Vinny Lingham

Vinny Lingham is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a global reputation. He has made significant contributions to the business world through his ventures and has received numerous accolades for his achievements.

Lingham's entrepreneurial journey began with the establishment of Clicks2Customers, a renowned search engine marketing company. Under his leadership, the company garnered recognition and success, earning Lingham the Young Global Leader Honoree title in 2009 from the World Economic Forum. His entrepreneurial prowess was further acknowledged when he was honoured as a high-impact entrepreneur by Endeavor Global and received the prestigious Top Young IT Entrepreneur award in 2006.

Driven by his passion for innovation and investment, Lingham went on to found Lingham Capital, a venture capital firm headquartered in South Africa. Through Lingham Capital, he has invested in various startups, including Skyrove, a provider of Wi-Fi hotspots, and Yola (formerly Synthasite), a web development platform. Additionally, Lingham actively participates in international advisory boards for prominent search engine and affiliate marketing companies such as Commission Junction and Yahoo!

Lingham's expertise extends beyond his entrepreneurial ventures. He is a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide, where he shares his insights on Web 2.0 trends and related topics. His perspectives are highly regarded, and he is frequently cited for his expertise in the field.

Lingham pursued his education in Information Systems at the University of Cape Town and obtained an honours degree in Electronic Commerce from the University of South Africa. His academic background, combined with his hands-on experience in the business world, has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the digital landscape and its potential for innovation and growth.

Vinny Lingham, originally known as Vinodan Lingham, is an accomplished internet entrepreneur with South African and American roots. He is widely recognized as the co-founder and CEO of Civic, a California-based startup specializing in identity protection and management. Prior to Civic, Lingham made significant contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape through his ventures, including Gyft and Yola, Inc. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in shaping the technology ecosystem in South Africa as the co-founder of SiliconCape, a non-governmental organization aimed at transforming Cape Town into a technology hub.

Lingham's entrepreneurial journey began in 2003 with the founding of incuBeta, an investment holding company that nurtures and supports online marketing firms at various stages of development. As CEO of incuBeta, he successfully managed the company's operations across offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Cape Town. In the same year, Lingham also established Clicks2Customers, a subsidiary of an incubator specializing in search engine marketing software and services.

In 2007, Lingham founded Yola, a proprietary web development platform catering to individuals, small businesses, and organizations. Under his leadership, Yola secured significant funding, with investments exceeding $25 million from Johann Rupert's Reinet Fund.

Recognizing the potential of South Africa's technology sector, Lingham co-founded the Silicon Cape Initiative, an organization aimed at transforming the Western Cape into a thriving hub for startups. He also played a crucial role in early-stage investments as a co-founder of Newtown Partners, funding successful ventures such as Sweep South and Augmentors.

Lingham's entrepreneurial achievements gained global recognition. In 2006, he was selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur, a prestigious distinction bestowed upon high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets. In 2009, he was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

In 2012, Lingham embarked on another successful venture with the founding of Gyft, a mobile gift card company. With the backing of Google Ventures, Gyft rapidly emerged as a market leader in the mobile gift card space. First Data Corporation acquired Gyft in 2014 for a substantial sum exceeding $54 million.

Continuing his passion for innovation, Lingham founded Civic in 2015. Civic is a groundbreaking startup focused on encrypting identity information using blockchain technology. During its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in June 2017, Civic raised more than $33 million in funding.

Lingham's entrepreneurial expertise extends beyond his ventures. He has made notable appearances as an investor, referred to as a "dragon," on South Africa's Dragons' Den reality TV series from 2014 to 2016. Furthermore, he became one of the "sharks" on the subsequent South African version of Shark Tank. Lingham also served as an "Angel" on National Geographic's not-for-profit program, Undercover Angel, in 2017. In addition to his accomplishments, Lingham co-authored the book "I'm In: Essential Advice for Entrepreneurs".

In the summer of 2020, Lingham co-founded Waitroom, a live-streaming and video meeting platform that focuses on personalized engagement between hosts and their audiences.

Vinny Lingham's entrepreneurial journey, marked by numerous successful ventures and notable contributions to the business world, showcases his visionary leadership and commitment to innovation. His ability to identify emerging trends and leverage technology to address critical challenges has solidified his position as a respected entrepreneur in the global startup ecosystem.

Vinny Lingham is an entrepreneur known for his visionary mindset and innovative approach to business. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong vision that drives his endeavours and shapes his contributions to the industry.

One of the central elements of Vinny Lingham's vision is the belief in the power of technology to transform industries and solve real-world problems. He recognizes that advancements in technology, such as blockchain and encryption, can revolutionize how we approach identity protection, data security, and digital transactions. Lingham's startup, Civic, reflects this vision by leveraging blockchain technology to create a decentralized and secure identity management platform.

Lingham is also passionate about fostering entrepreneurship and supporting startups. Through his involvement with organizations like SiliconCape and Newtown Partners, he aims to cultivate a thriving ecosystem for startups, particularly in South Africa. His vision extends beyond individual ventures, as he envisions entire regions and cities becoming technology hubs, driving innovation and economic growth.

Another key aspect of Lingham's vision is the belief in the transformative power of mobile technology. His previous venture, Gyft, focused on simplifying and digitizing the gift card industry, making it accessible through mobile devices. This vision of leveraging mobile technology to enhance convenience and disrupt traditional systems aligns with his overall goal of driving positive change through innovative solutions.

Furthermore, Lingham's vision encompasses the importance of collaboration and partnerships. He actively engages with industry leaders, investors, and organizations to foster innovation and create synergies. By building networks and alliances, he seeks to create a collective impact that goes beyond the success of individual ventures.