From Rugby Glory to Boardroom Brilliance: Bob Skinstad’s Global Business Playbook

Former Springbok rugby captain Bob Skinstad has traded tackles and tries for boardrooms and big business deals—building a global portfolio that spans Cape Town, London, and even France.

Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, Skinstad’s rugby journey took him to the highest levels of the sport. He earned 42 Springbok caps and was part of the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, famously captaining the national team during the early 2000s. But his impact since hanging up his boots has been equally remarkable—this time, in the business world.

From Rugby to Revenue: Skinstad’s Early Business Moves

Even before reaching global rugby stardom, Skinstad laid the foundations for leadership, attending Hilton College and Stellenbosch University, where he captained the university team. Post-retirement, he seamlessly transitioned into business, co-founding Esportif, a sports management firm, and working as a rugby analyst.

His corporate journey gained momentum with leadership roles such as Director at Itec Innovate and Chief Marketing Officer at Seartec—where he focused on sustainability, client engagement, and team development.

Backing South African Innovation

In 2015, Skinstad took a bold step into the venture capital space by co-founding KNF Ventures, a Section 12J VC firm that enabled investors to support local innovation-driven SMEs with tax-efficient investments.

He later became a partner at Knife Capital, the parent firm of KNF, where he helped fund and grow South African startups that showed real promise.

Building Bridges Between SA, the UK and France

Skinstad’s entrepreneurial reach goes far beyond South African borders. Between 2016 and 2021, he was a partner at DRAPER-GAIN Investments, a UK-based investment firm focused on opportunities across Africa. He also played a strategic advisory role at CrowdIQ, a tech firm using AI and high-resolution imagery to understand crowd behavior at major events.

Today, Skinstad is a partner at Elixirr, a London-based business consulting firm, where he helps reshape global strategies and forge relationships that challenge conventional business thinking. His partner role includes business growth initiatives and high-level networking across sectors.

He’s also a shareholder and advisor to Fanbase, a Scotland-based company that’s transforming fan engagement through the world’s first “fan operating system,” which helps sports teams streamline ticketing, hospitality, and data services.

Old School Marketing & A French Rugby Dream

Skinstad still maintains a strong link to South Africa as the co-founder of Old School Marketing, which specializes in sports and music events across Cape Town and beyond.

His passion for rugby lives on too—he’s now co-owner and co-president of ASBH Béziers Hérault, a French rugby club. His co-president is fellow former player Andrew Mehrtens of New Zealand, adding a layer of cross-continental rugby synergy.

Legacy in Motion

From Hilton College to Stade de France, and now the financial hubs of Cape Town, London, and Southern France, Bob Skinstad’s evolution from elite athlete to global entrepreneur is inspiring.

With his hand in multiple ventures—from venture capital to sports tech, marketing to grassroots rugby coaching—he continues to prove that leadership, discipline, and vision can cross any boundary.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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