Launchlab

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 n

amed 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

Last night, we partnered with Stellenbosch Network to host ๐…๐š๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ โ€“ an honest, unfiltered conversation about the mes...
29/05/2026

Last night, we partnered with Stellenbosch Network to host ๐…๐š๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ โ€“ an honest, unfiltered conversation about the messy realities of entrepreneurship.

๐Ž๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐š๐ค๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐ก๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž๐ข๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ:
โ€ข Henk van der Merwe, Founder of ๐‹๐ž๐ค๐ค๐ž๐…๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ก, now Business Lead at PropConnex and Real Estate Investment Specialist at eXp Realty โ€“ had to shut his business down completely.

โ€ข Craig Rivett, Founder of Namola and Inqaku FC, now leading GritCargo โ€“ had to sell his business to a new owner.

Moderated by Maambele khosa, Founder of SheCab, Forbes Africa 30 Under 30, Head of Communications at CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation at Stellenbosch University, they shared hard-earned lessons on what happens when things donโ€™t go according to plan.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐›๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐š๐ค๐ž๐š๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ?
Neither of them stopped. Theyโ€™re building again. Because failure isnโ€™t the end โ€“ itโ€™s a chapter, not the whole story.

We're bringing back Fail Night. ๐Ÿ”ฅNo highlight reels. No fluff. Just real stories from founders who've been through the f...
20/05/2026

We're bringing back Fail Night. ๐Ÿ”ฅ

No highlight reels. No fluff. Just real stories from founders who've been through the fire.

On Thursday 28 May 2026, join us at Launchlab with Stellenbosch Network for an honest conversation about the pivots, the breakdowns, and the breakthroughs.

Panelists:
Henk van der Merwe (PropConnex)
Craig Rivett (GritCargo)

Moderator:
Maambele Khosa (SheCab, Forbes 30 Under 30)

๐Ÿ“ LaunchLab, Stellenbosch
๐Ÿ•” 16:30 for 17:00
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ R80 (incl. light snacks & drinks)

Tag a founder who needs to attend this.

๐–๐ž ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐‹๐ˆ๐•๐„!The event is officially underway and you donโ€™t want to miss out!Comprising, government representatives, fo...
16/04/2026

๐–๐ž ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐‹๐ˆ๐•๐„!

The event is officially underway and you donโ€™t want to miss out!
Comprising, government representatives, founders, academia and funders, this event is where agritech startups move from "what if" to "what's next."

Weโ€™re talking real innovations with real traction, real connections, and real pathways to market.

๐Ž๐ง ๐š ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ž, ๐€๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ž๐œ๐ก ๐ˆ๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ž๐ง๐ ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ซ ๐š๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐’๐Ž๐Ž๐!

Yesterday, we hosted for a ๐ฆ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐œ๐ฅ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ on one of the most feared and most valuable skills out there: ๐๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ข๐œ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ .T...
10/04/2026

Yesterday, we hosted for a ๐ฆ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐œ๐ฅ๐š๐ฌ๐ฌ on one of the most feared and most valuable skills out there: ๐๐ฎ๐›๐ฅ๐ข๐œ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ .

The event brought together students, founders, team leads and colleagues across different industries to tackle the #1 fear most of us share: ๐’๐ฉ๐ž๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ž๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž.

Thabani did not just talk about the nerves, he gave practical tools to manage them, stop our minds from going blank, and connect when it matters most.

A huge thank you to everyone who showed up, asked brilliant questions, and shared so openly.
And to Thabani, thank you for your honesty, your journey, and the inspiration to stop waiting and start stepping up.
Because getting started really is the hardest step.

If you were there, drop a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway. If you missed it, don't worry. ๐“๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐›๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ !

Whether you're pitching to investors or presenting to your team, confidence changes everything.At Launchlab, we work wit...
07/04/2026

Whether you're pitching to investors or presenting to your team, confidence changes everything.

At Launchlab, we work with business ventures, but we know this truth applies to everyone: public speaking is often called the world's greatest fear. And yet, it's one of the most valuable skills you can build. It gives you the ability to connect with colleagues, influence teams, and communicate with clarity, whether you're in a boardroom, a pitch competition, or a team meeting.

Join Thabani Mtsi for a masterclass designed to help you:
- Overcome fear and stop your mind from going blank
- Understand what happens under pressure
- Learn simple, practical tools to manage nerves and speak with confidence

Date: 9 April 2026
Location: Launchlab, 11 Hammandshand Rd
Time: 16:30 โ€“ 19:00
RSVP Now: https://airtable.com/appo3Hs19zfZdqnYY/shrXYhKbcjxocL1tU

Whether you are a founder, team lead, or colleague, don't let fear hold you back.

It is with great honour to celebrate four of Stellenbosch Universityโ€™s startups: Thallo, ReSurfify, StelliesKos, and Uro...
30/03/2026

It is with great honour to celebrate four of Stellenbosch Universityโ€™s startups: Thallo, ReSurfify, StelliesKos, and Urobo Biotech for their outstanding recognition at the recent Student Entrepreneur Recognition Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Western Cape Governmentโ€™s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT).

