The final round of the sixth annual Leopards Lair® student business pitching competition was hosted jointly by the TTIS, bhive Enterprise Development Centre and the North-West University (NWU) Business School on Thursday, 3 October.
The top NWU student entrepreneurs presented their inventive ideas to a distinguished panel of external judges at the D’Vine venue on the Potchefstroom Campus to compete for the title of Leopards Lair winner and some exciting cash prizes.
The final pitching event not only served as a celebration of innovation and talent, but it displayed the NWU entrepreneurship ecosystem – a multidisciplinary and intercampus effort that aims to stimulate an entrepreneurship mindset among NWU graduates.
Participants have been nurtured through a series of boot camps and mentorship programmes, and their journey to the final pitching stage has been one of growth, learning and development.
Prof Herman van der Merwe, deputy dean for Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the NWU, gave the welcoming address, highlighting the incredible innovation and talent of the finalists.
Side Hustle category
Participants in this category displayed innovative and practical business ventures designed to address everyday challenges, emphasising start-ups that have the potential to grow into sustainable enterprises offering unique solutions to meet real-world needs.
Rudie Haasbroek, who won the Side Hustle category for his Barcode X fashion application, remarked, “This has been a long time coming – I have worked on this for three years. I enjoyed the whole process of learning more about this business as a founder and I am very excited to see where this goes.”
This fashion-tech brand application integrates code technology with clothing, offering personalised outfit recommendations and wardrobe management.
Tshegofatso Chabane secured the second place. Her The Blueprint vending machine business has broad and limitless potential. Banele Ndlovu achieved third place and his Afari’s Driving School simplifies the process of learning how to drive for university students.
Research-Based Ventures category
This category recognised projects rooted in offering solutions that are backed through research and development. The finalists highlighted the potential of their ventures to create a meaningful impact through technological advancements and sustainable practices, reflecting the power of research-based driven entrepreneurship.
The category winner was Carli van der Merwe. Her eco-friendly Helioglo Sunscreen product, which aspires to revolutionise the sunscreen market, offers superior protection without using any harmful chemicals.
“It feels absolutely amazing, it has taken eight years of research. We have put our product out there; we have gotten the reward. We believe this product can change a lot of people’s lives, especially in the healthcare and sunscreen market. Winning this award makes me believe in the product even more,” she said.
The second prize was shared by Thato Phahlane's PharmaFlow application, which seeks to transform medication management in public facilities, and Arlette Nwanmou's Ancient Grain-based food products, which resurrect traditional food through creative grain-based goods.
The third prize went to Rebaona Molefe's Rebalizer, an innovative solution enhancing the efficiency of organic fertilisers, improving crop health and sustainability.
Bongani Foundation Prize for Sustainability
The Bongani Foundation is a Dutch non-profit organisation founded by a group of South African NWU alumni who share a passion for entrepreneurship and giving back. The prize was awarded to the finalist whose venture demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable practices and innovation.
Thato Phahlane was declared the winner in this category, and she definitely gained bragging rights, as she had won two awards in the competition. Her Pharmaflow application streamlines healthcare stock management using image recognition and QR codes to improve patient outcomes in clinics, community health centres (CHCs) and hospitals.
More than 560 viewers tuned in to the live broadcast on YouTube to witness the entrepreneurial talent at the NWU.
Prof Herman van der Merwe during his welcoming address.
The Side Hustle category winner, Rudie Haasbroek, posing with judge Duminsane Mayakhe and Eagi.
Carli van der Merwe, winner of the Research-based category.
Thato Phahlane receives the Bongani Foundation Prize for Sustainability in style.
Prof Leenta Grobler, associate professor of Digitalisation and Digital Economics at the NWU Business School, delivering the vote of thanks.
Thato Phahlane and Arlette Nwanmou, the joint winners of the second place in the Research-based category.
