About Us
Black Bear Capital concentrates on making investments that support sustainable growth. In order to lead significant change and create an empowered future for South Africans, Black Bear Capital was established.
The mission of Black Bear Capital is to catalyze the growth of robust venture capital industry in South Africa that achieves international standards of excellence and results in the significant potential to expand and diversify the economy of South Africa and lead us one step closer to achieving our vision of a thriving youth and women entrepreneurial ecosystem
Mr. Bright M Hlongwane
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Bright Mthembeni Hlongwane is a distinguished South African executive, strategist, and youth development champion whose work continues to shape the entrepreneurial landscape across the African continent. With over a decade of leadership experience, Bright brings a unique ability to identify emerging opportunities and transform them into actionable strategies that foster inclusive economic growth.
Currently serving as the Enterprise & Supplier Development Co-Ordinator at Overlooked Group (Pty) Ltd, a diversified mineral resources company, Bright leads strategic initiatives aimed at integrating black-owned SMEs into competitive value chains. His work supports sustainable transformation, compliance with BBBEE legislation, and the design and delivery of imp actful supplier development programs.
As the Founder and Secretary General of Youth in Business South Africa (YIBSA), Bright has spent the past decade building a national platform that represents over 10,000 young entrepreneurs across all nine provinces. His leadership has established YIBSA as a key voice in the dialogue surrounding youth entrepreneurship, economic policy, and sustainable development.
A sought-after public speaker and policy contributor, Bright has represented South African youth on global platforms such as the United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum (USA), Pan African Youth Summit (Ethiopia), World Bank Annual Meetings (Morocco), and the African Youth SDGs Summit (Zambia). His consistent presence at high-level forums reflects his commitment to “Creating Stronger Economies through Youth Entrepreneurship” — a vision that continues to inspire transformation from grassroots communities to international institutions.
Bright also holds influential non-executive roles at Black Bear Capital and Indlulamithi Holdings, and serves on the B20 Trade 8, Investment Task Force, advising on global economic frameworks. He is a dedicated member of the Black Business Council Youth Committee, where he contributes to policy recommendations that shape the future of business in South Africa.
Academically, Bright is completing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, following his Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and earlier qualifications from Mangosuthu University of Technology and Henley Business School. His academic journey is anchored in a deep commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in executive leadership.
Fluent in English, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, IsiNdebele, and SiSwati, Bright moves seamlessly across linguistic and cultural boundaries, reflecting the pan-African nature of his work. He is known not only for his intellectual acuity and strategic insight, but also for his integrity, collaborative spirit, and unwavering belief in Africa’s youth.
The future is in the hands of the youth, and their economic empowerment is the spark that will ignite lasting change. If we give them the tools to succeed, they will build o better world for oil of us.” Bishop Desmond Tutu
Investment Policy
The core investment strategy is to identify businesses that demonstrate the following important attributes:
- Robust easily understood business model;
- Clear competitive advantages
- Strong and sustainable profitability;
- High cash conversion ratio;
- High-quality, experienced management;
- The acquisition of a meaningful shareholding;
- Appropriate alignment of interests and incentives; and
- Long-term growth potential
We aim to invest in high-growth opportunities in South Africa’s attractive sectors, including healthcare, renewable energy, FinTech, and facilities management.
