A former investment banker with a passion for technology and innovation, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, focusing on cutting-edge technologies. He founded a digital bank in his home country.

Schalk Burger (photo) is a South African accountant and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Xhuma, a digital bank designed to offer its users greater financial freedom.

Founded in 2021, Xhuma provides a range of solutions to South Africans. Through PeerPay, users can send and receive money instantly. The startup's LoyaltyHub centralizes the most attractive loyalty cards and promotional offers while ensuring the security of transactional accounts. 

Xhuma also offers SpendSense, which helps users manage their expenses responsibly. With GroupPay, bills can be shared among friends and family. Group Vaults, meanwhile, allows for the management of contributions, savings, withdrawals, and payments without administrative hassle or extra fees. Finally, TravelGenius makes booking flights, accommodations, excursions, and airport shuttles easier for South Africans.

In addition to Xhuma, Burger is also the founder and CEO of Xhuma Talent, an AI-powered platform launched in 2020 to connect talent with corporate job opportunities. Back in 2010, he founded Clothing4children, a charitable initiative focused on collecting clothing donations. In 2014, he co-founded the Samaritan Fund, an organization aimed at addressing South Africa's growing social needs, where he served as director until 2021.

The entrepreneur holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and law from Stellenbosch University, which he earned in 2017, the same year he obtained a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Johannesburg. In 2018, he joined Investec, a financial management firm, as an internal auditor.

In 2020, Burger received multiple accolades. Notably, he was a finalist for the CEO of the Year award at Africa Tech Week and the Entrepreneur of the Year award at Startup School Africa. He also won the AppsAfrica award in the Edtech category and was a global finalist for the Global Edtech Startup Awards.

Melchior Koba