Student Entrepreneurs Advance to Nationals of Intervarsity Competition

Student Entrepreneurs Advance to Nationals of Intervarsity Competition

UKZN recently hosted the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Entrepreneurship Intervarsity competition regional rounds in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training, Universities South Africa (USAf), and the University Capacity Development Programme.

Sponsored by the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and the SAB Foundation, the event’s fifth edition, organised by InQubate (UKZN’s technology transfer office), took place over two days at the Edward Hotel in Durban.

Ten students from each of the four prominent tertiary institutions in KwaZulu-Natal – UKZN, the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), and the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) – participated enthusiastically, vying for the opportunity to represent their university at the national rounds and inch closer to securing the coveted prize of R100 000.

In his welcome address, Dr Nhlanhla Msomi of UKZN’s Research Division emphasised the importance for students to identify their target markets and how entrepreneurship and innovation revolve around addressing specific needs. Msomi discussed three crucial factors for student entrepreneurs: enhancing their approach through multidisciplinary actions, understanding market dynamics and strategies for gaining market access, and effectively scaling their ventures.

Director of Entrepreneurship at USAf Dr Norah Clarke spoke on the purpose of the Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Competition, saying: ‘It recognises and showcases the top student entrepreneurs and their businesses across all public universities in South Africa, encouraging universities to support student entrepreneurs.’ She added that the EDHE further supports the development of entrepreneurship, learning, and research; promotes an entrepreneurial culture; and bolsters universities as entrepreneurial innovative ecosystems.

Director for InQubate, Mrs Suvina Singh applauded the camaraderie exhibited by KZN student entrepreneurs and also commended the EDHE for raising the bar of student entrepreneurship in South Africa, urging more institutions to participate to address the high levels of unemployment and social issues affecting the country, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Singh encouraged entrepreneurs to find opportunities that resonated with them and to collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs to elevate the province to greater heights.

A panel discussion – facilitated by UKZN student and entrepreneur Mr Nqobizwe Mahlangu – that evaluated the impact of the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Competition and the support offered by universities to students, was held with previous entrants: Founder of Arial Robotics, Mr Wandile Sibiya, and Ms Diva Modebi, Founder of Fashion by Leelah.

The Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Competition featured contestants competing in five categories: New Business Ideas, Existing Business – Tech, Existing Business – Social Impact, Existing Business – General, and the newly established, Research-Based Business. Mr Sandile Shabalala, Student Engagement Officer at the EDHE, USAf, guided the contestants through the rules of participation, which included two minutes to test the equipment, three minutes to present the pitch, and five minutes for the Q&A session.

The winners were Mr Bongumusa Makhathini (MUT), Founder of Fly-Fast; Mr Lungile Radebe (UKZN), Founder of Geleza Mzansi; Mr Lindokuhle Zulu (MUT), Founder of U&I Foundation; Mr Luyanda Majozi (DUT), Founder of Enigmatic Cotton; and Mr Karen Sunthpaul (UKZN), Founder of Eco-Friendly Bricks.

Radebe, who had participated in the competition before, offered encouraging words for fellow entrepreneurs, stating: ‘None of us are where we want to be, but that doesn’t stop us from putting our best foot forward and trying again.’ Sunthpaul, lost for words, thanked UKZN and the InQubate team for their unwavering support.

Closing the event, Student Entrepreneurship Manager at UKZN InQubate, Mr Khutšo Ramontja, congratulated participants, emphasising how far they had come and urging them to shine and showcase what KZN had to offer. He thanked USAf, Dr Norah Clarke, the judges, sponsors, audience, and the entrepreneurs, challenging all universities in the province to collaborate to ensure that KZN, a region that has never claimed the national title, emerges victorious.

The national finals are scheduled to be held in Gauteng on November 30, 2023.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini