WHO WE ARE:
Physica Investments has earned the public reputation as the " go to " company " with the ability, willingness and capacity to create the ripples and much needed momentum to seize opportunities and get things done on the African continent.
We live by our strong conviction, that all what it really takes is a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens to change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
A business conscious of its higher purpose, one that integrates the interests of all stakeholders, elevate conscious leaders, and build a culture of trust, accountability and caring. A business existing in a virtuous cycle of multifaceted value creation, generating both economic-growth and social-benefits.
Experienced in leveraging the opportunity to create economic value through the
creation of societal benefits, proven to be one of the most powerful forces driving
growth in the global economy. This thinking represents a new understanding of customers, productivity, and the external influences on corporate success. It highlights the immense human needs to be met, the large new markets to serve, and the internal costs of social and community deficits, as well as the competitive advantages available from addressing them.
creation of societal benefits, proven to be one of the most powerful forces driving
growth in the global economy. This thinking represents a new understanding of customers, productivity, and the external influences on corporate success. It highlights the immense human needs to be met, the large new markets to serve, and the internal costs of social and community deficits, as well as the competitive advantages available from addressing them.
Physica Investments is not a conventional company, we don't intend to become one. We are in an era of high volatility and uncertain outcomes, driven by accelerating technologies, shortened product cycles, fast changing information, an increasingly
mobile workforce, more demanding customers, and many other factors that ad to the
layers of uncertainty to all future possibilities.
mobile workforce, more demanding customers, and many other factors that ad to the
layers of uncertainty to all future possibilities.
While most believe that good management requires better prediction of the future and better planning, we believe the best way to manage effectively in an uncertain world is through the conscience application of flexibility - an ability to absorb constantly shifting variables and adapt quickly.
Physica Investments is well positioned as "Growth Partnership Company, forged strong mutually - beneficial relationships and work in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the African continent's challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.
OUR FOCUS AREAS:
OUR FOCUS AREAS:
1] We source the most advanced products and solutions to mitigate the current "energy" and " clean drinking water " challenges faced by industry and society in this region.
Many emerging technologies can provide cleaner, smarter, affordable and reliable energy, but what is required, is a solution that can help large- scale energy users and IPPs develop extensive renewable energy projects that compliment and support the grid rather than act as a burden.
This removes grid capacity issues and enables instantaneous power delivery when it is
needed most, at any time of day.
With the critically important ability to cost-effectively reach tens of people in rural villages underserved by grids, while offering strong risk-weighted returns to investors.- so-called micro-grids—"smart-grid Technologies "self-contained systems of solar panels and batteries.
needed most, at any time of day.
With the critically important ability to cost-effectively reach tens of people in rural villages underserved by grids, while offering strong risk-weighted returns to investors.- so-called micro-grids—"smart-grid Technologies "self-contained systems of solar panels and batteries.
Fuel for cooking is a major problem, especially in peri-urban and rural areas where most poor and disadvantaged South Africans depend largely on firewood, charcoal, coal and kerosene for their cooking needs.
Sustainable development implies replacing firewood and charcoal with more modern energy sources, while at the same time introducing technological innovations to improve the efficiency and environmental problems associated with coal and kerosene. It also means providing electricity to those without it.
Most Efficient and Cost-Effective storage-unit & system modelling software
To go completely off grid:
Home storage unit is perfect for continent rich in solar and wind resources but short of reliable power sources.
Coupled with solar panels or wind turbines, powerful lithium-ion batteries can store energy and provide electricity for people facing what’s called “energy poverty.”
(After 2 years of operating solar-powered micro grids in four remote villages in Kenya - a new project expecting to offer electricity to more than 200 000 homes in Kenya from off-grid solar systems, announced).
RATIONAL:
There are a crucial "Nexus" of Water and Energy - " Network " might be more appropriate term because of the many linkages involved and the mutual dependence of energy and water.
We are seeing a greater emphasis on the need for new electricity market design in order
to respond to the greater unpredictability of supply resulting from the increasing adoption
of solar and wind power in the electricity mix.
to respond to the greater unpredictability of supply resulting from the increasing adoption
of solar and wind power in the electricity mix.
There is no escape from the fact that the need and demand for finite and vulnerable water resources will continue to expand and so will competition for it.”
Energy:
About 1.3 billion people worldwide don’t have access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency. Almost 97% of those people live in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia, according to the agency.
Over 650 million people in Africa are living without access to electricity.
There are still 3,4 million households in South-Africa without electricity.
Authorities are paving the way for private entrants to the power generation sector. Renewable energies, such as wind and solar, are encouraged, as is gas fired generation, as the gap between electricity demand and supply is growing faster than renewables alone can respond to.
Over 650 million people in Africa are living without access to electricity.
There are still 3,4 million households in South-Africa without electricity.
