The Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme, in partnership with the French Embassy in South Africa and Universities South Africa (USAf), is proud to announce a new collaboration with Stellenbosch University’s (SU) LaunchLab, one of Africa’s leading university-based incubators.
This exciting partnership will see SU LaunchLab deliver a virtual incubation programme for the four winning student-led startups of the introductory French/EDHE Artificial Intelligence and Blue-Tech Entrepreneurship Challenge. The programme, running from May to August 2025, aims to transform early-stage innovations into viable, market-ready businesses.
SU LaunchLab brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record to the partnership. Currently supporting a portfolio of 32 companies, LaunchLab has played a significant role in shaping South Africa’s startup ecosystem. Its alumni have generated over R700 million in revenue in 2024 alone and attracted more than R800 million in investment since 2015. The incubator is also known for its deep commitment to nurturing student entrepreneurship and driving innovation across disciplines.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the four student entrepreneurs to benefit from a world-class incubation experience tailored to the South African context,” said Mr Brandon Paschal, the Deputy Director: Spin-out Companies and Funds at Stellenbosch University, and the manager of SU LaunchLab. “We are excited that these promising businesses in AI and Blue Tech will now have access to incubation support, mentorship, and investment readiness training – all led by experts at SU LaunchLab.”
“Partnering with SU Launchlab represents a pivotal step in advancing our vision to nurture entrepreneurial talent within our universities,” says Dr Edwell Gumbo, Director of Entrepreneurship at Universities South Africa (USAf). “Through this incubation programme, we are not only empowering student innovators to transform bold ideas into viable ventures, but also laying the foundation for a more dynamic and inclusive innovation ecosystem. These studentpreneurs reflect the immense potential within our institutions and with the right support, they will become catalysts for meaningful change in our society. We are proud to be part of their journey”
The French/EDHE AI and Blue-Tech Challenge was launched to encourage entrepreneurship in two key areas: Artificial Intelligence and Blue Tech, which refers to technology designed to protect and sustainably develop ocean and water-based ecosystems. The incubation programme will expose the winning teams to leading frameworks such as the Blue Ocean Strategy, guide them through MVP development, and connect them to local and international innovation networks.
With Stellenbosch University LaunchLab at the helm, the future is bright for the following young innovators; in the AI Category: Liyema Swartbooi representing Gaianova, from Sol Plaatjie University, Pearly Joubert representing NuFlo from the University of Cape Town, and Sachin Mohan representing Shinrin Ai, from the University of the Witwatersrand. In the Blue Tech Category: Kerrisha Reddy representing JellyPine Orbs from the University of South Africa, as they take their solutions from concept to reality – and beyond.
We look forward to witnessing the next big breakthroughs from these student-led companies.