Ellen Fischat

Ellen Fischat is the Managing director of Oribi Village, a non profit organisation that brings together social entrepreneurs and supports sustainable business development through our incubation program. Oribi Village's aim is to bridge the gap between informal and formal markets based on principles of inclusion and innovation. Ellen holds an Honour’s Degree in Social Work and Community Development and a number of small business and technology certificates. She has extensive experience in small business development, with a focus on social enterprises and technology. She mentors technology start-ups and designs community outreach programs, that focus on personal development, digital literacy and increasing employability of marginalized young women through STEM initiatives.

Ellen returned to South Africa, her place of birth, after a 23 year residency in Amsterdam. Upon her return to South Africa in 2006, she ran a Boy’s Home and 7 daycare centres for two years in multiple townships in Port Elizabeth. Ellen set up various community initiatives based on social entrepreneurship principles. She expanded on her people development and strategic skills and co-founded a HR Boutique Consultancy in 2008.

Before being the first Managing Director for The Silicon Cape Initiative in 2017, Ellen was the Co- Founder and Incubator Manager for Propella Business Incubator, a Public Private Partnership between the Nelson Mandela University Incubator and Engeli Enterprise. Ellen was also responsible for establishment and management of Telkom Future Makers Innovation Hub in 2015. Prior to that, she was the Enterprise Development Manager for the SEDA NMB ICT Incubator 2011-2015.