Over an illustrious career that spanned more than a decade, former Springbok wing Bryan Habana established himself as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game.
Habana racked up a litany of records and accolades during a remarkable playing career, which saw him earn 124 Test caps for the Springboks, the former wing is now making a considerable impact away from the game.
The 42-year-old has taken on various ambassadorial, philanthropic and broadcast roles – as well as doing a variety of speaking engagements around the world – but it’s also his business acumen that has added to his remarkable success.
Former Springbok Bryan Habana has embraced life after rugby
In 2020, Habana helped start and grow fintech firm Paymenow, the first and leading ‘earned wage access provider’ in South Africa.
In basic terms, its a tool that facilitates employers to allow their staff to get access to a percentage of already earned wages in key circumstances (and at a fee).
Key features and benefits of the Paymenow platform include:
- Instant access to wages for urgent needs, providing a safety net in times of financial strain.
- Encouragement of saving through our innovative app feature, allowing users to seamlessly save directly from their available wages into an interest-bearing money market account.
- Free access to investment products and financial education resources, empowering users to take control of their financial futures.
- Exclusive financial wellness and mental well-being helpline dedicated to Paymenow users, offering expert guidance and support.
- Value-added services in the form of vouchers to buy necessities such as groceries, airtime, & electricity purchases, further addressing the day-to-day needs of our users.
- Data-free app, meaning users do not require any data to access the platform during emergencies, removing the access barriers to ensure they remain in control of their financial wellness.
- Free implementation for employers.
Habana initially served as the Chief Commercial Officer, before pivoting to become the Chief Client Officer in 2023.
Incredibly, the company’s rapid growth was reflected in the Financial Times’ recent ranking of the fastest-growing African companies for 2025, with Paymenow named as the sixth fastest-growing company in Africa, while leading the way for any South African company.
It’s stated that the company’s revenue increased from $0.14 million in 2020 to R4.86 million today, and saw absolute growth of 3,756.1% and a 237.8% compound annual growth rate.
Besides Habana’s role in this incredibly successful company, he also serves as a director for several companies, including procurement and investment company Procura SA, UK-based BH11 Media Limited and construction supplier Quantech.
Habana previously fulfilled a role as the Chief Relationship Officer for Retroactive, a sports-focused marketing and advertising agency. He also served in a similar role for Matchkit, which helped athletes to grow their professional profile.
What do you think of Habana’s incredible success since retiring?
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