The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec

Ep9: Innovation, engineered by the Van Greunens

The Finance Ghost — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:05:52 +0000

Any business owner knows that software can make or break a business. And when software is built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, the benefits are even clearer.

Like many great businesses, Olympia Engage was created to solve the challenges its founders faced in their previous businesses. With hands-on experience managing large teams and running performance and incentivisation programmes, brothers Manie and George Van Greunen set out to build digital solutions that address these challenges.

In episode 9 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, get ready to learn from these software ‘brogrammers’ about how Olympia Engage uses various techniques to improve adoption rates, create internal alignment and support measurable performance.

Episode 9 covers:

The difficulties companies face when tackling performance management processes, including tasks like leader boards and performance reviews
How Olympia Engage uses elements of CRM software and customer nurturing systems to align performance to measurable results
Practical insights into implementation and the change management that comes with rolling out new systems
The expected impact of AI on the software industry
The debate between diversification and focus in SME service offerings

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Plugged In With Capitec
(00:00:59) - Top Chef: The Free State
(00:01:47) - How to Make Performance Reviews More Interesting
(00:02:47) - How Olympia Engage: Managing People, Performance & Revenue
(00:06:25) - Performance Review
(00:08:11) - The Secret to a Good Team
(00:10:13) - WSJD Live: Our Digital Solutions
(00:12:53) - How to Manage a Business on a Farm
(00:14:37) - How to Drive Engagement with Gamification
(00:15:13) - WSJD.com: The Adoption of the Leaderboards
(00:21:59) - WSJD Live: The Future of AI in Software
(00:25:20) - Finance Ghost: How AI Will Change the Way Leaders Manage
(00:29:03) - Sticking with Capitec Bank
(00:31:33) - Olympia Engage: Focus or Diversification?

Ep8: Business Banking, but better

The Finance Ghost — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:40:12 +0000

Capitec understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Throughout this season of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, we’ve explored how affordable transactional banking and access to finance can help business owners grow.

But how does it all come together? And how did Capitec make such a strong impact on the business banking scene so quickly?

In episode 8, we reflect on the acquisition of Mercantile Bank just before COVID hit – and how Capitec's innovative approach helped shape the products, systems and client experience that followed.

This is The Finance Ghost in conversation with Karl Kumbier (Executive for Business Bank), Amrei Botha (Executive of Client Experience Delivery) and Sicelo Mkhize (Head of Distribution).

Episode 8 covers:

Why understanding SME challenges is the starting point for better products and solutions – including Capitec's simple, transparent pricing structure

The systems architecture of Capitec Business and why it was built to stand alongside the rest of our business

How the pandemic shaped Capitec's blend of digital innovation and personal support in the business centres

The rapid growth from 30 000 to 85 000 clients in just one year – and why individual clients still matter

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Finance Ghost
(00:01:24) - Capitec's'simply the bank'
(00:02:07) - The Future of Capitec in SA
(00:04:47) - Buy Rather Than Build: Capitec's Business Banking
(00:07:22) - How Capitec Went From Afresh to SMEs
(00:08:54) - Capitec's Sixto Susello's story
(00:10:23) - An Evolving Capitec
(00:12:38) - A New Business Bank at Capitec
(00:14:53) - The 4 fundamentals of Capitex Business Banking
(00:17:04) - What Made Capitec Bank So Interesting
(00:20:01) - Capitex Bank: No Silos
(00:21:41) - Onboarding the Capitec Bank
(00:25:28) - How Business Banking has simplified for our clients
(00:28:32) - The Credit Card Innovation at Capitec
(00:30:40) - How Citigroup's Relationship Suite has empowered its bankers
(00:33:33) - Citi Business Center and the Relationship Suite
(00:41:10) - Capitec Business Banking: Pricing
(00:45:05) - Capitec Business Banking: Growing, Profits
(00:47:30) - Clients' stories
(00:49:59) - Multiple stories from the townships
(00:50:57) - MR: Future of Business Banking
(00:52:37) - Podcast

Ep7: Driving more than turnover

The Finance Ghost — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:02:51 +0000

Priscilla Msimanga made the leap that so many dream of, yet few are willing to make: leaving a big corporate role and shifting into the grinding world of entrepreneurship. To add to the intrigue, she bought a Shell forecourt and stepped into specialist retail.

