We build private AI environments that help organisations adopt AI in a way that is secure, practical, and genuinely useful in day-to-day operations. While much of the market focuses on the visible layer of AI, we focus on the harder layer underneath: the infrastructure, deployment, and adoption work that makes AI usable inside serious businesses.
About PrivateBox
PrivateBox helps organisations adopt AI without giving up control of their data, workflows, or standards. We combine private infrastructure, platform software, and implementation expertise to make AI practical for high-trust environments.
Private AI infrastructure for organisations where trust matters.
Why we exist
today.
Businesses want the speed, leverage, and workflow gains AI can unlock, but they cannot afford to compromise on privacy, compliance, or control. PrivateBox exists to close that gap.
Adopt AI across sensitive workflows without sending confidential business data into third-party systems.
What we are
building.
PrivateBox sits at the intersection of private infrastructure, AI deployment, and operational adoption. We are not building AI for novelty. We are building the foundation businesses need to use it responsibly and effectively.
Private AI infrastructure built for practical use inside serious businesses.
Private by design
We believe sensitive business data should stay within the control of the organisation using it.
Built for real workflows
We focus on practical business use, not flashy demos or speculative features.
Designed for adoption
The best AI system is the one a team can actually trust, understand, and use consistently.
The team behind
PrivateBox.
PrivateBox brings together engineering, product, operations, finance, and enterprise leadership around one shared belief: businesses should be able to adopt AI without sacrificing control, trust, or confidentiality.
A team shaped by engineering depth, operational execution, and enterprise trust.
Milan Oerlemans
Founder | Engineering
Developing since 13, Milan brings deep experience across Fintech, AdTech, and EdTech. He leads the engineering work that turns offline AI models into confidential enterprise infrastructure.
Jay van der Walt
Founder | Product & Ops
Jay built and launched J-Mount at 18, gaining hands-on experience in hardware design, manufacturing, and distribution. He now combines product thinking, technical depth, and operational execution at PrivateBox.
Kian Trathen
Founder | GTM & Ops
Kian previously worked in M&A at EY London, where confidential deal work made the limits of public AI tools obvious. He helps shape secure AI infrastructure for trust-heavy environments.
Ferdie Pieterse
Partner | Strategy, Risk & Enterprise Trust
Former CEO of Experian Africa, Ferdie has spent his career leading businesses where trust, regulation, and data integrity matter deeply. His background includes banking, credit infrastructure, auditing, and large-scale operations, with seven years as COO at Standard Chartered followed by six years leading Experian Africa.
There, he played a key role in integrating Compuscan, consolidating core bureau platforms, and advancing innovation across the business. A CA(SA), CISA, and Oxford Saïd executive programme alumnus, Ferdie brings the governance, credibility, and strategic judgment that PrivateBox needs as it builds AI systems for serious enterprise use.
Why this team
fits.
PrivateBox is not just a software idea. It is a trust-heavy operational challenge. Building for confidential AI use requires engineering depth, product judgment, commercial realism, and experience in environments where risk, governance, and delivery matter.
That is why our team combines builders, operators, and enterprise leadership, making PrivateBox credible where it counts: in implementation, trust, and long-term execution.
What we believe
matters.
A small set of principles shapes how we think about private AI adoption inside serious organisations.
Useful systems, built-in trust, and adoption that works in practice.
Useful beats flashy
AI should improve how work gets done, not just look impressive in a demo.
Trust has to be built in
Privacy, control, and accountability cannot be added later as an afterthought.
Adoption matters as much as technology
The real value of AI comes when teams can use it confidently in day-to-day work.
Our approach
today.
We believe the future of AI in business will not be defined by who adopts it first, but by who adopts it well.
That means building systems that are private, practical, and aligned with how businesses actually operate, with the right infrastructure, governance, deployment, and support in place so clients can focus on the work that creates value.
Contact · Founders
No forms,
Based in South Africa
Team of 2–10
Private AI experts
No forms,
just founders.
No contact forms, no ticket queues, no inbox black hole. Pick the founder best suited to your question and reach them directly.
Based in South Africa
Team of 2–10
Private AI experts
Kian Trathen
Founder | GTM & Ops
Reach out to Kian for demo bookings, meetings, investor relations, and anything business or finance related. He runs our commercial operations end to end.
Jay van der Walt
Founder | Product & Ops
Reach out to Jay for consulting engagements, workflow design, and custom tool work. He shapes how teams actually adopt AI in their day-to-day operations.
Milan Oerlemans
Founder | Engineering
Reach out to Milan for security questions, platform capabilities, and integrations. He leads the engineering behind our private AI infrastructure.