Simon Ellis

I’ve always believed people are capable of more than they think, and with the right team, mission, and mindset, those people can turn ambitious ideas into reality. That’s what drives me. Along the way, I've built businesses that worked (and lots that didn’t). Now, at Jem, we're going all in to build the ultimate employee benefits platform for South Africa’s deskless workforce. Think WhatsApp meets HR & Banking, but way cooler and actually useful. Most deskless workers in SA struggle to access affordable credit, savings, insurance, and other financial services. They are overlooked and underserved by traditional institutions because they are hard to access and classified as ‘high-risk’. Jem solves this by leveraging WhatsApp (better distribution) and a payroll deduction (lower risk), giving us the unique ability to provide fair, practical, and affordable financial products, from airtime and vouchers to credit, savings, and insurance. Employers benefit as well - we provide them with powerful HR tools that help them connect, manage and support their workforce without the extra admin burdens. I’m passionate about work that makes a real impact, and I believe in doing work that makes a difference. Work that positively impacts people’s lives, not just another tech product competing for attention. I also believe in building openly, sharing both successes and the (many) setbacks along the way; it makes the journey richer, more honest, and frankly, a lot more fun. After spending a decade living in London (with a few stints in the US, China and Japan), I came home to South Africa. I think SA is one of the best places in the world. Sure, SA has quirks (that’s putting it mildly), but the potential here is unmatched. Huge problems = huge opportunities. And there are epic people to solve them with. Outside Jem, I juggle a few things that keep life interesting: residential property development in southwest London (Nutbrook Property), a collection of pubs and hotels in the Lake District (Elnbrook), an accounting firm helping UK SMEs keep their finances sane (LegerPlus). My wife and I also run Paxos VC, backing cool founders building interesting things. I thrive when surrounded by positive, ambitious people who embrace the hustle and aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves. I'm a recovering accountant turned entrepreneur who loves sports, fitness, and pushing myself and those around me to live extraordinary lives. If you're working on something epic, have an exciting idea, or think we can make a difference together, I’d love to chat.