From managing staff to complying with petroleum regulations, the learning curve was steep. Drawing on her corporate experience, her love of sales and her passion for service, Priscilla rolled up her sleeves and did everything – from pumping fuel to serving food.

And yes, that means there’s a food truck to go with this great story!

On episode 7 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Priscilla tells us more about her leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship.

Episode 7 covers:

Her corporate background and why she wanted to do something of her own

How she prepared before leaving corporate

Finding the right forecourt to buy

The retail strategy of a forecourt and adapting to local consumer tastes

Why hands-on involvement matters for success

An honest look at the short-term financial impact of leaving corporate and starting a business

Chapters

(00:00:00) - How to start a business in South Africa
(00:01:28) - Going From Corporate to Entrepreneur
(00:05:06) - Making the decision to leave corporate life
(00:07:54) - How to start a petrol station from scratch in South Africa
(00:13:22) - What was the biggest challenge in running a petrol station?
(00:19:38) - How to start a business in Nigeria
(00:22:51) - Inside the Food Truck
(00:24:49) - How does a fuel shop make money?
(00:29:16) - Startup Money: How do you balance your finances?
(00:33:37) - Dancing Off The Corporate Runway
(00:36:03) - The Alchemist

Ep6: Noodles without borders: bringing miso to Mzansi

The Finance Ghost — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:34:29 +0000

Lu-ise Hattingh and Ruan Botha are a great example of the power and value of travel. After spending time in Japan, they fell in love with the culture and food. As all great entrepreneurs do, they also took the opportunity to learn about the Japanese approach to consumer brands. That curiosity eventually sparked a business idea they brought back home.

Today, Lu-ise and Ruan are rolling out Market Kokoro franchise stores in South Africa and especially the Western Cape, tapping into the existing Market Kokoro infrastructure in South Africa and adding their particular flavour of experiential retail. If you love the thought of cooking your off-the-shelf noodles in the store, then Market Kokoro is for you.

In bringing miso to Mzansi, one of the biggest insights is about the importance of meeting customers where they are, both in terms of tastes and locations.

On episode 6 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Lu-ise and Ruan share the journey behind building a cross-cultural brand.

Episode 6 covers:

How travelling sparked the idea for Market Kokoro – and how this married couple turned a dream to bring this culture and food back home into a working business
Why their unique mix of skills (Ruan as an attorney and Lu-ise with a background in film and hospitality) lead to success
The background to Market Kokoro in South Africa and their involvement with the business
What makes the retail landscape in Cape Town different from Johannesburg – and how they adapt to each
Why additional sources of income are crucial while getting a business off the ground
The benefit of tapping into governmental organisations to help launch in a specific city
The consumer licensing opportunity in South Africa and how Japan’s model inspired their approach

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Businesses in South Africa
(00:00:32) - Market Kokoro
(00:01:28) - A Taste of Japan
(00:05:04) - Jetro
(00:05:41) - This Chinese Couple Captured Her To Japan The First Time
(00:06:40) - How to get out of your legal rut
(00:08:30) - Mixing Acting and Retail
(00:12:38) - How to Win Your Love Life
(00:13:17) - 7 Pro Tips for Being in Business Together With Your Wife
(00:16:59) - When You Set Up Your Love Shop
(00:17:36) - A Taste of Market Kokoro in South Africa
(00:18:48) - Market Kokoro South Africa
(00:24:29) - On Working Full-Time
(00:26:15) - Starting a Business: The Secret to Success
(00:27:36) - How to start a business in South Africa
(00:29:34) - Cape Town vs Joburg: The retail environment
(00:33:38) - Interview
(00:34:26) - West Grow: Our support for business in Cape Town and Joburg
(00:37:43) - North Africa's consumer product licensing culture
(00:38:57) - Economist
(00:41:03) - Anime and Pop Culture in South Africa
(00:44:45) - Podcaster: Can Capitec Help My Business?
(00:47:03) - Interview

Ep5: From espresso to enterprise with Bootlegger

The Finance Ghost — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:07:28 +0000

Ricky Ruthenberg has truly taken a ground-up approach to his career. Adapting to opportunities as they present themselves is clearly a powerful skill. From waiting tables at Col’Cacchio to helping launch the first Bootlegger in Sea Point, he’s gone on to build the team that runs a national chain of nearly 100 Bootlegger restaurants.

