The Agritech Countdown Programme, delivered by Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab, concluded on 26 March with a Demo Day where eight early-stage ventures presented their innovations to investors, mentors and other ecosystem stakeholders.
Running from 24 February to 26 March, the five-week programme supported Pan-African startups in validating their business ideas and preparing them for market entry through mentoring, workshops and customer-focused development.
The selected startups addressed a wide range of agricultural challenges, including precision agriculture, livestock tracking, soil testing, sustainable food production, digital farming platforms and wine industry technologies, reflecting the growing role of innovation in strengthening Africa’s agricultural sector.
Delivered in collaboration with Stellenbosch Network and supported by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), the programme aims to accelerate agritech innovation while contributing to the growth of the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The initiative also aligns with SU LaunchLab’s role in the Zero Emissions Entrepreneurship for Universal Sustainability (ZEEUS) project, where it is part of an international consortium working to strengthen cross-border collaboration, promote knowledge exchange and connect local innovators with wider African markets.
