Global Entrepreneurship Leaders Gather in Cape Town to Rethink Entrepreneurial Support as Student Innovators Shine at ICEE 2026 Bootcamp Finale
Cape Town, South Africa | 25 April 2026
Entrepreneurs, researchers, ecosystem builders, policymakers and higher education leaders from around the world convened in Cape Town from 23 – 25 April 2026 for the 6th International Conference on the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (ICEE 2026) under the theme: “Rethinking Entrepreneurial Support: Towards Adaptive and Inclusive Models.” The conference explored how entrepreneurial ecosystems can evolve to better serve increasingly diverse entrepreneurial journeys and profiles.
Hosted through a collaboration between Université de Sherbrooke, University of Cape Town and the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education Programme, the conference created a platform for international dialogue on inclusive entrepreneurship, adaptive support systems, experiential learning and entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
A major highlight of the conference was the ICEE Entrepreneurial Bootcamp Grand Finale, which brought together 20 studentpreneur teams to pitch innovative ideas and early-stage ventures developed through an intensive entrepreneurship bootcamp.
The bootcamp culminated in a dynamic pitching competition where student entrepreneurs presented solutions addressing social, environmental and market challenges before a panel of ecosystem experts, business leaders and entrepreneurship practitioners.
Second place was awarded to ReSurfify, represented by CTO Jody Harvey – BSc Honours Microbiology student from Stellenbosch University. The coveted first prize of R 75 000 went to Malehu Charlote Mohale, a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery student from the University of Cape Town and founder of Early Bird Testimony Academy, in recognition of the venture’s innovation, potential impact and business viability.
from left to right: Mr Vusi Khumalo, Strategic Client Coverage: Old Mutual Winner, Prof Félix Zogning, Professor and ICEE Custodian: Université de Sherbrooke, Prof Simphiwe Dlamini, Associate Professor Marketing: UCT
The prize sponsorship reflected strong ecosystem support for emerging entrepreneurs and was made possible through contributions from the UCT Graduate School of Business, represented by Simphiwe Dlamini, and Old Mutual Western Cape, represented by Vusi Khumalo.
The bootcamp programme itself focused on practical venture-building capabilities designed specifically for early-stage entrepreneurs. Participants engaged in sessions facilitated by Dr Edwell Gumbo (right), Entrepreneurship Director, who led training on the Business Flow Canvas, enabling participants to strengthen their understanding of venture design, value creation and business modelling.
Entrepreneurship practitioner and facilitator Ntsiki Mkhize (left), facilitated sessions on Minimum Viable Product (MVP) design and pitching, equipping participants with tools to validate ideas, refine customer value propositions and communicate their ventures effectively to investors and stakeholders.
Speaking to the significance of the bootcamp, organisers noted that the initiative exemplified the conference theme by moving entrepreneurial support beyond traditional models and creating spaces where young innovators could access mentorship, practical learning and opportunities to accelerate their entrepreneurial journeys.
ICEE 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration among universities, ecosystem partners, funders, and industry in building entrepreneurial environments that are adaptive, inclusive, and responsive to emerging entrepreneurial realities. The conference highlighted youth entrepreneurship, differentiated support mechanisms, and experiential learning approaches as critical elements in shaping future entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Ms Khutso Moleko, Media and Marketing Officer, Universities South Africa (USAf)
Notes to Editors
About EDHE: The Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme was established in 2016 by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to strengthen entrepreneurship development within South African universities. Now implemented by Universities South Africa (USAf), EDHE supports the development of student entrepreneurs and aims to embed entrepreneurship across the higher education sector. The programme is funded through DHET’s University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP).