Catherine Young

Catherine Young wears many hats: Partner at Knife Capital, Founder of Thinkroom, and Managing Partner of Grindstone Ventures, but her mission is singular: to build high-growth businesses and scale Africa’s entrepreneurial
ecosystem.

With 25+ years of executive experience across Deloitte, Chevron, SAP, and as a successful entrepreneur and investor, Catherine brings rare depth to every founder conversation. She’s helped startups raise millions, shaped fund strategies across Africa, and supported scale-ups through multiple stages of growth, all while keeping people, purpose, and impact at the heart of the process.

At Digital Divas 2025, Catherine will moderate the powerhouse panel “Becoming a Digital Diva: Building, Scaling & Standing Out,” a fast-paced, practical session featuring some of SA’s most dynamic female founders. Expect her to bring sharp insights, tough questions, and the kind of actionable advice that helps women founders move from potential to performance!