Action Hero Ventures is a private investment holding company that makes early stage investments into real businesses run by strong entrepreneurs.

The company was founded in 2013 by Ernst Hertzog (M.Eng, MBA), an industrial engineer with professional experience in telecommunications, healthcare and financial services.

We look for scalable businesses in various industries that require relatively small amounts of capital to grow. We prefer to invest alongside other investors for a minority equity stake. Funding in itself is not sufficient to grow a business, therefore we add value by assisting in strategy formulation and execution and by giving access to valuable networks.

The company is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Portfolio

PicsaA proven employee benefits solution that offers progressive products to improve the financial health of employees and protect them against predatory product and service providers.

Picsa

A proven employee benefits solution that offers progressive products to improve the financial health of employees and protect them against predatory product and service providers.

RentMyRidePeer-to-peer car rental service.

RentMyRide

Peer-to-peer car rental service.

Building the Shopify for brick-and-mortar retail by engaging large audiences and allowing both to capitalise on their reach and clientele.

Previous Ventures & Exits

Get personalised videos and messages from your favourite celebrities.

The Benefit Counsellor

Automated digital retirement benefits counselling for retirement fund members. This investment was exited in 2023.

MzansiGoMzansiGo offers trucks and helpers to clients who need to relocate, move or dispose of bulky items. The investment was exited in 2021.

MzansiGo

MzansiGo offers trucks and helpers to clients who need to relocate, move or dispose of bulky items. The investment was exited in 2021.

The Good TreeWhite labeled digital payments, ticketing and loyalty solutions. The Good Tree company was sold in 2020.

The Good Tree

White labeled digital payments, ticketing and loyalty solutions. The Good Tree company was sold in 2020.

DomestlyTechnology platform that connects independent cleaners to households and businesses.

Domestly

Technology platform that connects independent cleaners to households and businesses.

WumdropWumdrop offers technology driven courier solutions. The company was sold to Massmart (Makro) in 2017.

Wumdrop

Wumdrop offers technology driven courier solutions. The company was sold to Massmart (Makro) in 2017.

Thula Baba BoxThe Thula Baba Box is a survival kit for babies that is handed out to mothers who give birth in public healthcare facilities. The box is used as an incentive to change the behaviour of mothers and subsequent health outcomes. It is curr…

Thula Baba Box

The Thula Baba Box is a survival kit for babies that is handed out to mothers who give birth in public healthcare facilities. The box is used as an incentive to change the behaviour of mothers and subsequent health outcomes. It is currently run by The Thula Baba Project.

Investment Criteria

THE BUSINESS MUST:

  • Be a company. We do not invest into ideas or research.

  • Be revenue generating. Taking even the smallest amounts of revenue offers opportunities to learn and improve.

  • Be incorporated in the Republic of South Africa and preferably be based in/around Cape Town.

  • Solve a burning need for its clients.

  • Not be capital intensive.

  • Be scalable.

  • Display innovation in its processes, products or services.

  • Have barriers to entry that create a competitive advantage.

ENTREPRENEURs MUST:

  • Provide a concise, realistic business plan that clearly shows how the funding provided will be used to grow the business.

  • Invest some of their own money into the business.

  • Be willing to accept funding in stages, subject to achieving certain milestones.

  • Be able to execute, sell, lead and build a strong team.

  • Accept advice and criticism from partners and shareholders, i.e. give up some control over the business.

  • Be willing to accept governance structures that will reduce business risk.

  • Be willing to remain the majority shareholder.

  • Be willing to work exceptionally hard for long periods of time.

  • Be patient.

  • Have the highest ethical standards.

On average, only 10% of applications proceed to the due diligence phase and only 1-2% of applicants receive funding.

Contact

We are not actively seeking investment opportunities at present and will only consider applications that come via trusted networks.