Dominique Rocher and Wessel Myburgh from Urobo Biotech took the stage to accept a certificate of recognition for their achievements as a student-led venture and their meaningful contribution to innovation in our regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Andre David Valkenburg from ReSurfify, Abigail Grace Larsen from Thallo as well as Tsundzuka Mnisi and David Mwangi from StelliesKos received certificates for their outstanding participation, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated during the 2025 Student Entrepreneurship Competitions.

A huge thank you to DEDATโ€™s Enterprise Development Unit for spotlighting the exceptional talent emerging from our universities, TVET colleges, and technical institutions.

Events like these remind us why we do what we do at the LaunchLab: to support visionary founders in turning bold ideas into thriving ventures.

๐Ÿš€ LaunchLab Entrepreneurship Bootcamp - Registrations Open!Bring your knowledge, creativity, and perspective, and combin...
17/03/2026

๐Ÿš€ LaunchLab Entrepreneurship Bootcamp - Registrations Open!

Bring your knowledge, creativity, and perspective, and combine your skills to create real AgriTech solutions that matter.

๐Ÿ“… 30 & 31 March 2026
๐Ÿ•ฃ 08:30 - 17:00 daily
๐Ÿ“ Room 1015, 1st Year Chemistry Building, Stellenbosch
๐Ÿ“ Arrival & registration: 08:00 on Day 1

Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students from:
โ€ข Science
โ€ข AgriSciences
โ€ข Economic & Management Sciences

๐Ÿ’ก Work in multidisciplinary teams
๐Ÿ’ก Solve real-world AgriTech challenges
๐Ÿ’ก Turn ideas into viable opportunities

No prior experience needed โ€“ just curiosity and motivation.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Register now: https://l1nq.com/moFQL
๐Ÿ‘‰ Or scan the QR code on the poster

โœจ SWEEP Sisterhood: The Power of Becoming โœจOn Saturday, we welcomed female students from Stellenbosch University into a ...
02/03/2026

โœจ SWEEP Sisterhood: The Power of Becoming โœจ

On Saturday, we welcomed female students from Stellenbosch University into a powerful space of reflection, courage and growth.

Our panelist, Maambele khosa, Noku Katom and Amohetsoe Shale, reminded us that a business doesnโ€™t begin when itโ€™s registered, but when you believe you are capable of building it.

Some key takeaways:
๐Ÿ’› You are never behind, you are on your own timeline.
๐Ÿ’› Know your why, it will sustain you.
๐Ÿ’› Growth is uncomfortable; thatโ€™s often your cue to evolve.
๐Ÿ’› Self-love, forgiveness, and boundaries are essential.
๐Ÿ’› Not all โ€œexposureโ€ is growth; know your value.

Our Vision Mapping breakout session helped students turn reflection into action, identifying what they want to step into and how to move forward intentionally.

Thank you to our sponsors, Prof. Sibusiso Moyo, Matie Shop, Spur, Computer Mania, and ButtaNutt, and to our incredible SWEEP & MatiePreneurs Committee for making this impactful event possible. ๐Ÿ’ซ

Last night we hosted the Hult Prize South Africa Campus Round at LaunchLab, and what an inspiring evening it was. ๐Ÿš€ Six ...
27/02/2026

Last night we hosted the Hult Prize South Africa Campus Round at LaunchLab, and what an inspiring evening it was. ๐Ÿš€

Six ambitious student teams pitched their ventures, each tackling real and pressing challenges with bold, innovative solutions. The energy in the room truly reflected what the Hult Prize stands for: student-led startups building scalable, sustainable businesses that create measurable social impact.

We are proud to announce our Top 3 teams:
๐Ÿš€ NAVU Mobility
๐ŸŒ Resurfify
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ SafeGuard Technologies

These teams impressed our judges by clearly articulating the problem, presenting viable and scalable business models, and demonstrating strong potential for sustainable impact.

A sincere thank you to our judges for your time, insight, and thoughtful engagement. Your questions and feedback added real value to the teamsโ€™ experience and growth.

Congratulations to all six teams who stepped up and pitched. The courage, preparation, and purpose shown last night were exceptional.

We wish our top three the very best as they continue their Hult Prize journey, we are behind you all the way. ๐Ÿ’› ๐ŸŒŸ

๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Tune in tonight!Join us on Maties FM at 21:30 as our SWEEP Chair, Ontiretse, goes live to chat about:โœจ Our upcoming S...
19/02/2026

๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Tune in tonight!

Join us on Maties FM at 21:30 as our SWEEP Chair, Ontiretse, goes live to chat about:

โœจ Our upcoming SWEEP event
โœจ What SWEEP is all about
โœจ Why you should join the SWEEP Chapter

If youโ€™re a woman student at SU curious about entrepreneurship, community and growth, this oneโ€™s for you ๐Ÿ’ซ

Donโ€™t miss it. Set your reminder and tune in at 21:30 on Maties FM! https://mfm.co.za/

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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