Mission
Build homegrown, inclusive technology companies that prove African innovation can be designed, operated and exported from the inside out.
About
A venture studio built from Pretoria, for the world.
TEAM AF is a Pretoria-based venture studio building technology products, companies and social impact ventures across Africa — product design, AI consulting, luxury retail and classic car brokerage.
Vision
A studio whose ventures — commercial and social — set the standard for accessible, data-led product work across the Sub-Saharan market.
Model
Venture studio: we found and operate companies, partner with organisations on product and AI, and run B2B technology trade operations.
Founder
Nikhil Keolan Gounden
Founder & Principal, TEAM AF
Product & Growth · UX Systems & Accessibility
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
♪ ARTIST SOCIALSArtist · Music · CreativeNikhil Keolan Gounden is the founder of TEAM AF (formerly A Reason To Feel), a Pretoria-based venture studio. His work spans e-commerce, digital strategy, UX/UI, growth marketing and product development, with customer-facing platforms and content initiatives that have reached over a billion views.
He has worked across product development, UX/UI, AI, Web3 and civil infrastructure since 2016 — including data mapping work associated with Tesla's autonomous vehicle programme and projects explored through Epic Games. He describes his approach as systems thinking combined with data-driven decision making and user experience principles.
He serves as Chief Technology Officer and Director (advisory) at Youth Disability Talk Out, a registered South African non-profit company, after being promoted from Product & Growth Associate. He also contributes as an Engineering Technician at G2 Consulting Group and manages B2B technology trade operations for TEAM AF across the Sub-Saharan market.
Experience
Roles and appointments
2026 — Present
CTO & Director (Advisory)
Youth Disability Talk Out
Executive advisory leadership and board director capacity; strategic oversight of digital infrastructure, platform scalability and long-term systems development.
2021 — Present
Founder / Data & Trade Operations
TEAM AF (formerly A Reason To Feel)
Manages B2B technology trade operations for the Sub-Saharan market and leads the studio's venture, product and brand work.
2025 — Present
Engineering Technician
G2 Consulting Group (Pty) Ltd
Technical expertise in engineering solutions and project support.
2025 — 2026
Accessibility Designer
Youth Disability Talk Out
Worked with the CEO to design and launch inclusive LMS courses for learners with disabilities, integrating adaptive learning and AI.
Earlier
Marketing, UX & Strategy Intern
The Oaks Creative
Brand, UX and go-to-market strategy support.
Earlier
Growth & Content Strategist
Suga Rush Bar
Growth marketing and content strategy for a consumer brand.
Timeline
Studio milestones
2016
The practice begins
Product development, UX/UI, AI, Web3 and civil infrastructure work across global freelance engagements.
2021
A Reason To Feel founded
The studio is founded in Pretoria, Gauteng as a digital innovation practice.
2025
Provides support to YDTO
Accessibility design work with Youth Disability Talk Out; inclusive LMS courses designed and launched.
2025
TEAM AF
The studio becomes TEAM AF and formalises B2B technology trade operations for the Sub-Saharan market.
2026
CTO appointment
Founder appointed Chief Technology Officer and Director (advisory) at Youth Disability Talk Out.
Have something worth building?
Tell us what you are trying to launch, fix or scale. We will tell you honestly whether we are the right studio for it.