Meet the Team
Aura Ventures — Mark Esterhuizen, Venture Capital Partner
Mark Esterhuizen, Venture Capital Partner
Mark Esterhuizen is a Partner at Aura Ventures.
Mark Esterhuizen is a high-impact executive and entrepreneur specialising in scaling venture-backed businesses through capital strategy, operational scale, and market disruption. As the former CFO/COO of Peter Manettas Seafood Group, Mark drove 40x revenue growth, securing $30M+ in capital and increasing the company's valuation from $5M to $180M+ within five years. He was a founding team member leading the commercialisation of ShoreTrade, Australia's first B2B seafood marketplace, and Freshey, a transformative platform for fresh produce.
Mark’s unique value lies in his ability to bridge financial strategy with operational execution, making him a sought-after partner for venture capital firms, founders, and growth-stage businesses. He has personally built, scaled, invested in and exited various ventures, driving disruptive growth across multiple industries.
With deep expertise in capital raises, marketplace infrastructure, and strategic exits, Mark’s passion is turning ambitious visions into scalable, investor-ready businesses: delivering exponential value for founders and their investors.
Mark is a Chartered Accountant CA(SA) and SAICA Top 35 under 35 Finalist. Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce Hons (Accounting) CA from the University of Johannesburg and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand with a double major in Accounting and Management Accounting & Finance.
