Launchlab

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Launchlab SU LaunchLab is a business builder located in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The SU LaunchLab supports the Stellenbosch University entrepreneurial community (researchers, students, and alumni) to grow impactful, sustainable, and profitable businesses, and curates access to market and funding opportunities It works with Pan-African startups from idea stage to Series A in its ClimateLab and University StartupLab programs. It also facilitates a early stage validator program named Countdown and various Data Science & Entrepreneurship bootcamps. Our other social accounts:
Twitter: http://bit.ly/16C6xX8
GooglePlus: http://bit.ly/16C6nPn
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/16WeJxQ
Youtube: http://bit.ly/16C6KJZ

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 | 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐏𝐨𝐝 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 13 𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄!In this episode of LaunchPod, host Brandon Paschal, Deputy Director: Sp...
13/10/2026

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 | 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐏𝐨𝐝 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 13 𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄!

In this episode of LaunchPod, host Brandon Paschal, Deputy Director: Spinout Companies and Funds at Stellenbosch University and Head of SU LaunchLab, sits down with Dominique Rocher and Dr Wessel Myburgh, co-founders of Urobo Biotech.

From navigating the transition from scientists to entrepreneurs to learning how to pitch their innovation beyond the scientific community, they share insights into what it really takes to turn research into a business with real-world impact.

𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐔 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐋𝐚𝐛'𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬:

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞: https://youtu.be/5zaBppjGxfs

𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲, 𝐏𝐨𝐝b𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬: https://jmenon.podbean.com/

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘗𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘜 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘓𝘢𝘣, 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘩 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘩 𝘔𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Stellenbosch Network Stellenbosch Municipality

12/10/2026

How do you turn groundbreaking scientific research into a business that people understand, believe in and want to support?

For the co-founders of Urobo Biotech, a Stellenbosch University spin-out pioneering enzyme-based solutions to tackle plastic pollution, one of the biggest lessons has been learning how to communicate complex science in a way that resonates beyond the laboratory.

On Episode 13 of the 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐏𝐨𝐝, Dominique Rocher and Dr Wessel Myburgh, co-founders of Urobo Biotech take us through their journey from scientists to entrepreneurs, the lessons learned along the way and what it takes to translate innovative research into real-world impact.

🎙️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖, 13 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 2026! 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘗𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘜 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘓𝘢𝘣, 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘩 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘩 𝘔𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Stellenbosch Network Stellenbosch Municipality

MatiePreneurs at the Student Entrepreneurship Indaba!The MatiePreneur Chair, Jabulani Mupawose, Stellenbosch University ...
06/10/2026

MatiePreneurs at the Student Entrepreneurship Indaba!

The MatiePreneur Chair, Jabulani Mupawose, Stellenbosch University SWEEP Chapter Secretary, Luthando Languza and Mogomotsi Ledwaba, Enactus Executive recently represented the MatiePreneurs Committee at the Student Entrepreneurship Indaba in Johannesburg, joining more than 300 student entrepreneurs and leaders from universities across South Africa.

The Indaba provided an exciting national platform for learning, networking and exchanging ideas, while connecting our SU student leaders with the broader student entrepreneurship ecosystem.

It was also great to see Amohetsoe Shale, 2025 Woman Student Entrepreneur of the Year, invited as a special guest and speaker, sharing her entrepreneurial journey and insights with students from across the country.

A great opportunity to connect, learn and continue growing the entrepreneurial spirit at Stellenbosch University!

Calling all entrepreneurs and innovators!The Stellenbosch Startup Showcase is back — creating a platform for entrepreneu...
06/10/2026

Calling all entrepreneurs and innovators!

The Stellenbosch Startup Showcase is back — creating a platform for entrepreneurs to put their businesses in the spotlight, connect with the ecosystem and unlock new opportunities.
At SU LaunchLab, we help entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into impactful, sustainable businesses through incubation, business development and access to market and funding opportunities.

Whether you’re looking to showcase your venture, meet potential partners or discover the next generation of startups, this is an opportunity to connect with Stellenbosch’s growing entrepreneurial community.

Register to attend or showcase your business: https://airtable.com/appo3Hs19zfZdqnYY/shrvUu8rlLRgXAaCl

What would it take for your idea, your lab or your clinical problem to travel all the way to impact?Her keynote explored...
17/09/2026

What would it take for your idea, your lab or your clinical problem to travel all the way to impact?

