Innovus’ Annual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for students, created to foster entrepreneurial awareness across Stellenbosch University, took place in September and 70 students from AgriScience, Economic and Management Sciences, Engineering and Natural Science Faculties attended. The boot camp focused on the Value Proposition canvas and Business Model canvas with emphasis drawn to the entrepreneurial mission and vision in formulating these canvases. Brandon Paschal of SU LaunchLab, the boot camp coordinator, introduced students to entrepreneurship toolkits and over the two days, students worked through activities in small teams to conceptualise business ideas. At the end of the second day, fourteen teams pitched their ideas.
During the boot camp students were treated to a wonderful line-up of speakers; Anita Nel spoke to the students about Entrepreneurship at SU and the support and structures available to them. JD Nel presented the importance of a vision and mission and how they may be used as a driving mechanism in entrepreneurship. Ravini Moodley spoke to students about Government collaboration opportunities, encouraging entrepreneurship that solves societal problems that advance communities. Four start-ups gave students practical examples of their entrepreneurial journeys and the lessons learned. Eugene Smith from SU spin-out company, Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company (SNC), Jason Samuels from SU spin-out company GreenX Engineering, Jonty Wright from Save7, and Kamano Machoele from SU spin-out company Scientia Products spoke about experiences of entrepreneurship at different stages of the startup's journey. The students were eagerly engaged with the programme and the bootcamp was a great success.
