A company that creates prosthetics from recycled waste and a business that makes shoes from recycled plastic are among the winners of a Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab showcase, which aimed to celebrate African entrepreneurs, and encourage young students to become entrepreneurs.
The Science Idea and Startup Showcase of 2021, which was held over Zoom on 21 September, was divided into two categories: one for existing businesses and the other for science-based ideas, according to Leana Kotze, an incubation and project manager at LaunchLab.
The SU LaunchLab is focused on “creating scalable, high-impact businesses across sectors that matter to the core of Africa: Agri, Climate & Health”, according to their website.
The Stellenbosch University LaunchLab headquarters on Hammanshand Road in Stellenbosch. The LaunchLab is focused on “creating scalable, high-impact businesses across sectors that matter to the core of Africa: Agri, Climate & Health”, according to their website. PHOTO: Wessel Krige
The winners of the existing business category were Salubata in first place, Axaitech in second place and BioMec in third place, said Kotze in email correspondence with MatieMedia. The winners were announced on 22 September, and received a shared cash prize, as well as training and mentorship prizes, she added.
Salubata won R50 000 through the showcase, while Axaitech received R25 000 and BioMec R10 000, according to the LaunchLab website.
“It felt really great winning this competition, as it further validates that our model is for global impact,” said Fela Akinse, chief executive officer [CEO] of Salubata.
Salubata is a business that aims to create “lifestyle technologies that help people and the planet”, according to Akinse. The company currently sells shoes made of recycled plastic. Salubata plans on using the funds won through the showcase to “further scale our innovation across the globe”, added Akinse.
The Idea category’s winners were AirCool Africa in first place, Agrohusk Wares in second and Scientia Products in third according to Theunis van der Merwe, the marketing coordinator at launch lab
Axaitech also received the Alphawave Tech Entrepreneur Prize at the event according to van der Merwe.
The need for this showcase
The candidates who qualified for the showcase had to pitch their ideas or businesses to a panel of judges, according to Kotze.
The winners of the Science Idea and Startup Showcase of 2021, run by the Stellenbosch University LaunchLab, in both the existing business and ideas category. INFOGRAPHIC: Wessel Krige
“The harsh truth is that ‘African science entrepreneur’ are not three words that are often heard or read together. But from what we do every day, the SU LaunchLab, SU science faculty and Alphawave know that there are many awesome science entrepreneurs on our continent who are operating businesses or nurturing ideas that have the potential to be world-shaping,” said Kotze. “You have to look no further than our showcase finalists to see that.”
The competition also served as a good space in which to network, according to Munir Zaad, a representative of BioMec. The company recycles plastic residuals in the ocean to create high-performance prosthetics, he said.
“[The showcase] allowed us to connect with like-minded people, exposition, and [was an] opportunity to be part of the Silicon Valley of South Africa,” said Zaad.
The Stellenbosch University faculty of science played a significant role in the success of the Science Idea and Startup Showcase of 2021, according to Leana Kotze, an incubation and project manager at LaunchLab. PHOTO: Wessel Krige
Kotze told MatieMedia that the LaunchLab is achieving their goals, and vows to continue helping new businesses and ideas.
“Africa and South Africa, in particular, still have a long way to go towards encouraging entrepreneurship in our youth, and creating the environment where such entrepreneurship can flourish,” said Kotze. “SU LaunchLab and all of our partners are committed to being at the heart of this transformation, and will continue to do whatever we can to transform the seemingly impossible into world-shaping.”
This article has been updated on 4 October 2021 to include the winners of the idea category of the competition as well as the winner of the Alphawave Tech Entrepreneur Prize.