Her keynote explored the “missing middle” between identifying a healthcare challenge and successfully translating an idea into a solution.

Funding, technical expertise, entrepreneurial support and the right connections all matter.

That is why bringing researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem partners into the same room is so important.

Today is about building those connections — and strengthening the pathways that can help African health innovations reach the world.

LaunchLab’s Head and Deputy Director: Spinout Companies and Funds, Brandon Paschal, took the audience through innovatio...
13/09/2026

LaunchLab’s Head and Deputy Director: Spinout Companies and Funds, Brandon Paschal, took the audience through innovations born from Stellenbosch University and the journey of turning research into new ventures at the Meet Stellenbosch in Hazendal W**e Estate. Today, 44 spinout companies have emerged from the University’s research capabilities – an exciting reflection of what is possible when research, entrepreneurship and the right support come together.

The event also featured welcoming remarks from Prof Nicola Smit, Acting COO and CFO of Stellenbosch University, alongside conversations on artificial intelligence, the green economy, innovation, tourism and doing business in Stellenbosch.

ReSurfify won the regional cash prize at the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge for Southern Africa! By transforming veg...
12/09/2026

ReSurfify won the regional cash prize at the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge for Southern Africa!

By transforming vegetable oil refinery waste into high-performance biosurfactants, ReSurfify is helping make sustainable ingredients more accessible at scale.

Proud to support green innovation from Southern Africa!

On 9 September, SU Launchlab hosted its Healthtech Demo Day, showcasing an exciting range of innovations emerging across...
11/09/2026

On 9 September, SU Launchlab hosted its Healthtech Demo Day, showcasing an exciting range of innovations emerging across health, life sciences and animal health.

We heard pitches ranging from animal skincare and new approaches to high-throughput sample processing, to AI-powered analytics for imaging flow cytometry in clinical, pathology and academic laboratory environments.

The event was about more than pitching. It provided an opportunity for innovators to share what they are building, receive valuable input and connect with others across the healthtech ecosystem.

Thank you to Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation and the Africa Stars Fellows, The University of the Western Cape TTO, University of Cape Town and OneBio for joining the event and adding to a fantastic afternoon of innovation, conversation and connection.

We look forward to following the journeys of the teams who took the stage!

The cohort included:
- Chadash Enterprises: Pet skincare products using rooibos and other indigenous plant knowledge
- Southern Edge Bio: Systems that automate sample processing to simplify and reduce the cost of trials
- FynSigBiotech: High accuracy cell cytometry technology
- Mediclaim: Platform for ensuring that medical aid claims are not rejected
- Heath: Female microbiome health diagnostics
- OuNooi: Food products that encourage longevity in pets

Cape HealthTech Connect 2026Great health innovations need more than great ideas. They need entrepreneurs, researchers, i...
02/09/2026

Cape HealthTech Connect 2026

Great health innovations need more than great ideas. They need entrepreneurs, researchers, industry, investors and the right connections to move them forward.

Cape HealthTech Connect is bringing that ecosystem together — and SU Launchlab is excited to be part of it!

Whether you’re building a HealthTech solution, exploring an idea or looking for the people who can help take innovation further, come join the conversation.

👉 Find out more and register: https://www.radi.co.za/events/cape-healthtech-connect-2026-c79ebec3

Stellenbosch Network | Innovus Technology Transfer

🎙️ A new episode of LaunchPod is out!Meet Tom Murray and Kyle Klopper, founders of Biotrac Systems, who are rethinking m...
02/09/2026

🎙️ A new episode of LaunchPod is out!

Meet Tom Murray and Kyle Klopper, founders of Biotrac Systems, who are rethinking microbial monitoring through smarter, real-time approaches.

In conversation with host Brandon Paschal, they unpack the problem they are tackling, the thinking behind their technology and what their journey has been like building Biotrac Systems from Stellenbosch.

The episode is brought to you by SU LaunchLab, in partnership with Stellenbosch Network and supported by Stellenbosch Municipality.

🎧 Episode 12 is now available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
- Spotify and Apple Podcasts: https://jmenon.podbean.com/
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/uo7sG0CVPpg

Address

Hammanshand Road
Stellenbosch
7600

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27218089494

Website

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