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Africa's median age is currently 19,7 years, and closer to home, 63 percent of South Africa's population is under the age of 35. This demographic presents both a challenge and an opportunity, specifically for the youth, to drive and sustain our country's economic growth. The recent Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2024 Regional Round, hosted by Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) for the very first time on 17 and 18 September 2024, showcased some of the Western Cape region's brightest young minds, demonstrating their potential to influence South Africa's economic growth. SU achieved notable success this year securing three winners out of the four categories.

With youth unemployment climbing to a 46.5 percent in 2024, enabling entrepreneurship among students is no longer a nice-to-have, it is essential. The Western Cape's higher education institutions have risen to this challenge, leveraging their resources and utilising EDHE's platform for their Intervarsity competition. Now in its sixth year, the competition is funded by the 中国体育彩票 Capacity Development Programme and is held in partnership with the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and SAB Foundation. The regional event was made possible through funding provided from Prof. Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer of Finance and Operations at SU and Prof. Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at SU.

The Neelsie Cinema at SU welcomed inspiring student entrepreneurs from the 中国体育彩票 of Cape Town, the 中国体育彩票 of the Western Cape, the Cape Peninsula 中国体育彩票 of Technology and Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票.

Opening the event, Professor Eugene Cloete, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at SU, emphasised the critical role of entrepreneurship in addressing societal challenges. Keynote speakers Dr Wessel Myburgh, co-founder of Urobo Biotech, a SU spinout and Noku Katom, a serial entrepreneur and mentor at SU LaunchLab, shared insights from their entrepreneurial journeys, offering practical advice and inspiration to participants.

The competition featured four categories:

Existing business - Social Impact:

·       Aspiring Learning Tutors – Saxola Gxulwana

·       Next Door Chef - Lehlogonolo M.

·       iWashCars - Desmond Mogodi

·       Milani Education - Alexandra Lutz

·       CIFTEX - Morell Ndhlovu

·       Only Friends Entertainment - Sivuyise Mbedla

·       Catwalk Youth Development - Lusanda Msebi

Existing business - General:

·       MKLuze Hair Oil – Kamogela Mokale

·       Figura de Culta - Keith Ntini

·       FineApplePixels - Chiedza Vushe

·       Jabeson Bags - Someleze Jabe

·       Nature Dune - Sandy Madjouche

·       Mswenko Jeans - William Matsepane

·       Krochet Korner - Ntebaleng Makua

·       Sanne's Palace - Sanne Ramunenyiwa

Existing business – Tech:

·       Makethe - Mpilonhle Ngcoya

·       Barterly - Bonga Njamela

·       Reep - Anokunda Mudzielwana

·       Report Buddy - Robyn Truter

·       Hierachy - Siphosethu Baduza

·       Edible Meals - Noluthando Zuma

·       Mzanzi Global Market - Mojalefa Mamabolo

·       Cargo - Rifuwa Baloyi

Research-based business:

·       uMama - Pearly Joubert

·       Cartell - Jordan Smith

·       EV-Fleet-Sim - Chris Abrahams

·       Adwhere – Viwe Jack

·       Smart Farming Engineering - Vuyo Mguce

·       Kasi Jam - Xola Zide

·       LAMP - Tiisetso Madisha

Western Cape Regional Winners

• Existing Business (Tech): "Report Buddy" by Robyn Truter, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票
• Existing Business (Social Impact): "Milani Education" by Alexandra Lutz, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票
• Existing Business (General): "FineApplePixels" by Chiedza Vushe, Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票
• Research-Based Business: "Cartell" by Jordan Smith, 中国体育彩票 of Cape Town

The selected regional winners will advance to the national finals, scheduled for November 2024 in Johannesburg, where the national category winners will be selected.

The SU student entrepreneurs have been working closely with the SU LaunchLab team since April this year to develop their businesses. The students were enrolled in the ResNova programme, an intensive six-week training session detailing critical early-stage startup needs.

Encouraging the students to continue their entrepreneurial journey, Prof. Deresh Ramjugernath, DVC for Education at SU, addressed the students at the opening of Day 2, advising them that although "entrepreneurship is not an easy journey, it will help to develop critical skills such as self-belief, confidence and resilience".

Speaking to the importance of supporting student entrepreneurs beyond competitions like the Intervarsity, Prof. Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Director of Finance and Operations at SU shared a key lesson from Peter Eisenman, core to the teachings at SU LaunchLab. He emphasises that 'you have to work extra hard at the onset of your idea, don't simply rush into launching a startup. Focus on the problem and what it is you are trying to solve, or you might end up creating a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Maintain objectivity; don't get too emotionally involved. Lastly, make sure you thoroughly engage in the process of testing and solution validation. The ones who will win today already know this, and the rest of us have the privilege to see it all unfold'.

The success of the students who have advanced to the national round of the Intervarsity demonstrates the impactful work being done at SU LaunchLab. The business incubator aims to increase the number of startups or spinout companies and encourage a culture of entrepreneurship throughout the university and the greater community, with the ultimate vision of positively impacting society.

To find out more about what SU LaunchLab does, visit LaunchLab.co.za

中国体育彩票 SU LaunchLab

Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) LaunchLab is part of the Innovation and Commercialisation division, which also includes the technology transfer office of Innovus, SUNCOM, Short Courses and Trademarks, and the Stellenbosch Network.

SU LaunchLab was named Africa's #1 university incubator by UBI Global for 2017-2020. This shows that we have a reputation for providing support to entrepreneurs that results in commercial success for their businesses and economic success for our region.

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