Team

Paula Mokwena

CEO & Head of Co-Investments

Paula is the CEO at Fireball Capital and manages the co-investment and direct investment programme. She is responsible for sourcing, deal negotiation, deal execution and general investment management. Prior to her current role, her career spanned investment banking, development finance and private equity. She previously worked for a grant funding programme designed to promote technology development in South Africa and was instrumental in the establishment of an on-balance sheet venture capital fund.  She is a CFA charter holder who also holds qualifications in engineering; maths & applied maths; financial economics and investment management.

Justin James

CIO

Justin is a Chartered Accountant, having worked within the financial services division of PwC in Cape Town, New York, and Bermuda, focusing on hedge funds, bio tech funds and insurance. One of his core skills have been building proprietary tech solutions, Software as a Service (SAAS), to turn large volumes of data in information for the portfolio managers to corroborate and make informed decisions. Think of it as applying science to a qualitative process. His role within the team will be manager selection and incubation, portfolio modelling and critically analyzing the tech stacks within the portfolio companies.

Ryan Wilborg

CFO & Head of Compliance

Ryan has over 20 years of corporate and fund accounting and regulatory compliance experience. He is responsible for all statutory financial reports and audits, regulatory compliance with the various regulators and has oversight for all legal structuring vehicles. Ryan and his team also provide a value-added services platform to our venture managers and to the venture entrepreneurs.

Geraldine Basson

Head of Fund Admin & Operations

Geraldine is Head of Administration and Operations, where she helps keep the fund’s operations running smoothly and efficiently. With several years of experience in private equity and venture capital fund administration she brings a keen eye for detail and a passion for precision to every aspect of the job. She is driven by a commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and making sure investors and portfolio teams get the best possible support as Fireball Capital backs the next generation of high-growth ventures.

Lerato Mashego

Investment Analyst

Lerato Mashego is an investment analyst at Fireball with experience in financial services, specializing in valuations, due diligence, and transaction advisory. She is responsible for deal execution and post investment management. Her career spans roles at large financial services firms, where she gained expertise across audit, accounting, and investments.

Abulele Pepani

ESG Analyst

Abulele Pepani is an ESG and sustainability professional focused on helping investors and businesses embed responsible practices into their strategies and investment processes. She supports the development and implementation of ESG frameworks, due diligence, and sustainability initiatives that align with international standards and drive long-term value creation. Passionate about advancing sustainable finance and impact-driven investing, Abulele brings experience from Mazars and Fitch, where she worked across private equity, infrastructure, and financial services to deliver ESG insights and advisory support.

Carlo Dickson

Investment Advisor & Investment Committee Member

Carlo has been a director of Ke Nako Capital since its inception in 2007, is the lead portfolio manager and has over 16 years’ experience in direct commercial property, mezzanine debt, corporate finance, traditional and alternative investment management. Currently he serves on and is Chairman of the Advisory Board of 5 South African private equity funds as well as a director on 5 PE portfolio company boards. Carlo is also a director on several SA VC companies covering Financial Technology and Agricultural Technology.

Pierre Du Preez

Investment Advisor & Chairman of the Investment Committee

Pierre is a lead portfolio manager for a global venture capital fund of fund. He has been investing in venture capital through his relationship with a global family office for over 3 decades. He brings experience and a global venture capital network that will be instrumental in scaling and internationalising South African tech enabled businesses.

Our Team