Authorities are paving the way for private entrants to the power generation sector. Renewable energies, such as wind and solar, are encouraged, as is gas fired generation, as the gap between electricity demand and supply is growing faster than renewables alone can respond to.
Thrown into the mix is the very real problem of pollution coming from many of our power stations and the enormous effort and funding needed to meet international and local emission standards.
Water:
Our atmosphere holds approximately 92 quadrillion litres of water vapour at any given time, 84% of which is evaporated from the oceans and 16% from the continents. Seeing that the oceans cover 70% of the earth's surface, they become a very sustainable source of water for all of us.
Through our water harvesting technology we will be able to extract that evaporated oceanic water from the air at any time whether it rains or not. Most of the water harvesting technology available today in South Africa and Africa requires it to rain before water can be caught in some way for drinking or other daily uses. A single person utilises 26 litres of water per day (bathing, cooking, washing, flushing, and drinking).
But the bigger story in Africa’s energy narrative is that it should be the global centre for green energy…but it is not. Thanks to the expansive Sahara desert, strong winds along its coast, high waterfalls and raging rapids along its many rivers, and geothermal reserves all along the Rift Valley, the continent has the world’s highest reserves of renewable energy resources.
But the continent has barely tapped into its green potential, and critical power shortages continue to be a regular feature of both urban and rural African life. The world Bank estimates that a staggering 93% of Africa’s economically viable hydropower potential, which makes up a tenth of the world’s total, remains unexploited.
Looking toward the future we are very pro renewable energy. We see solar, hydro and wind energy not only as viable energy sources from an ecological perspective, but as strong avenues for job creation within the South African economy.”
2] Cannabis farming for medical, economic and industrial purposes:
We are positioning the company to be well prepared to take advantage from Cannabis farming for medicine, as the Medical Innovation Bill, a bill to legalize Cannabis in South Africa for medical, economic and industrial purposes, was introduced in parliament.
3] Security services and Consultants
- Security Consulting, System Design and Project Management
- Security Surveys, Risk Analyses and Threat Analyses
- Personnel Profile Analyses and Pre-employment Screening
- Wildlife Conservation, and Anti-Poaching Operations.
- Security Technology and Surveillance Systems
- Ship Security operatives - armed and unarmed
- Vessel escort services
4] Electronic Commerce/Consumer Data Analytics:
We believe that companies create real wealth when they combine technology with new ways of doing business.
Initiate, Develop and Manage People Powered Networks
Establishing people powered networks, making it possible to leverage the collective spending power of mostly large minority and disenfranchised groups, unlocking immense value to individuals belonging to the collective, with great success.
Note: PWD* [People with Disabilities]
PWD represents a population of 1.1Billion - when adding their family and friends , who conservatively represents 1.9Billion consumers, employees and voters -that act on
their emotional connection to PWD - together they control over $9trillion in annual disposable income, globally
their emotional connection to PWD - together they control over $9trillion in annual disposable income, globally
Physica Investments house the emergent property from the synergies among - data-information - knowledge, Software-hardware and experts ( including recognized authorities - taking into account social, political and organizational factors with the potential to impact the system's performance ) with the ability to connect and coordinate activities of the fragmented and disenfranchised society of People with Disabilities and their family/friends in South-Africa
Objective / Purpose
Establish 2 way communication with broader consumer base - distribution pipeline for Products and Services - " Support Unit" " part of affiliate program and Develop actionable data base.
( Support-Unit = Person with disability and Family members )
For 2 years invested resources in time and money to employ a rigorous process, with in-dept planning, systemization to better understand the real dimensions of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and their family members. This contributed to our much better understanding of the most appropriate steps required to ensure that all efforts will have a measurable positive impact in breaking the cycle of dependency, disempowerment and poverty.
With a very diverse management team to position disability as a new market segment and speak to the market in an economic context. The opportunity to create economic value through creating societal value will be one of the most powerful forces driving growth in the global economy
Collective and Redistribution Mechanism:
Digitization and the Internet have given consumers enormous abilities to connect and aggregate their voices, both individually and as a collective, this energizes and empowers social groups, particularly the marginal and the disenfranchised, and provides platforms for their social and political capacity. Power is dispersed, but wealth is concentrated.
Establish and facilitate a framework that sees empowerment as a process of channeling change; making collective impact work and leveraging the collective buying power and the Switching of products and services of people with disabilities and their family members
Collective action is traditionally defined as any action taken together by a group of
people whose goal is to enhance their status and achieve a common objective. It is enacted by a representative of the group.
people whose goal is to enhance their status and achieve a common objective. It is enacted by a representative of the group.
We consider strategic partnerships where we see the opportunity to ad value, generate prosperity for the partnership and empower citizens.
