16/02/2026
𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 | 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🌍
We were proud to stand alongside CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation and Stellenbosch University as partners in this first edition of SWEAT Africa, an outdoor convening in Stellenbosh , bringing together founders, investors, researchers, and operators from across the continent.
A North–South bridge in motion, grounded in science and open dialogue, and closely connected to the momentum of the BRAIN regional bootcamp, with our startups and community actively shaping the conversations. 🤝
A highlight was the opening panel: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚: 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬’ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. Moderated by Eya Chemli, it brought together capital across the stack, from early university spin-outs to growth-stage investors and LPs.
The conversation unpacked:
🔹 What makes DeepTech investing structurally different
🔹 How IP, regulation, and capital intensity shape decisions
🔹 What early signals make a science-based venture truly investable
🔹What realistic exit pathways look like for African DeepTech
For BRAIN, this is core. Investment readiness goes far beyond pitch decks. It’s about understanding how capital thinks, how LPs assess risk and timelines, and how companies structure themselves early for scale, governance, and credible exits.
Thank you to the panelists for the clarity and candour: Khaled Ben Jilani, Wayne Stocks, Jacques Graßmann, and Rowena Luk. 🎤
We were also proud to see five of our selected BRAIN startups take the stage, presenting Health and Climate solutions rooted in advanced science and built with global ambition. 🚀
SWEAT captured something important: innovation not confined to conference halls, but alive, visible, and connected. A space where bridges get built in real time, across regions and sectors, and where founders, capital, and institutions move into concrete next steps. 🔗🤝