From espresso to enterprise, this is the story of building something from nothing. Hard work, perseverance and self-belief are the ingredients in this delicious recipe.

On episode 5 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Ricky talks about what it takes to grow a local brand into a national success story.

Episode 5 covers:

The hard work required when opening a restaurant and why owner involvement is critical in the early days
Building the Bootlegger brand and overcoming challenges along the way
Why the group runs a mix of corporate-owned and franchise stores and how that creates opportunity
The pros and cons of having master franchisees vs many individual franchisees
How the retail store model helps drive brand awareness and loyalty
How his role has evolved from cooking and closing up the first store to leading a national team as CEO
Managing coffee price volatility and the strategies behind it
How the Bootlegger survived COVID and thrived afterwards
The value of Capitec as a franchise funding partner

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Bootlegger's Success Story
(00:01:09) - Which keeps you up more at night? Strong coffee or a newborn
(00:01:44) - Coffee Bootleg
(00:04:29) - Bootlegger's story on becoming an Equity Partner
(00:06:41) - Bootlegger Coffee Co.
(00:08:28) - Bootlegger's secret to success
(00:10:16) - Peter and Ricky Bloom on Their Early Years
(00:12:00) - The Coffee Chain's philosophy
(00:15:02) - Bootleggers Coffee: A National Brand
(00:17:12) - Keurig Coffee: Going Mainstream with Retail Stores
(00:20:09) - When I was CEO, my role changed
(00:24:31) - How Hard Do You Work In the Morning?
(00:24:55) - Bootlegger's hybrid franchise model
(00:29:49) - How to start a business with multiple stores
(00:31:47) - Input costs in the coffee business
(00:35:46) - Bootlegger's story of survival during the Covid Pandemic
(00:38:46) - Franchise Banking: Capitec Funding
(00:40:38) - What Keeps You Motivated?
(00:42:17) - Support Your Local Bootlegger

Ep4: A dose of inspiration with The Local Choice Pharmacy

The Finance Ghost — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:43:24 +0000

Hugh Cunningham is as passionate about customer service and product assortment as he is about medicine. As the co-owner of The Local Choice Pharmacy Harmelia, Hugh focuses on business management, while his wife and co-founder Yolandi ensures the dispensary runs smoothly.

On episode 4 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Hugh shares excellent insights on specialist retail and how pharmacies really work.

Episode 4 covers:

Why separation of duties and having a clear decision-maker is critical
The importance of doing proper financial analytics in any business
How pharmacies make money and the differences between independent and corporate pharmacy models
The benefits of being part of a franchise network
The future of the pharmacy industry and how independent pharmacies can stay competitive

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Finance Ghost
(00:00:45) - Pharmacist Business Podcast
(00:01:18) - Married to a Pharmacist
(00:08:26) - Exploring the pharmacy business with Discim
(00:09:19) - Local Choice Pharmacy
(00:14:16) - Front Shop Pharmacy vs. dispensary
(00:17:19) - What is the restriction on sales in the front shop?
(00:18:56) - Risks of disruption to the retail pharmacy market
(00:24:08) - Medical Aid and working capital
(00:27:51) - How Hard Is It to Get a New Pharmacy License?
(00:29:47) - What's Your Biggest Mistake?
(00:30:51) - Interview
(00:31:57) - Thanks to Capitec Business Bank

Ep3: Blueprints to breakthrough with Legaro Property Development

The Finance Ghost — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:50:00 +0000

With a background in law and economics, Obaratile (OB) Semenya’s approach to property includes exposure at practically every part of the value chain.

