Vinny Lingham
Co-founder & CEO gyft
Media
Social
Biography
Selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur (Endeavor.org) and Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum), Vinny is one of the most recognized technology entrepreneurs to ever emerge from Africa and has successfully raised over $50m in venture capital funding for his various companies over the years.
He has built a string of highly successful technology businesses and has received international acclaim for his efforts in creating "The Silicon Cape", which is a non-profit organization based in Cape Town, with aims to create a high tech hub in South Africa.
Vinny's passion is Internet startups and Entrepreneurship in general, and he often keynotes and speaks about his experiences as an entrepreneur to crowds of people who want to hear from someone who took the road less travelled...
He is also an "Angel" investor in his own right and has backed a number of entrepreneurs to begin and build their own businesses.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Men's Health - Best Man 2009 Finalist
Horizon Award for Global Vision
Clicks2Customers - awarded by Nasdaq listed ValueClick
Endeavor Entrepreneur
Endeavor.org selected Entrepreneur
Young Global Leader
Selected by the World Economic Forum
Top Technology Company in South Africa
Clicks2Customers
Top Young IT Entrepreneur in Africa
Education
Gordon Institute of Business Science
Diploma
Negotiation
2002
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Commerce
Information Systems
1999
Did not graduate
Unisa
Honours
E-Commerce
2001
Graduaded Cum Laude
Gordon Institute of Business Science
Diploma
Negotiation
2002
Damelin
National Certicate, Project Management (HC Proj M)
Project Management
2002
Hudson Park High School
Matric
1996
Affiliations
- Mensa
- Alliance of CEO's
- World Economic Forum
- Young Global Leader
- Endeavor
Event Appearances
What it takes to be a successful affiliate
AffiliateDag Utrecht, Netherlands
2009-05-19
Why PPC search marketing is the most powerful tool to drive online traffic
PPC Classroom Live Orange County, California
2005-12-05
Entrepreneurship Keynote
Endeavor Excellerator Johannesburg, South Africa
Sample Talks
Emerging Market Entrepreneurship
Emerging markets present a whole range of entrepreneurial obstacles which are non-existent in established markets. Entrepreneurs from the US, UK and other markets often gloss over some of the challenges that emerging market entrepreneurs have, from lack of payment infrastructure, Internet, legal and other operational gaps that exist. Having built companies in both Africa and the USA, Vinny is well established as a speaker in this category.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Author Appearance
- Corporate Training