Our competitive advantage :
Data collection on Consumer base (Unconventional, impossible to duplicate)
250 000 +individuals - from 15600 points (across the country)
Pen and Paper Questionnaire
Digitize either photographing or scanning, using mobile phones and collects data via a survey tool and a phone application that can be customized.
Collect relevant Information on the person with a disability & their Family members – using electronic customer relations manager (eCRM-Cloud Computing), to engage in a meaningful dialog with individuals of every support unit.
Data storage: (compliance with protection of personal information act)
Digitize pen and paper questionnaire, with mobile phone Avoiding time-consuming manual data entry and letting them move right into a very secure cloud data storage platform with statistical software to analyze the data.
State of the art " Secure in-cloud platform Digital monopolies will wield considerable power_ will protect the digital interests of everyone, including the vulnerable.
Having and making available deeply personal information, with some minefield of potential misuse (we must ensure that it improve lives (minimize the harm and Maximize benefits
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
THE TIME AND PLACE FOR AFRICA'S FUTURE IS HERE AND NOW:
"Knowing where to play; and how to win in Africa"
Founder & Leadership with more than 2 decades experience in startups and business development of both Public & Privately owned large financial and industrial
organizations, in South-Africa and across border, on the African continent.
organizations, in South-Africa and across border, on the African continent.
Owner of strategically placed and cemented relationships of trust with labour unions and senior African political role players, and including business decision makers, developed over more than 2 decades within South-Africa and African continent.
Starting a new business anywhere is hard; starting a new business in African markets that lack reliable data, enabling infrastructure, and predictable governments is particularly challenging.
Partnerships:Relationships matter, perhaps more than in any other continent, fostering good, proper relations with all levels of government will continue to be vital to realizing strategic aims. Similarly, we believe that strong local partnerships are critical to success.
While any well-funded company entering an African market can cultivate a fleet of local influence peddlers, it is harder to find the person no one has heard of and build a long-term partnership with that person. These partnerships – founded on principles of mutual respect and operational excellence – are what generate an advantage your competitors cannot replicate.
African Consumer:
The only stakeholder with the ultimate ability to either advance or reject every product, of every project, every time
The only stakeholder with the ultimate ability to either advance or reject every product, of every project, every time
Well versed with a nuanced 'real-life' understanding of the challenges faced by African Consumer's.
The emergence of new economic powers compelled Business Leaders and Managers to look beyond their traditional borders, where conventional thinking is rapidly replaced by a new set of realities and Consumer eccentricities, different from the “developed country consumer" the “emerging market consumer” is far from affluent, homogeneous and does not respond in familiar and predictive ways, but with unique values, perceptions, constraints and drivers.
In 1995, I publicly stated: “I believe that our reputation, success and ‘long-lasting relationships, knowledge of the Market, coupled with Profit Sharing, will ensure sound Financial Success and dividends for everyone”
Effective Market penetration and accurate delivery on Consumer demands and expectations, with maximum efficiency at the lowest cost, is no longer the exception but rather the norm. The product development model must incorporate grassroots level Consumer research and needs analysis, focusing on specific cultures and geographical areas.
Flawless execution in connecting with Consumers is only possible, within strategically placed and cemented relationships, of trust, with the inclusion of broader societal interests, through representative structures.
Our trusted, although unconventional in-house developed strategy guarantees the flawless ability to connect with the consumers in a meaningful way, a prerequisite for the accurate delivery of innovative solutions that the consumers need and are actually willing to pay for.
Relationship based cultures. People in these cultures traditionally prefer to take advice from someone they know and trust than from impersonal advertisements
BIO/TESTIMONIALS
OUR FOUNDER and EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN:
"From Humble Beginnings "
Sanlam Insurance co:
22 years old - Youngest Insurance Salesperson in the history of leading company (Sanlam) to achieve in excess of R1m profit income over 4 consecutive years through commission pay-outs.
22 years old - Youngest Insurance Salesperson in the history of leading company (Sanlam) to achieve in excess of R1m profit income over 4 consecutive years through commission pay-outs.
Founder of 6 Startups/Mergers below:
Ferreira Group:
This Green-Startup ( ZAR 400 000 funding )company grew organically over 5 years to become a market leader in the Development and distribution of consumer and financial services and products: - Shareholder value ZAR 650 million.
Penrich ( Botswana ):
Startup funding 200 000 Pula (ZAR then 2:1) within 4.5 years had 220 000 contributing customers. The business was sold to Bank of Windhoek for 100 million Pula
UniFer Holdings ( Listed Stock Exchange ):
Merged Ferreira Group & Unibank Holdings ( Retail & Business Bank ) - ZAR 1.1 Billion Market Cap - & -Acquired Insurance co's ( Global, Constantia & Emerald ), & Low cost building material supplier ( Creditbuild ) & Structured finance co: ( Union Finance ) -&-3000 000 clients -&- Grew Market Cap to ZAR 3.5 Bill in 3.5 years -&- Absa Bank ( Barclays Bank ) acquired 100% for a consideration of ZAR 3.8 Bill, and delisted company.