From developing high-end residential projects through Legaro Property Development to driving sales at his real estate agency, Natural Property, he’s mastered the full property journey.

And with extensive experience working closely with Balwin, OB also knows his way around the biggest developments around.

On episode 3 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, he talks about building the world he wants to see around him, all while ‘nerding out’ on the business and sector he loves most.

Episode 3 covers:

The risks and rewards of the property sector
Lessons from working across the full value chain
Insights from balancing development and real estate sales
Why passion for what you do often makes the rest fall into place

Ep2: A business glow-up with Rabia Ghoor from swiitchbeauty®

The Finance Ghost — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:03:00 +0000

Rabia Ghoor, founder of swiitchbeauty® and winner of multiple awards, is one of South Africa’s most celebrated young entrepreneurs thanks to her fascinating backstory of starting the business at the age of 14 and dropping out of high school shortly thereafter.

But in the decade or so since then, Rabia has built a powerhouse of an eCommerce business – a business that deserves the limelight beyond its founder.

On episode 2 of The Finance Ghost plugged in with Capitec, we gave the business lessons from the journey building swiitchbeauty® just as much attention as Rabia’s story.

Episode 2 covers:

The entrepreneurial DNA in Rabia’s family and how an upbringing surrounded by the hustle contributed to her brave and unusual decision in high school.
The initial innovation that sparked the business, namely the use of Instagram and other social media channels in a way that traditional competitors weren’t doing.
The value of building an authentic online community over a long period and using that as the foundation for a brand.
Curating a product range over time and developing key differentiators, with the importance of ‘just starting’ without necessarily knowing all the future answers.
The advantage of building a business on a foundation of low personal overhead and responsible risk-taking.
Advice for businesses on how to get the most out of social media.
The biggest mistake made along the way.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - South African entrepreneur Rabia Ghoor on her journey to
(00:01:55) - Rabia On Starting a Business At 16
(00:08:20) - When I Dropped Out Of School
(00:12:36) - What Makes Switch Beauty So Successful?
(00:16:34) - How Facebook Made Beauty Personal
(00:19:27) - What's Your Brand's Differentiator?
(00:21:33) - How to Start a Business
(00:27:51) - The Real Face of Makeup
(00:28:19) - The Risk of Starting a Business
(00:33:19) - Follow Your Lead on Social Media
(00:36:57) - What's been your biggest learning from the Supply Chain journey?
(00:38:16) - Rabia on The Biggest Mistake of All Time
(00:40:13) - Plugged in with Capitec

Ep1: Bootstrapping a brownie business (TheHungryMute)

The Finance Ghost — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:21:45 +0000

Makomborero Mutezo, founder of TheHungryMute and winner of the Capitec Rising Star award, is in the early stages of building a food design empire.

With a mix of culinary and design skills, plus a curious mind, he shares delicious insights in episode 1 of The Finance Ghost plugged in with Capitec.

Major points covered include:

The backstory to the business - how travel to Germany inspired a love of food design and connecting cultures.
The critical importance for entrepreneurs of being curious about the world around you.
How a combination of skills can create a unique business, but makes it more difficult to scale.
The long-term value of bootstrapping a business.
The biggest (and most expensive) mistake made along the way.
How family support makes such a difference to the process.

The Finance Ghost plugged in with Capitec is made possible by the support of Capitec Business. All the entrepreneurs featured on this podcast are clients of Capitec. Capitec is an authorised Financial Services Provider, FSP number 46669.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Finance Ghost plugged in with Capitec
(00:01:16) - TheHungryMute
(00:04:02) - Starting a business with just a few ideas
(00:07:08) - Starting a business after travel
(00:12:41) - The search for a unique combination of skills
(00:19:10) - Finding a person to help in the business
(00:21:02) - Getting access to finance for SMEs
(00:21:38) - Why bootstrapping is good for business
(00:25:06) - What's your biggest mistake?
(00:28:22) - Conversations about the future
(00:31:43) - The role of family