The University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Directorate of Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation and Commercialisation (DCEEIIC) recently hosted the Southern African Entrepreneurship Venture Builder (SA EVB) Roadshow at the UNIVEN Research Conference Centre. The aim of the roadshow was to provide an overview of entrepreneurship and innovation at UNIVEN and why EVB matters, including the strategic importance, challenges, opportunities, and integration of the EVB into UNIVEN entrepreneurship activities.
University of Venda staff members, students and EVB representative
The Acting DVC: Research and Postgraduate Studies, Professor Joseph Francis (on the photo below) when welcoming the guest, staff and students highlighted the importance of the SA EVB Roadshow, and how it brings hope. He also mentioned that it promotes the concept that graduates should not just be job seekers but job creators.
Professor Joseph Francis, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Postgraduate Studies
The Entrepreneurship Programme Coordinator, Dr Anyway Mikioni (on the above photo) be-gan his presentation by providing an overview of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Uni-versity. He pointed out the necessity of innovation in entrepreneurship for economic devel-opment, urging participants to transform their home spaces into business opportunities.
He encouraged participants to focus on practical problem-solving and to utilise uni-versity resources to develop viable business models. In addition, he stressed that universities must not operate in isolation but collaborate with external commu-nities, industries, and stakeholders. He emphasised mentorship programmes de-signed to guide student entrepreneurs and prepare them for real-world challenges.
SA EVB Manager, Professor Twum-Darko (on the photo above) introduced the EVB concept. He mentioned that EVB focuses on firsthand entrepreneurial learning through real-world projects and bridges the gap between academic learning and industry needs. He shared examples of successful student-led businesses and stressed the need for universities to function as incuba-tors, facilitating collaboration between students and industry to enhance business development.
He pointed out that universities have a crucial role to play in fostering an entrepre-neurial mindset. He further outlined the required institutional support for EVB – to es-tablish the EVB Centre, to strengthen the industry-academia collaboration for mentor-ship and internships, to create policies to integrate EVB into the academic program, to develop funding mechanisms for student start-ups and innovation projects and to provide training.
L-R: Panel Members, Mr Mmaphuti Ratau, Mr Promise Nyalungu, Ms Tabea Mokhele, Dr Shonisani Ramashia, Ms Fredda Makoto and Mr Given Maboko
Ms. Makoto; representing the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), stated that the OTT sources funds for technology/product development and it is willing to support students and researchers on their entrepreneurial ventures, innovation and intellectual property protection strategies through mentorship and trainings. She further suggested that the pool of mentors for the EVB programme should be increased, and material tools should be provided to foster and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. Mr Nyalungu shared his entrepreneurial journey, including participating in the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education competition. He further mentioned the challenges of scaling a business. Mr Maboko, a student who was selected to participate in the EVB event in Cape Town, shared his experience from the EVB training, particularly emphasising LaunchPad as a powerful tool for business validation and development. Panellists emphasised the need for mentorship and funding, stating that without structured support, many student-led ventures struggle to sustain themselves beyond the university environment. They acknowledged the importance of bridging academia and entrepreneurship, suggesting that universities should work closely with businesses to provide real-world exposure for students.
Dr Mlungiseleli Ganto, the Commercialisation Specialist highlighted several initia-tives and steps being taken to support the integration of EVB – which include inte-grating entrepreneurship education into academic programmes, a recent initiative where staff are trained on entrepreneurship, with the first cohort trained during 2024.
In her closing remarks and vote of thanks, Ms Makole Magoro, the Technology Transfer Co-ordinator, expressed her gratitude to the participants and emphasised the importance of maintaining a sustained commitment to entrepreneurial development. She highlighted that the day’s discussions underscored the need for strong collaboration between students, faculty, and industry to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem within the university.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