Lesaka Holdings:
Buy-Back of certain UniFer Holdings assets from Barclays ( Absa )-&- Formation and Structuring of a consumer consortium, comprising of 4 trade union investment companies - Sadtu Investment Holdings, Nehawu Investment Holdings, Popcru Investment Holdings, and Nactu Investment Holdings representing 850 000 union members, sole beneficiaries of the 70% shareholding -&-Directed 300% revenue growth over first 18 months
Uku-Khanya Group
Consumer and Financial product and services design and distribution company.
The Investment arm of COSATU ( Labour Federation representing 20 Unions with 2 million worker members)" Kopano Ki Matla Investments acquired 30% of U.K Groups total issued share-capital.
Within 6 months managed to grow the monthly contributing customer base to one of our tailor-made consumer or financial services, in excess of 230 000 main members.
Medical Condition forced me to restructure group, and sold my shareholding to the different Union Investment companies.
Ferreira Growth & Opportunity Consultants:
Acted as expert consultant for various multinationals, seeking to establish, or expand on their African Footprint. -&- Formed strategic alliances, identified and secured lucrative partnerships and sales distribution channels in diverse industries, experienced in 10 African countries.-&-Introduced mobile integrated solutions, reaching rural consumer with financial services
Physica Investments: ( Current )
TESTIMONIALS ( Extracts )
1) Tim Verity: Renwick Talent – Executive Search (Partner) of Kelly Group International. Former Director (Anglo American)
Testimonial letter dated - 3 February 2011:
“From time to time, uniquely skilled and talented individuals, whatever this individual does, will make it worthwhile, like the young gentlemen Corne, a person young in years, but very mature in experience…… Throughout his working life, he has been labeled a high flyer, typically he has been appointed as the youngest, the achiever amongst his peers, the one who has made money for himself and the enterprise. He is a Chairman in spirit and effect from his earliest business impact to this day… He is a businessman first, philanthropist second. He seeks a position of influence in a multinational business or a government partner, where his Africa-wide network can be brought to bear. He is no figurehead. He is a strategist, decision maker, salesperson and (dare one say it) visionary.
2) Jacques Shindehutte: Former Financial Director - ABSA (57% owned by Barclays Bank); Currently: Group Financial Director of Telkom - (Led 51%, R1.3B acquisition - My listed start-up with ABSA)
Testimonial letter dated: 24 July 2010
“Corne and I met each other in 2000 when Absa acquired UniFer. Corne was a large shareholder and one of the executive directors of the company. During the course of our interactions at UniFer and thereafter, Corne impressed me with his work ethic, his innovative thinking and ability to leverage his strong relationship with the Labour Unions.
His strengths are, inter alia, the following:
In-depth understanding of the requirements of the emerging market in South Africa.
Strong personal relationships with a number of large Labour Union leaders, A long standing track record of delivery to this market, An ability to develop innovative solutions for the needs of the customers of the emerging market, A commitment to involve Labour Unions or important stakeholders in the ownership structure of his businesses, which allows them to play a constructive role and to benefit from their loyalty to the product
3) Mike Jackson: Former Group Executive Director – Liberty Life (Led 7% - R150M acquisition of my start-up & Liberty-Life), *Alec Hogg - MoneyWeb TV interview, attached. Testimonial letter dated: 02 October 1999
"Corne Ferreira is one of the countries great young entrepreneurs. We believe in him, we believe very strongly in his company Ferreira Group, who specializes in the emerging markets. We are very impressed with the quality of business Ferreira Group is involved with and we are very proud to be associated with them.
4) Bangumzi Sifingo: Former international General Secretary of Cosatu, S.A. Ambassador to Nigeria & S.A. Ambassador to Brazil. Currently: Coordinator to all 115 South-African Ambassadors.
Testimonial letter dated: 11 January 2011
“Corne impressed me with his accommodative way of doing business. He was the first to structure the genesis of partnerships between business and workers as well as rudiments of the empowerment of the previously disadvantaged.
He demonstrated his business prowess by listing Unifer after the merger between Ferreira Group and Unibank on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and served on the board as Group Executive Director, which earned him the fame to be one of the youngest to assume the responsibility at the time.
His visionary skill has recommended him to business and higher institutions of learning as a motivational speaker. He is a consummate and dependable entrepreneur who has date with destiny”.
5.) Willie Madisha: Former President of COSATU - R1.9M paid up members across 12 business Sectors & SADTU (255 000 teacher members); currently: Member of Parliament. Testimonial letter dated: 23 August 2007
“Working with individuals but hundreds of thousands of thousands of workers through their unions, leaves me with no doubt but to pronounce that he is involved in the real Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE)”.
