20 South African startups get coached by Venturelab during a three-day online workshop

05.10.2020 08:00, Nicolas Briner

Twenty South African startups participated in a three-day Venturelab workshop that focused on developing a successful company. As part of the Venture Leaders South Africa program, 10 Swiss startups joined for one day of best-practices exchange.

The South African Advanced Workshop offered 20 South African startups the opportunity to get coaching by Jordi Montserrat, co-founder and managing partner of Venturelab, and Nanci Govinder, startup advisor and trainer at Venturelab. The workshop covered important topics to launch a startup, such as delivering unique customer value or building a strong team.  



Besides the coaching, 10 South African and 10 Swiss startups took part in the SA Innovation Summit’s Switzerland vs. South Africa Pitch Battle. The SA Innovation Summit is the largest startup event in Africa and offers entrepreneurs the perfect opportunity to present their companies in front of South Africa’s innovation ecosystem.  
 
On the last day, startups went through a rigorous pitch coaching workshop to better structure their presentation ahead of the jury session. After a full day of pitching, 10 South African startups were selected to travel to Switzerland in early 2021 to further explore local business opportunities. 
 
Congratulations to the 10 selected startups! 

CONAT: Contre Asset Tracking is an electronic device installed in an asset to enable the owner or a third party to track the assets location in real-time.

EcoDiesel: South Africa needs an alternative energy source that is efficient, recycles waste, and takes care of our environment. EcoDiesel, a women-owned company, believes the solution is biodiesel.

Mwari Delivery: Based on your volume, our free shipping will save our clients’ money in a 50 km radius from our office in Midrand to meet SMMEs half way.

Nosetsa: Nosetsa is a digital water-use-efficiency add-on for existing and new water emitting equipment that is used in agriculture and similar markets. 

Proceptworks (Pty) Ltd: The Sentian drone is a large scale aircraft capable of flying over 1,000 km non-stop at speeds of up to 300km/h while carrying a payload of 15 kg. This is the first of its kind designed and built in Africa (South Africa). 

Red Village Trading (Pty) Ltd: An intelligent automated 3D printer powered by AI and machine vision to alleviate the frustration of a long manufacturing production chain timeline.

Trove Clothing: Trove is an online marketplace that facilitates the buying, selling, and donating of second-hand clothing in South Africa. Trove’s users are given the opportunity to sell and purchase clothing items that were previously owned at a reasonable price or donate clothing items that they do not wish to sell.

TTICS Ferrochrome Pty (Ltd): Chrome recovery plants prove to be essential: They add value to our raw chrome ore, using less water and electricity. We at TTICS view the wash plant project as a stepping stone to build more capital to ultimately construct a furnace in the long term.

Weave Connect: Weave is an EdTech platform that aims to provide affordable access to mentors and education, helping women (15-39 years) to advance their careers and earning potential.

Ziningi Imbali Enterprises: Ziningi Imbali Enterprises have developed a solid pellet, which one drops into the toilet bowl before relieving themselves. The product traps, and therefore eliminates, the majority of the malodor below the surface of the water and masks the rest with pleasant odours.
 
The South African Advanced Workshop is part of the Swiss-South African Joint Research Programme and is supported by the following partners: the University of Basel, the Technology and Innovation Agency, and the Embassy of Switzerland to South Africa.