Accords signed by LaunchLab incubator to link SA, French startups

Stellenbosch University startup incubator LaunchLab has signed agreements with two French organisations that will help link SA and French startups.

The incubator said in a statement yesterday (21 May) that it had signed deals with French science and technology park Bordeaux Technowest and a wine industry cluster Inno’vin based in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France.

Bordeaux Technowest currently supports more than 50 startups across the aerospace, space, defence eco-activities, smart city, smart building and real estate verticals. The techno park also aims to promote international development of French startups from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

LaunchLab said it’s the first agreement of this nature that the incubator has signed with another European incubator

Inno’vin supports innovative projects and solutions in the wine industry.

In a statement yesterday, LaunchLab said its partnership with Bordeaux Technowest will help establish communities of practice to study and share innovative services, business models, as well as participation in events and conferences for business development.

In addition, the partnership will also develop contacts that will encourage international exchange and soft-landings of French and SA startups.

The two organisations will also promote collaborative technology projects by supporting startups in finding partners, markets and funding.

“Furthermore, it will provide advice on business strategy, hosting companies within our respective locations, and support for international events,” stated LaunchLab.

LaunchLab said the partnership will encourage the establishment of startups through partner support and business development in South Africa and France.

The deal will provide access to what LaunchLab described as a “high-tech research-based innovation pipeline” that the two organisations can leverage to add value to their respective stakeholders and partners.

“This is the first agreement of this nature that we have signed with another European incubator, but will definitely not be the last.

“LaunchLab has several relationships with other partners in Europe that are eager to receive the university spin-outs and high-tech startups that we are currently supporting,” added the incubator.

The incubator pointed out that more than 35% of its current incubatees are working on applications or solutions in the agriculture sector.

This, LaunchLab said, will make the partnership with Bordeaux Technowest valuable for international opportunities for many of its companies.

Featured image: Representatives of LauncLab, The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), Inno’vin and Bordeaux Technowest at the signing ceremony, including Stellenbosch University’s Albert Strever, Seda CEO Mandisa Tshikwatamba, Inno’vin’s Gilles Brianceau and Bordeaux Technowest’s Marc Augustin (Supplied)