SU LaunchPod

Hosted by Brandon Paschal, Head of the SU LaunchLab and Deputy Director of Spin-outs and Funds at Stellenbosch University, the episode is hosted with Alexandra Lutz, Founder of Milani Education, where she opens up about her realisation that chasing scale was not the answer, instead, she needed to zoom in and create tangible, in-person impact for a smaller number of students. Milani Education partn...

In this episode of the LaunchPod, Brandon Paschal sits down with Amohetsoe Shale, founder of NAVU Mobility. Amo takes us on a fascinating journey from identifying the profound gap in accessible prosthetics to building a low-cost, high-performance prosthetic knee that restores mobility and dignity to amputees across Africa. We unpack what truly affordable medtech looks like, why mobility should nev...

In this episode of the LaunchPod, Brandon Paschal sits down with Prof. Adriaan van Niekerk, founder and CEO of GeoSmart and one of South Africa’s pioneers in geospatial science. Adriaan takes us on a fascinating journey from early Geographic Information System (GIS) research at Stellenbosch University to building nationally significant datasets that help predict real-world risks like flooding. We...

In this episode of the LaunchPod, Brandon Paschal sits down with Coenrad Fourie, CEO of Stellenbosch University spinout, Sun Magnetics, to unpack one of the most complex and exciting frontiers of modern technology: quantum computing. Coenrad shares how Sun Magnetics enables quantum computers to actually work, by providing specialised engineering software that verifies superconducting circuits befo...

Dr Tara Southey, founder and CEO of Terraclim, turned a love for nature, wine, and research into a powerful climate data solution for agriculture. Born from over a decade of research and a frustration with the lack of accessible climate data, Terraclim is now helping farmers across South Africa adapt to climate change with precision and confidence.  In this episode, Tara shares her journey from vi...

Continuing Stellenbosch University LaunchLab’s 10-year anniversary reflections, the final installment of this mini-series features Hanli Brink, Operations Director of Stellenbosch Network. From linking students and startups to boardrooms at Remgro, to launching the Cape Connect industry events that bring together academia, government, and business. Hanli reflects on how a simple belief in the powe...

As Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab continues its 10-year anniversary reflections, this second installment of our special series features Brandon Paschal, Deputy Director of Spinouts and Funds. Brandon shares his journey of shaping LaunchLab’s spinout strategy - from nurturing early-stage ideas to securing funding and building companies that create real-world impact. With an eye on both the...

As Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab marks its 10-year anniversary, Anita Nel, Chief Director of Innovation and Commercialisation, and Brandon Paschal, Deputy Director of Spinouts and Funds, reflect on a decade of building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem at SU. In this special LaunchPod episode, they explore how universities can evolve beyond traditional roles, becoming engines for innov...

The founding story of Immobazyme is deeply rooted in connection, curiosity and a shared passion for science. Dominic Nicholas, Ethan Hunter and Nick Enslin, now co-founders of a groundbreaking biotech company, met during their Honours year at Stellenbosch University (SU), where they developed a shared interest in Biotechnology. Watch the full episode with Brandon Paschal, Dominic and Nick as they...

Established in late 2022, CEO of Fluorobiotech Dr Anton Du Preez van Staden, a molecular biologist with over a decade of experience working in the fields of microbiology and recombinant protein expression, joined forces with Co-Founder and COO of Fluorobiotech, Ross Vermeulen. Together, they have combined their scientific expertise with a drive to create commercial value that can address the chall...