Tritech Global Background

Tritech Global’ s roots date back to 2010, when founder and CEO, William Kirsh, established Value+ Nettwork. The company was established shortly after his work at Primedia, South Africa’s second largest media group, which he also founded in 1994 and was CEO of from inception until August 2009.

During his tenure at Primedia, he gained insight into how technology was transforming the media industry. Armed with this knowledge, Value⁺ Nettwork was established with a focus on the loyalty industry. The industry was positioned for significant growth as the plethora of technology-enabled media channels would continue to increase audience fragmentation. A well-implemented loyalty program was seen as an antidote for advertisers from the effects of audience fragmentation. The loyalty industry was also very fragmented and ripe for consolidation.

In 2015, following an acquisition foray of over 20 companies in South Africa, Value⁺ Nettwork saw the opportunity to broaden its media focus to become South Africa’s first media technology group, called Tritech Media.

Shortly thereafter, in 2016, the company entered a period of consolidation, selling or closing underperforming companies as well as fortifying for growth the remaining quality businesses. This period of consolidation was completed in 2019, and, since then, the focus has largely been on steering the group through the Covid pandemic.

Following a strategic review of the residual portfolio, five critical issues became apparent. This has led to the repositioning of Tritech Media as a technology investment holding company:

• The South African market was too small to support a media technology group;
• Apart from two media technology businesses, which were designated as core, the remaining businesses, which had a media component at the time of acquisition, became focused on their central business proposition;
• Most businesses were South African based and international expansion, where scale could be properly attained, became an increasing focus;
• As all the businesses were rooted in technology, it became apparent what criteria made them industry leaders. This, combined with studying best practices in the world, led to the conclusion that there was a specific strategic formula to becoming a successful technology company; and
• Notwithstanding controlling stakes in some of the core businesses, it was recognized that going forward, in order to manage risk, the company should preferably be a minority co-investor with other investors and management.

With these insights, Tritech Media repositioned itself as a technology investment holding company – Tritech Global, with businesses spanning a number of different verticals and geographies around the world. While the current focus has a bias towards emerging markets, the company will be targeting a greater balance between developed and emerging markets longer term. The immediate focus is to enable the company’s current businesses to expand further internationally.