Simon Ellis

Simon Ellis is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with a diverse background in finance, technology, and education. He currently serves as an Advisor to Huddle, an organization focused on improving access to education in South Africa and Africa.1

Professional Experience

Simon Ellis is primarily known for his role as the Co-Founder and CEO of Jem, a company that aims to build an advanced HR system for frontline employees. At Jem, his mission is to:

1. Simplify the management and connection of frontline employees
2. Provide frontline workers with access to fair financial services1

In addition to his work at Jem, Simon holds several other positions:

• Advisor at Huddle: In this role, he supports Huddle's vision of ensuring every child in South Africa and Africa has access to excellent education, regardless of their circumstances.1
• Director at Nutbrook Property: A company he co-founded that focuses on residential developments in Southwest London.1
• Angel Investor: Simon and his wife run a small angel syndicate called Paxos VC.1

Background and Expertise

Simon's professional journey includes significant experience in the financial sector:

• He previously worked at Deloitte UK, holding positions such as Manager in Equity Capital Markets and Assistant Manager in Private Markets.1
• He has expertise in capital raising, having led a successful seed round for DigsConnect.com, which at the time was the largest pre-seed round in South Africa.1

Personal Attributes and Interests

Simon describes himself as passionate about bringing together exceptional people to achieve ambitious goals. He values continuous learning, embraces feedback, and is driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world.1

His approach to work and collaboration emphasizes:

• Working with positive, highly capable individuals
• Valuing integrity and a commitment to improving the world
• Recognizing the importance of hard work and dedication1

Simon is also involved in various networks and organizations, including being an OPUS Founding Member, a Harambean (Oppenheimer Fellow), and part of the Civitas network.1