changes everything.
How does SV Capital do investments differently?
Ayanda:
Conventional investment portfolios can be antiquated. We chose to only work with relatable and relevant investment products.
Kagiso:
We communicate. It’s important for us that our clients know what their products actually look like and where and how their money gets invested.
Is this how SV made cattle investing cool?
Ayanda:
Yes, cool and accessible! We’ve created a fund for Cattle Investing that allows our clients to pool their funds with a client collective. This lessens the risk, and it means our clients can now yield a return on a herd of cattle, as opposed to one cow at a time.
Kagiso:
So, yeah, that’s pretty cool.
How do you make your products accessible?
Ayanda:
With us, you don’t need 100K to start your investment journey. You can start with R500 and build from there.
Kagiso:
Investments should never be reserved for the elite or academic; we believe in simplifying investments so that everyone in the room can learn and aspire; from children and grandchildren to parents and Gogos, this is an exciting journey everyone can go on.
How has investing changed?
Ayanda:
People are becoming comfortable with alternative investments; this kind of portfolio brings a different flavour. It’s not about stocks and shares anymore; it’s about accessible funds with a positive social impact.
Kagiso:
Our iLobola Fund is a great example. With the world changing rapidly, demanding two income homes and more job security, women are now choosing to invest in the iLobola Fund, too, thereby safeguarding their futures and that of their sons’ futures.
What’s your go-to theory for a human centric business?
Kagiso:
The “If I Was Her” Theory. Business isn’t just about a skillset. It’s about human instinct and human value. It’s about empathy and understanding from a client’s point of view. I think back to my first impression of Ayanda. That day, she called, distressed and worried, asking for my help – I put my human cap on and asked myself, “If I was her,” what would I do? Who would I call? That’s my “If I Was Her” Theory, and it’s a 10X for any business.
How is SV Capital making a social impact?
Ayanda:
For us, it’s not just about the returns. It’s about putting back into our country; it’s about the long-term value of one’s investment.
Kagiso:
We’ve created over 600 jobs already purely from our fund portfolio, and this feels really good!
The most challenging part of your workday?
Ayanda:
Making the right decisions for the business and making sure I show up fully.
Kagiso:
Being better than the day before, no matter the strife. Bringing 100% more energy every single day is not easy.
What do you love about working together?
Kagiso:
We are opposites! Ayanda challenges my thinking; she gives me a different perspective.
Ayanda:
Man, we used to fight like crazy. We’ve learned that we are not in this to know everything. We learn from each other.
Your favourite dish at Sunday Lunch?
Ayanda:
Beef stew!
Kagiso:
For me, it’s my wife’s Oxtail.
Greatest life lesson so far?
Kagiso:
Not every interaction is final.
Ayanda:
Your energy at any given moment will deliver the return.
Any game-changer advice for start-up entrepreneurs?
Ayanda:
Get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Kagiso:
Work with your instinct; it knows the way.
Favourite thing to say on the hustle?
Ayanda:
It’s okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them!.
Kagiso:
We go again tomorrow...
In finance and friendship, Ayanda Majola and Kagiso Tloubatla have proven that remarkable journeys often begin with unexpected turns. Their partnership, forged in Budapest and nurtured through trust and shared dreams, has blossomed into SV Capital – a beacon of innovation in the South African investment landscape. With a commitment to making finance accessible and investments impactful, they are not only changing the way people think about their money but also leaving a significant social footprint. As they continue to inspire others to embrace the unconventional, SV Capital’s story is a testament to the power of human connection and unwavering determination on the path to success. For more info on SV Capital and its leading investment portfolios, visit www.svcapital.co.za.
