SU LaunchPod

Can a conversation with ChatGPT become the starting point for a startup?
In this episode of LaunchPod, Tumelo Mokoena, founder of SafeGuard Technologies (Pty) Ltd, shares how an idea inspired by a YouTube video and the realities of rising crime in Stellenbosch evolved into a venture developing drone-enabled security solutions. Join us as we discuss entrepreneurship, innovation, and the journey from curiosity to building a business with real-world impact.
🎙️ This LaunchPod episode is powered by SU LaunchLab, in partnership with Stellenbosch Network, and supported by Stellenbosch Municipality.

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 partners with organisations that provide safe, facilitated learning spaces, ensuring that rather than chasing 10 000 users, it makes a deeply meaningful difference in the lives of the 1 600 learners already on its platform by knowing their names and their stories.
The episode is hosted by Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab in partnership with Stellenbosch Network and supported by Stellenbosch Municipality.

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 never be a privilege, and how NAVU uses smart engineering, local manufacturing, and user-centred design to create a prosthetic knee that is ten times cheaper than imported alternatives without compromising on functionality, safety, or a natural gait.
Amo also shares her unconventional path from mechanical engineering and operations to founding the venture along with the origins of NAVU and the challenges of scaling affordable prosthetics across markets where public healthcare is underfunded and private options are out of reach for most.
A must-listen for anyone interested in medtech innovation, inclusive design, health equity, deep-tech entrepreneurship, or the future of accessible healthcare in Africa.

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 unpack what geospatial data really is, why understanding where things happen matters just as much as what happens, and how GeoSmart uses terrain, climate, and historical data to model flood risk, inform insurance pricing, guide land-use decisions, and ultimately help save lives.
Adriaan also shares his unconventional path which took him from art and computer science to academia and entrepreneurship - along with the origins of GeoSmart, the creation of South Africa’s digital elevation model (SUDEM), and the challenges of scaling geospatial products across Africa where data availability is uneven.
A must-listen for anyone interested in climate risk, data-driven decision-making, deep tech spinouts, or the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship.

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 before they’re built, saving years of development time and millions in costs. From explaining what quantum computers can realistically do for society, to why they’ll never sit on your desk, Coenrad makes an intimidating field surprisingly accessible.
The conversation traces his journey from postgraduate research in superconducting electronics, through the early (and premature) NeoCAD venture in the late 2000s, to spinning out Sun Magnetics in 2015 at exactly the right moment when global demand for quantum tools began to accelerate. Along the way, he reflects on patience, timing, market pull, and why Sun Magnetics deliberately chose a slower, revenue-driven growth path rather than chasing early venture capital.
Coenrad also dives into Sun Magnetics’ flagship tools and explains how they help quantum engineers design, simulate, and verify circuits that operate at temperatures close to absolute zero.
A must-listen for academic founders, deep-tech entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about how South African-born innovation is quietly shaping the future of global quantum computing.

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 vineyard scientist to climate-tech entrepreneur, and how partnering with Innovus Technology Transfer Office and Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab helped her transform a flagship research project into a data-driven SU spinout. Learn how Terraclim’s unique integrated data resources are changing how farmers understand risk, and why field-level insights are the first step to global impact.
🎧 Listen in to hear how one researcher’s determination is helping to safeguard the future of farming.

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 power of networks helped shape a thriving regional innovation ecosystem.
Discover how Stellenbosch Network and LaunchLab work hand in hand to bridge the gap between university talent, local entrepreneurs, and industry opportunity - and how this collaboration continues to support a diverse community of innovators in Stellenbosch, from students to local business owners, creating real impact through mentorship, industry connections, and initiatives that strengthen the town’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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 lessons of the past decade and the opportunities that lie ahead, he reflects on the unique role LaunchLab plays in advancing research commercialisation, growing South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and positioning university spinouts for global relevance.

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 innovation, opportunity, and sustainable growth. From spinout companies to groundbreaking research commercialisation, Anita and Brandon share lessons learned, success stories, and their vision for the next decade of impact.

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 unpack the complexities of founding a company as researchers with no entrepreneurial experience.