New Faces at Innovus: Stefan2 and Luan Africa

New Faces at Innovus: Stefan² and Luan Africa

As we mentioned in the previous newsletter, Innovus is growing meteorically. This is due to the number of submissions we receive from the world-class researchers and faculty that we have been blessed with at Stellenbosch University. Smart people equals a heap of very smart innovation. Understandably, it also equals a heap of work, so we have been reaching out to find the next shining stars within technology transfer. In no particular order, we would like to welcome some new faces to the family, all of whom bolster our business with their attitude, skills and passion.

Stefan Hayward

Stefan #1, handsomely bearded as he is, was inducted into the Innovus family by our Technology Transfer Manager, William Cloete, with whom he had been co-authoring a paper (which became a patent application). This is after he received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which transitioned into his post-doctoral work in the Department of Food Science. He is comfortable in the lab, where he spends much of his time, which is a huge benefit to us at Innovus. He will be helping some of the brilliant, but partially developed IP, which the inventors no longer have the time or budget to develop, reach their full potential. Because he has the expertise in the lab, he can do much of the work that needs doing himself. In his words, and metaphorically in line with his speciality, “I’ll make sure the pies are fully baked!”. His food science knowledge is already helping to accelerate our beloved S’Cool Beans onto the shelves of retailers, and to get the IP of a new lactose removal initiative protected in Europe. Joining our technology transfer office has opened up a new world for Stefan, as he gets first-hand experience of the world of business creation, little of which is seen from behind laboratory doors.

In his free time, he dabbles in programming, electronics, RC planes, carpentry and woodwork. Overachiever…

Stefan du Toit

Stefan #2 has had a storied past, prior to arriving on our doorstep. He graduated with his honours in B.Accounting from our very own university, before doing his articles at Deloitte for his CA qualification. While working for Deloitte in the USA he met the 2^nd in command of the NASDAQ-listed Red Robin restaurant chain, who subsequently employed him to assist in their high growth environment, which included M&A, real-estate development, marketing and analysis and even the training of the management team. Seven years later, after some turnaround and growth consulting and, a lengthy drive up the east coast of South America, he followed his heart, and his fiancé, and returned home. After starting a business that successfully developed and manufactured energy-efficient products, Eco Heat and Eco Sensor, and getting involved in an energy hedging business and the next generation of ‘selfies at a massive scale’, Fancam, he was introduced to Anita by a mutual connection. “She pitched me hard!” quips Stefan. Anita’s persuasive nature, and his passion for ‘tip of the spear’ innovation has earned him a desk in our offices, where his wealth and variety of experience is going to help us do a lot of very cool things – if he can handle the heat… “It’s like drinking from a firehose!” he explains. “But I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I missed this opportunity.” His current focus is on commercialising the assets and IP of SU, and is busy doing just that for Maties Milk and our Music Department (where they’re looking at building out post-production scoring for movies) and seeing how just how much revenue he can help to generate from the underutilised, specialist agricultural equipment the University owns. Not one to take it easy, he also is also in the process of adding a SU consultative division to Innovus, and wants to start a Special Projects Unit, to help faster navigate the stormy, complex seas of technology transfer and commercialisation at SU.

Luan Africa

Luan is our new Junior Technology Transfer Officer, but there is nothing inexperienced about him. He has a B.Sc. Med. Sci. Honours in Medical Virology, and a Masters in Physiological Sciences, where his thesis focussed on inflammation associated with the HIV infection in the central nervous system. He is also a PhD candidate at SU. A connection with William Cloete sparked a curiosity for technology transfer, and he joined us as an intern in March 2017. When we saw what he was capable of, that internship quickly transitioned into full-time employment – and not a moment too soon. He’s passionate (and incredibly knowledgeable), specifically about the biomedical space, and he believes he can mine a heap of new innovations from our Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences. We believe him. “50% of global university innovations come from the life and medical sciences space,” he says. “I want us to stay on par with the rest of the world.” To do that, he believes, he needs to quickly change the perception that technology transfer departments hinder traditional academic processes. Which they don’t. His experience on that side of the fence will be a massive asset to Innovus. In his spare time (of which he has a limited amount) he enjoys sci-fi and is a passionate animal lover.