Newly launched Stellenbosch Network aims to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs

A new organisation aims to bring Stellenbosch based innovators together to meet, share ideas and encourage collaboration and partnership in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Stellenbosch Network, which was launched earlier this month at Stellenbosch University’s technology transfer office Innovus, aims to bring together business, academia, entrepreneurs and local government in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. This, according to Innovus’s latest newsletter.

“We believe The Stellenbosch Network will add that final, but crucial, ingredients to complete the value chain for a knowledge region economy to thrive in Stellenbosch,” Anita Nel, chief director of innovation and business development at Stellenbosch University, is quoted as saying in the newsletter during the launch of the network on 6 November.

Nel believes that the Stellenbosch Network will improve the sharing of ideas between sectors by letting them interact, cooperate and co-create.

“This creates a unique ecosystem and perfect breeding ground for companies, entrepreneurs, investors and international talent,” she said.

Membership fees range for Stellenbosch Network range from R500 to R10k

Speaking at the launch event, hosted by Innovus, former public protector Thuli Madonsela congratulated the conveners of the network for the initiative.

Madonsela is the current chair in social justice at the university’s Faculty of Law,

The founding members of the Network are Stellenbosch University, tech company Entersekt, Remgro Limited, Capitec, Winetech, Wesgro, Nedbank and the CSIR’s Technology Localisation Implementation Unit (TLIU), funded by the Department of Science and Innovation.

Key partners are Innovus, Stellenbosch Municipality, Ranyaka and the LaunchLab incubator. The Network is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation.

The network plans to host regular events including business breakfasts, a lecture series, pitching dens and hackathons. It also aims to host mentorship matchmaking events.

Membership fees range from R500 to R10 000.

Featured image: TeroVesalainen via Pixabay