The Stellenbosch Startup Showcase returned to Stellenbosch University (SU) Launchlab on 30 October 2025. The event, co-hosted by LaunchLab and Stellenbosch Network, brought together local entrepreneurs, students and community leaders to pitch, exhibit and support local entrepreneurs who are solving local challenges.

With more than 20 exhibitors, the showcase highlighted the diversity of entrepreneurship within the Stellenbosch ecosystem, from drone technology, e-hailing services, fashion, prosthetics to recycling and upcycling ventures. It was a celebration of both high-tech ingenuity and ground-up, community-driven problem solving.

The event’s top prize went to SafeGuard Technologies (Pty) Ltd, founded by SU student-preneur Tumelo Mokoena, whose drone-based security solution is transforming community safety through rapid response and real-time monitoring.

“Winning the Stellenbosch Startup Showcase is a full-circle moment for me and for Safeguard Technologies. We started out as ‘Safeguard Stellies’, exploring a much broader concept before we refined our focus and became Safeguard Technologies. To look back and see how much we have achieved in just a year is incredible. This recognition shows that we have grown exponentially and that our vision is resonating with others,” said Tumelo.

Tumelo’s entrepreneurial journey started with winning the Stellenbosch Network Ideation Challenge (2024) to becoming a finalist in the 2025 EDHE Intervarsity Competition and Nedbank YouthX Top 10. His success demonstrates how the SU ecosystem continues to nurture local student innovators who have the potential to make a real-world impact.

The Stellenbosch Startup Showcase is more than just an event, it is a platform where entrepreneurs come together to learn, share and support each other. This year’s showcase was a reminder that entrepreneurship thrives when it is rooted in collaboration.

Through an ongoing partnership, Stellenbosch Network and SU Launchlab are creating spaces where innovation and entrepreneurship are not just ideas but is part of the everyday rhythm and language of our community.

Visit SU LaunchLab and Stellenbosch Network for more information.