C o m m u n i t y   I n v e s t m e n t   V e n t u r e s

Nicolaas Venter - Chief Executive Officer


Education

1979 • National Technical Diploma (Mechanical Engineering)
1981Diploma (Business Administration)

Business Career

1979 • Participated in industrial engineering surveys and feasibility studies at Rörhs and Buys and Louis Heyl and Associates on a freelance basis.
1980 • General Manager at Powder Applicators where he successfully established the plant within a two-year period.
  • Nic founded and established the precision manufacturing venture, Ho-Kwa with limited capital. It was successfully developed into a prominent component provider to primary manufacturers in the iron and steel industry.
  • During this period Nic was involved with the development of a number of smaller ventures, e.g. M-Tek and Atio.
1987 • Started positioning Ho-Kwa as manufacturer and provider of communication equipment.
1990 • Established ODF Technologies and between 1990 and 1994 developed it into a telecommunication system-house.
• During 1994 ODF sold a portion of the company to Dimension Data Limited which formed the basis of Dimension Data Telecommunications.
1994 • In the capacity of Managing Director of Dimension Data Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd, Nic focused on the growth and development of the company into one of the leading telecommunication companies in South Africa.
  • During this period Nic was also involved in the development of various new business initiatives such as the establishment Dimension Data's small business development programme with a focus on the recruitment of black entrepreneurs. Nic also handled the restructuring of Dimension Data's interests in Datacraft Brazil on behalf of the group.
  • Dimension Data approached Nic to take leadership in the merging and restructuring of Dimension Data Telecommunications and Plessey. This project was successfully completed by March 1999 and leadership handed over to the new management.
1999 • Nic established the Rockit venture capital fund and spearheaded the CIE Group's transformation into an investment Ventures company.
  • Nic established management and support structures for the portfolio companies, whereby hands-on management participation and support could be provide.
  • During this period CIE invested amongst others in Dartcom, CZ Electronics, MCT, Cosource and Tecor.
From 2004 • Nic was responsible for the successful transformation of CIE Group (Pty) Ltd into the current Community Investment Ventures (Pty) Ltd a black owned investment holding company.
  • Community Investment Ventures focuses on the development of businesses in the Power, Telecommunications and related services industries.
  • As the group CEO, Nic was instrumental in the formation of this group. It currently has revenues of over a billion rand, the most recent enterprise being Dark Fibre Africa, an open access network.