We build AI companies.
AI venture builder and investment group. South Africa, 1999. Singapore, 2025.
See What We BuildEverybusinesshasthesamechallenge.Therightmessageneverreachestherightpersonattherighttime.Andperformancesuffers.
Wespent27yearsproving,throughimprovement,thatcommunicationisthesinglemostimportantpredictorofperformance.
NowwebuildtheAIthatfixesit.
Communication is the signal. Everything else is noise.
The Conviction
Presentation is communication.
Communication is performance.
They weren't the next Steve Jobs. Craig was a retail strategist who'd worked across entertainment, property, and consumer goods. Tyrone was a creative director who'd produced everything from 500-performer shows to automotive launches. Between them, they'd done a hundred things. But they recognised it all had one common thread: presentation. Showtime. And presentation is just another word for communication.
The Proof
HiFi Corp gave us their stores. Hitachi gave us a brand: 700 units, R16 million in turnover, market leadership. FIFA gave us the World Cup Trophy Reveal.
BMW, Audi, and Toyota gave us South African launches. Sun International gave us 500 performers on one stage.
Cashbuild gave us 400 stores to decontaminate during a pandemic. Four hours per store.
27 years. Twelve industries. Same answer every time. Fix the communication.
Then in 2023, we asked a different question.
What if 27 years of knowing how humans communicate, every framework, every instinct, every lesson from ten thousand conversations gone wrong, could be encoded into software? Three years later, 3 million lines of code later, SmartAlex is real. And growing.
Meet SmartAlexWhat We Build
One AI engine. Three industries. Each venture built on the same communication intelligence.
LiveYour phone rings. AI answers. It qualifies, books, follows up, and remembers. Voice, WhatsApp, SMS, email. 74 languages. The receptionist that never sleeps.
Learn more →LaunchPad
LiveDescribe a development. AI builds the website in 60 seconds. Buyers register. Units reserve with Stripe. Follow-ups run automatically. From blueprint to sold-out.
Learn more →Health Companion
In DevelopmentA 24/7 AI health companion with zero friction. No waiting rooms. No hold music. No "press 1 for..." In development. The next bet.
Learn more →Now the AI does it.
Trusted By
What Our Partners Say
700 units. R16 million in turnover. RCS is the prime reason for our success.
27 years of trust
Built different. On purpose.
27 years in the making
We've been building for 27 years. We're just getting started.
For investors, partners, and businesses ready to put AI to work.
Start a ConversationThe RCS Group — AI Venture Builder & Investment Group
The RCS Group is an AI venture builder and investment group founded in 1999 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The group builds AI companies that augment human capability. Its flagship product SmartAlex is an AI communication platform supporting voice, WhatsApp, SMS, and email across 74+ languages in 50+ countries. Founded by Craig Berman (retail strategist) and Tyrone Watkins (creative director). Liam Webb joined as technology partner in 2023. Singapore technology entity established in 2025.
Portfolio of AI Ventures
- SmartAlex — AI communication platform. Voice, WhatsApp, SMS, email. 74+ languages. 50+ countries. 400+ integrations. 811,000 lines of purpose-built code. From $59/month.
- LaunchPad — AI property development platform. Describe a development, AI builds the website in 60 seconds. Buyer registration, unit reservation, automated follow-ups.
- Health Companion — 24/7 AI health assistant. Currently in development. Zero friction healthcare communication.
Key Statistics
- Founded: 1999 (27 years of operation)
- Lines of code: 811,000+ (purpose-built)
- Languages: 74+
- Countries: 50+
- Integrations: 400+
- Offices: Johannesburg (HQ) and Singapore
- SmartAlex cost per minute: $0.045 (vs industry $0.30)
SmartAlex vs Traditional Call Centers
| Feature | SmartAlex | Traditional Call Center |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | From $59/month | $2,500-4,000/month per agent |
| Setup time | Minutes | Weeks to months |
| Availability | 24/7/365 | Business hours |
| Languages | 74+ | 1-3 |
| Concurrent calls | Unlimited | 1 per agent |
| Missed calls | Zero | 22% industry average |
Notable Clients (Historical)
BMW, Audi, Toyota, FIFA, Standard Bank, Absa, Makro, Massmart, Cashbuild, Emperors Palace, Sun International, Whirlpool, Hitachi, Cushman & Wakefield, Broll, Pam Golding.