SARAO celebrates graduation of African Science Entrepreneurship Class of 2026
The future of African tech has arrived. From 30 March to 2 April 2026 SARAO officially marked the completion of the 18-month African Science Entrepreneurship Program (ASEP).
This was in a powerful collaboration with the University of Leeds, the International Support Program Fund, a unit of the British Council, and the Empire Partner Foundation.
Held under the inspiring theme, African Solutions for African Challenges: Celebrating the African Science Entrepreneurship (ASE) Class of 2026, the three-day technology roadshow culminated in the graduation and product exhibition at the Misty Hills Country Hotel in Johannesburg. This served as a launchpad for the continent’s next generation of scientific pioneers.
The programme kicked off with a high-impact Masterclass in Leadership and Networking, where participants and beneficiaries of the ASEP program engaged with world-class entrepreneurs.
- Marlize Holzhausen, founder of Response24, shared her journey of turning a traumatic family event into a global emergency platform. She highlighted how strategic partnerships are the lifeblood of securing international funding.
- Dr. Bessie Malila from the University of Johannesburg explored the frontier of Telemedicine, urging future leaders to embrace AI to unlock new business opportunities in digital healthcare.
- Tone Thomas Vaduthala, Senior Director – Executive Programmes at Leeds University Business School, provided the technical blueprint for success, delivering a vital session on entrepreneur capability mapping and the essential value of partnerships.
On the second day, aspiring entrepreneurs moved from the classroom to the boardroom, visiting some of Africa’s most influential business incubators:
- 22 on Sloane: Led by Carmen Rudd and Nthame Mametja, this incubator specialises in helping startups “scrum” and refine their go-to-market strategies.
- Wom Hub: A boutique space dedicated specifically to support female founders in STEM.
- Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct: CEO Mark Harris showcased their industry-leading model, which focuses on unearthing digital talent and providing the tools necessary to scale businesses within the African digital economy.
The final day was a showcase of pure innovation. Participants presented their projects to a panel of judges, demonstrating how they applied 18 months of intensive training to real-world problems.
Mpho Sethibe (Botswana) exemplified the spirit of the program. Her project focused on a platform to connect African entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and compliance support. She credited the Business Model Canvas (BMC) training from the University of Leeds as a turning point in ensuring her business’s sustainability.
Laurinda Macaringue (Mozambique) acknowledged the difficult road ahead but expressed confidence that the network and tools gained through ASEP would allow her to build lasting solutions for the continent.
The programme was steered by Mark Johnson, SARAO’s Principal Intellectual Property Officer. Johnson plays a critical role in transforming astronomy-inspired technologies into commercial applications. While congratulating the graduates, Johnson expressed his excitement for the next phase of the journey, including upcoming funding rounds for new participants.
By leveraging high-value scientific competence, SARAO and its partners continue to prove that when African research meets entrepreneurial grit, the possibilities are infinite.
Congratulations!
