From rivals to partners - The heart behind Maven Solutions
Beverley Knoesen and Bertram Richards of Maven Solutions (AKA B&B) share their journey, a story that has it all; love, rivalry, reinvention, and a shared purpose that’s powered their work - a business built around mentoring founders and growing people and community.
Rewind to the start, before Maven Solutions, before the mentoring and match-making magic, back to when they were on opposite sides of the boardroom table.
In the 90s, Bertram and Beverley were both rising fast, but on different paths. Bertram was deeply involved in management consulting, building decision-support systems, and pioneering early technology tools. Beverley was scaling corporate IT and transformation at Unilever, Red Bull, and British American Tobacco. Their worlds collided through projects and competition. What began as a professional rivalry evolved into marriage and a business partnership.
Bertram brought the structure and strategy; Beverley brought the spark and people-centred vision. Together, they’ve become unstoppable.
After years in corporate, Beverley leaped into entrepreneurship. That leap translated into Maven Solutions, named for the early trend-spotters who help others see what’s next. From the start, Maven was about more than consulting; it was about growth for both businesses and the people who run them. Their early success came through the Innovator Trust partnership with Vodacom, with Workshop17 proudly listed as their location partner.
Life at Workshop17
If you’ve shared a coffee with them at Workshop17, you’ll know how they roll. Their days are full, but never rushed. Between mentoring, workshops, and trade facilitation, there’s always time for what matters most - People. For B&B, entrepreneurship isn’t just about scaling a business; it’s about supporting the human behind it. Around here, they’re affectionately known as our resident business matchmakers, connecting founders over a cappuccino or chance chat while waiting for lunch.
Workshop17 has been part of their journey from the start. From their first base at Watershed to their current space in Newlands, they’ve worked from nearly half of our locations. The freedom of our model allows Maven Solutions hybrid offering to span Cape Town, Johannesburg, and online, while staying rooted in community.
As Bertram says, “You can learn so much from the people around you.”
Their reach now stretches across Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, and Angola. Through Maven Solutions, they’ve mentored more than 100 companies, from women in engineering to first-time founders. All united by a vision for a tech-driven, inclusive Africa.
Their advice to founders:
“Make sure there’s a market for what you want to sell. Passion is wonderful, but it’s not enough.”
Beverley and Bertram embody the best of the Workshop17 spirit - Collaborative, creative, and deeply human. Through Maven Solutions, they’ve shown that when expertise meets empathy, both people and businesses flourish.
“What drives them most? A belief in South Africa’s potential.”
If you are a Workshop17 Member and want to share your story, we’d love to hear it!
marketing@workshop17.com
