Since its establishment in 2020, the Matrix Group has been guided by a simple but powerful belief: being more human is the future of business. "We are more than numbers, more than consumers. We are human beings full of potential, promise, power and contradiction," says Matrix Group Founder and CEO Kgaugelo Maphai.

This philosophy has informed every aspect of the Group's approach, ensuring that marketing activity is always tied directly to measurable business outcomes, while fostering authentic, culturally rooted connections with Africa's diverse consumer landscape, adds the Group.

The Group's unique four-step model ensures clarity, efficiency and results. It begins with understanding the challenge, using its dedicated research and insights engine, African Response (AR), to provide nuanced intelligence that goes beyond demographics. From there, Matrix assembles a tailored "Dream Team" of senior specialists to advise CEOs and CMOs directly, translating insights into actionable strategies that anticipate trends and future-proof businesses, says the Group.

These strategies are then operationalised across the Group's specialist agencies, which deliver seamless, high-quality execution across digital innovation, influencer marketing, fan engagement, brand activations, media intelligence, PR and integrated brand communications. Finally, measurable ROI and tangible sales growth are achieved through advanced reporting, with AI, data science, and custom dashboards ensuring transparency and accountability, adds the Group.

Reflecting on the milestone, Maphai says, "Our story has always been about more than marketing. It is about understanding people within our diverse country and continent. This has become even more prevalent since the genesis of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, ironically, around the time we launched our group. Five years on, we have built a collaborative framework that connects marketing activity to business outcomes. Today, as we expand into a martech group, we remain committed to being more human, more innovative, and more than the sum of our parts."

The Matrix Group's evolution has been driven by clear differentiators that set it apart in Africa's complex markets. Its streamlined communication model accelerates delivery and eliminates unnecessary project delays, giving clients direct access to senior decision-makers and specialists. Cultural intelligence, rooted in deep consumer insights, ensures that campaigns are authentic and resonate with audiences. At the same time, a futurist perspective is embedded in strategy, equipping businesses with the resilience to thrive in rapidly shifting markets, says the Group.

As the Matrix Group celebrates this five-year milestone, it is looking firmly to the future, with technology being an integral part of its offering. The next phase of its journey will see even deeper investment in technology, AI, and digital transformation and integration, adds the Group.

The Group concludes that it is also making some key announcements on strategic projects it has been working on in the last 24 months:

  • In August 2025, it launched an exclusive concierge business, offering a "one-stop shop" for discerning consumers looking for convenience. An app has been developed that will track the interests of clients on an ongoing basis, giving the business valuable data on their behaviour and attitudes.
  • Appointing renowned Professional Futurist and Foresight Strategist Isaac Nkama of Foresight Africa Consulting to sit on the board as an independent member. He brings extensive experience in this specialist area, which is still formally a new field both globally and in Africa. The strategic insights derived from his understanding of futures methodologies will assist clients in future-proofing themselves by engaging with the consultancy.
  • Talks are at an advanced stage in setting up strategic partnerships in Dubai and the United States to extend its footprint beyond the continent.

For more information, visit www.matrixgroup.co.za. 

*Image courtesy of contributor