Monkey and River

Monkey and River is a South African software development and design firm based in Centurion that's been operating for 10 years. The company combines custom software development, UX/UI design, and business analysis, working with clients across South Africa and internationally. Their team includes software developers, designers, and business analysts organized into dedicated departments, with leadership spanning both South Africa and the Netherlands.

The firm's stated approach centers on user research and human-centred design. They emphasize understanding client needs through business analysis, then moving into design informed by user feedback, followed by custom development. Project methodology relies on SCRUM and Agile principles with regular check-ins to maintain alignment.

Services and capabilities

Monkey and River offers three primary service categories. Business analysis covers market research, user research, and strategic insights to identify hidden potential and inform business decisions. Design work focuses on UX/UI, with emphasis on user research backing every design decision. Development includes custom software solutions, with stated expertise in Angular, Bootstrap, C#, and AI development.

They also run specialized teams: an AI team for intelligent solutions, a Data-Driven Analysis Team using analytics and machine learning, a Creative Design Team for UI/UX and branding, and an Expert Development Team focused on scalable solutions. A Collaborative Design and Analysis Team blends both disciplines.

Engagement models

Monkey and River offers three ways to engage. Project Outsourcing handles short-term needs or specialized skills, delivering complete projects from start to finish. Teams as a Service provides scalable, flexible team solutions that integrate into client projects. Placements match skilled professionals with client teams for temporary projects or permanent roles.

The firm mentions offering post-project support and maintenance plans. Project timelines vary based on scope; they provide estimates during initial consultation. No pricing information is public on their website.

Notable work

We Buy Cars, an automotive retailer, has worked with Monkey and River since 2015 (some references say 2017). The engagement included design and innovation work, notably a custom ERP system and UX improvements. The client stated: "We Buy Cars has been working with Monkey and River since 2017 and we are very satisfied with the work that they have done for us."

MoyaApp, a South African messaging and fintech platform described as a WhatsApp rival, has partnered with Monkey and River since 2020 to develop its Mobile Wallet UI. The app reportedly has 10+ million downloads and operates a data-free messaging service with a secure mobile wallet.

South African National Parks (SANParks) engaged Monkey and River to redesign their online booking system. The project involved building the bookings module front-end using Angular and focused on improving user experience and sales conversion. The new interface received positive user feedback. The engagement remains ongoing with maintenance support.

Huge Connect, a telecom solutions provider, partnered with Monkey and River starting May 2019 for analysis, design, and development of custom software addressing reporting accuracy, device management, and call data record management. The client noted the solution "outperformed competitors."

Fedhealth, a healthcare provider, worked with Monkey and River to develop the "Create My Aid" feature—a tool that generates personalized medical aid plan recommendations to streamline decision-making and build brand trust.

How they work

Monkey and River emphasizes collaboration and iteration. They begin with understanding client needs, move through a planning phase, then development, with regular check-ins to ensure alignment with the client's vision. Work follows SCRUM and Agile principles. The firm states data security is a top priority and follows industry best practices for protecting client data, though no specific certifications (ISO, SOC 2) are mentioned on their website.

Team and credentials

The leadership team includes Dr. Rendani Kruger (Director), Dr. Jacques Brosens (Director), Dirk-Jan de Jeu (Netherlands Director), and Micha Oosthoek (Netherlands Shareholder). Department heads lead Strategy and Innovation, with named heads for Project Delivery (Ashley Mathew), Client Relations (Elizabeth Becker), Development (Rynhardt Cloete), and Design (Tenaya Douglas).

The development team includes 18+ named software developers and development leads. The design team lists 7 UX/UI designers and design leads. Support functions include project coordinators, business intelligence analysts, and talent and culture staff. The website does not specify total team size. An AI team and graduate program are mentioned but not detailed. The firm operates offices in both South Africa (Centurion) and the Netherlands.