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.

South Africa’s Just Energy Transition promises inclusive growth, green jobs, and climate resilience. This week, Michael Avery sat down with Peter Venn, CEO of Seriti Green - the company behind SA’s largest hybrid renewable project, Ummbila Emoyeni. Venn shared candid insights from the frontlines: from billion-rand losses caused by red tape to the hard truth that renewables may only replace a fraction of coal jobs. Together, they unpacked whether “just” is becoming a PR gloss, what needs to change to unlock real progress, and whether the private sector can shoulder the transition while government stalls.

Despite bold promises from both government and business, most South African SMEs still struggle to access the funding they need to grow, hire and contribute meaningfully to the economy. Banks cite risk and red tape, while entrepreneurs often lack formal balance sheets or credit scores. On this episode of the Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery sat down with Andiswa Bata, CEO of FNB Business, to explore how the bank is working to expand its SME lending capacity.

For a wide-ranging and optimistic view of how franchising can truly become a lever for economic inclusion and innovation in South Africa, Michael Avery was joined by Ayabulela Njingolo, Chairman of the Franchise Association of South Africa and executive at OBC Group. Their conversation covered where the funding gaps are and how a blended finance approach can help more entrepreneurs enter the franchise sector.

In this episode of the Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery was joined by Rentia van Tonder, Head of Power at Standard Bank CIB, to unpack the real story behind South Africa’s energy transition. From the gridlock in REIPPPP Bid Windows 5 and 6 to the looming gas cliff of 2026, they explored why financing the future of power is about capital allied to trust, transparency, and long-term partnerships. With fresh insights on emerging electricity traders, corporate PPAs, and how smarter grid allocation could spark a truly liquid energy market, this is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the crossroads of infrastructure, finance, and climate ambition in South Africa and the broader African continent.

The future of insurance may lie in the integration of technology and human understanding. This week, Michael Avery sat down with Christelle Colman, CEO of Ami, and Ron Richman, CEO of insureAI. Their discussion centres on the crucial integration of technology and human understanding, highlighting Ami's people-first digital approach and insureAI's innovative use of AI in actuarial science. Learn how their partnership is redefining personalised insurance coverage with a focus on both technology, accuracy and empathy.