Kalon Venture Partners

Kalon Venture Partners is a Johannesburg-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Clive Butkow, now led by Acting CEO Leron Varsha (30+ years of VC and tech experience). The team brings a combined 200 years of technology, business building, venture capital, and entrepreneurial experience, and the firm has grown its portfolio to 25 companies across two fund vehicles.

Fund I invested in 9 companies and Fund II expanded to include additional portfolio companies, with the firm's AUM exceeding a quarter of a billion rand (~$15 million). Originally structured under South Africa's Section 12J tax incentive (which offered tax deductions for investments in qualifying small businesses), the firm has evolved beyond that framework following the incentive's expiry. The portfolio spans fintech, healthtech, AI, cybersecurity, mobility, and commerce, with notable investments including Ozow (digital payments, which has grown into one of South Africa's largest fintech companies), Talk360 (affordable international calling), Sendmarc (email cybersecurity), GoMetro (mobility and transit technology), Flow (workflow automation), Mobiz (mobile marketing), SnapnSave (cashback and consumer rewards), and Scans.ai (document intelligence). Portfolio companies have collectively created over 200 jobs. The firm targets a minimum 5X return on investments and takes a "high-touch" approach, providing mentorship, operational expertise, network access, and strategic guidance alongside capital.