Our Team
The Rosewood team has combined experience of managing and conducting technology due diligence projects around the globe, covering Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia.
Our experience covers all aspects of e-commerce, of fintech ranging from payment gateways to retail banking, insurtech, OTT video, gaming, blockchain applications and more.
The founders and partners have broad experience in the full spectrum of technical management, management consulting and operations, having worked as software engineers, software architects, and technology managers in operational and consulting businesses.
Jacques van Niekerk
Jacques has more than 25 years experience in the technology industry, with a track record of managing and conducting technology due diligence projects across the globe in Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.
Prior to founding Rosewood, Jacques was CTO for the Naspers (now Prosus) group’s Internet division, as well as CEO of SWAT - an internal division of Naspers responsible for internal knowledge dissemination and software development. As CTO of the Internet division, Jacques was responsible for leading the team that did technical evaluation of the majority of the group’s acquisitions during the period 2006 to 2012, resulting in ~USD 1 billion worth of investments.
Jacques has since been in the role of CTO for TAKEALOT.com and MrDelivery.com - leading South African online retail and logistics businesses. He was interim CTO for Prodigy Finance and founding CTO for Click2Sure, an Insurtech business. He is advisor to multiple companies.
Founder| Cape Town, South Africa
Founder | Vancouver, Canada
Otavio Ferreira
More than 20 years in the technology industry, with a proven track record of managing and conducting technology due diligence projects in multiple countries, especially in Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay.
Prior to founding Rosewood, between 2007 and 2012, Otavio worked for Naspers, a leading multinational media group and strategic investor, incorporated in 1915, and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). As Naspers' Lead Architect for Latin America, he evaluated several enterprises and startup companies, which resulted in ~USD 500 million worth of investments.
Between 2012 and 2013, Otavio took on the role of CTO with Baby.com.br and Dinda.com.br, leading e-commerce operations in Brazil. Between 2014 and 2015, Otavio was the CTO with Emprego Ligado, largest blue-collar jobs marketplace in Brazil, focused on mobile devices.
Chas Simpson
Chas has has more than 25 years experience in the technology industry, and holds a PhD in computational chemistry from UCT. He has worked in positions ranging from software developer to CTO and worked as a Managing Director with Accenture.
Chas has experience in supporting business development, sales and consulting initiatives. He drives product management and helps shape technology strategy to enable his customer's overall organisational overall strategy. He is epxerienced in leading due diligence assessments and compliance certifications.
Prior to joining Rosewood, Chas was CTO and Director for Briisk, and insurtech startup. Before joining Briisk he held the role of Managing Direcrot for Africa (Digital Delivery) at Accenture. He has held various other roles as CTO, solution architect and managing director throughout his career.
Principal Consultant | Cape Town, South Africa