Simons builds digital pathways for local youth
By Jeraldene Menon
In startup culture, everyone talks about building for scale. We celebrate the unicorns, the loud wins, and the exits. However, some of the most valuable entrepreneurs in South Africa are the ones who stay behind to build intentionally and often quietly. Dale Simons, Founder and CEO of the MiDO Group, is one of them.
Based on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, Dale grew up in Jamestown, where his family farmed strawberries and vegetables. His parents were deeply involved in ministry and community building, values that shaped Dale’s vision from an early age. Today, he still resides in Jamestown and is what one would describe as a “quiet entrepreneur”. After studying mechanical engineering, and working in both project management and IT, he decided to choose a different path.
What started as a way to solve technical problems and manage IT projects evolved into something much bigger: connecting young people to meaningful digital careers. Over more than a decade, Dale has built an integrated ecosystem bundled as the MiDO Group, with three distinct but connected entities:
- MiDO Technologies (2012): Work-integrated learning and digital internships
- MiDO Foundation (2018): Digital awareness and tech access for school learners
- MiDO Academy (2023): Accredited learnerships and cybersecurity pathways for post-matric youth
Each of these entities addresses a different stage of the youth journey, from early awareness to real-world employment.
“I started off this journey by solving technical problems,” says Dale. “It has since evolved to creating digital employability pathways for youth.”
Alongside co-founder Anna Collard and support from the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Africa Cyber Programme, Dale launched MiDO Academy in response to two urgent challenges: the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals and the local crisis of youth unemployment. Today, the MiDO Group works with partners like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Stellenbosch University, Sanlam Group, and KnowBe4 Africa – all while staying firmly rooted in the Western Cape, in Stellenbosch.
Internally, the team operates on a simple but powerful philosophy: “We focus on good stewardship, great systems, creativity and innovation,” says Dale. “We believe in building smart and healthy teams.”
Before founding MiDO, Dale spent years in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) space – as an ICT Director at Spier Holdings, and then an ICT consultant at Pragma Africa. In addition to his Mechanical Engineering qualification, he also holds an Executive Development qualification from the Stellenbosch Business School and became a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate in 2003. With this technical and leadership foundation, Dale is now focused on helping young people navigate the 4th Industrial Revolution through access, education, and real opportunity.
Next up, MiDO will launch a new online cybersecurity training platform in partnership with BeeLine. They are also working on a frontline support system for victims of Cybercrime, in partnership with AWS, Cyberhelpline UK Ciso Alliance, Vizstrat and others.
But even with global reach, Dale keeps his mission local. He has built a company that reflects the town where he was born and raised – a place of care, consistency, and quiet impact.
His advice to other entrepreneurs? Stay the course:
“Entrepreneurship is an exciting, terrifying and rewarding journey that will ask lots from the founder. Start with your personal growth and development. Then move to knowledge and systems. Failing forward is part of the journey, so get used to it! Also, practice gratitude daily.”
For Stellenbosch and beyond, Dale Simons is demonstrating what it means to build differently and to build for good.
Dale is doing some great work in Jamestown, we need more entrepreneurs like him!