To unpack the true state of South Africa’s venture capital and startup ecosystem, Michael Avery sat down with Stephan J. Lamprecht, founder of VS Nova and lead researcher of the SAVCA 2025 VC Industry Survey. They looked beyond the R13.35 billion figure to explore the challenges behind record-low startup exits, the impact of exchange controls on foreign investment, and whether government policy is enabling or hindering growth.

In this episode of The Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery welcomed Advocate Thandi Orleyn as she reflects on 14 years of leadership at BP South Africa. She delved into the critical balance between energy transition and socio-economic realities, exploring the future of oil and gas, the governance hurdles in state-owned entities, and the power of ethical leadership to spark true transformation.

Following the release of Verto’s new white paper on the state of imports and exports in South Africa, Michael Avery sat down with Cornelius Coetzee, Country Director for Verto. Cornelius shared insights on how mid-sized firms can navigate regulatory hurdles and tap into global growth, the role Verto plays in streamlining cross-border payments, and why collaboration between banks and fintechs is key to positioning the country as a resilient, forward-looking leader in smart trade.