Why Cape Town? Science, community & scalable capital | Caitlin Wale | Powered by OPUS

What does it take for a South African founder to build climate ventures that global investors actually trust? In this episode of Why Cape Town?, Salt sits down with Caitlin Wale, co-founder of Kinjani, to unpack how she left London's venture capital scene to build a venture platform backing science-driven climate founders across South Africa, and why Cape Town is where she chose to do it. Caitlin shares how Kinjani co-founded 11 startups and supported 29 founders across 14 countries in just two years, how SAILOR earned a UN Ocean Decade endorsement, and why she's raising a $15 million fund to give deep tech founders the runway they need. She also opens up about the nervous-system shift of moving home, the community built through Kinjani's Climate Coffees, and the misconception she wants international investors to leave behind. Inside the conversation: Leaving London VC to build in Cape Town What Kinjani actually does: from venture builder to venture platform 11 startups, 29 founders, 14 countries in two years SAILOR and the UN Ocean Decade endorsement Cape Town's nature assets and innovation ecosystem Climate Coffees and the power of organic community Raising the bar: from $5 million to $15 million Why mining, water, agriculture and construction are climate opportunities Amazon's spekboom project and the Eastern Cape The investor misconception holding back African climate founders A founder to watch: Bokang Lehutsile What the next five years of climate capital need to look like Why Cape Town is a Salt series exploring the people and decisions building one of the world's most compelling nearshore and investment destinations. A Salt Production for Salt: Labs, Powered by OPUS. Learn more about nearshoring with Salt: https://welovesalt.com/global-talent-... Filmed at the Salt: Studio, Bree Street, Cape Town Created & Produced by Billie-Jean Demas-Patrick, AEMEA Marketing Manager, Salt Executive Producers: Alex Martin, Founder & MD, Salt Africa Jenny Wood, Global Head of Marketing, Salt Elliot Dell, CEO, Salt Hosted by Nicky Fastovsky, Growth Manager, Salt Africa Creative Director: Ashley Zinn, Global Senior Graphic Designer, Salt Social & Community Lead: Shinade Smith, Digital Marketing Specialist, Salt Studio & Production Coordination: Tammy Lea De Monk, Senior Finance & Operations Coordinator, Salt Africa With thanks to our partners at OPUS: https://www.joinopus.org/ |   / join.opus   |   / opuscommunity   Kerry Fennell, Co-founder & MD Rebecca Rodseth, SA Regional Lead Freya Ellis, Head of Marketing