Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

05/06/2026

This week, four of our Health Entrepreneurship Academy students are representing the University of Cape Town at the Health Innovation Festival 2026 in Accra, Ghana, showcasing their ideas that are creating healthier communities and brighter futures.

From improving access to nutritious food and preserving indigenous health knowledge, to tackling HIV stigma through education and reducing the impact of indoor air pollution, our students are taking on some of Africa’s most pressing health challenges.

We’re proud to see our students making an impact beyond borders and contributing to a healthier Africa.

03/06/2026

Join the impact investing ecosystem

Established In 2016, 11 Iterations to date, and over 350+ alumni representing over 37+ countries, the Impact Investing In Africa course is your opportunity to develop within this rapidly growing ecosystem.

See you in Cape Town, South Africa 7-11 September.

Read more and apply here: https://uct.ac.za/berthacentre/articles/2026-01-21-impact-investing-africa-i-south-africa-i-september

27/05/2026

Don’t assume. Ask. Listen. Feel it. That’s empathy. That’s where great solutions begin.

Our Health Entrepreneurship Academy students learning the most important lesson in design thinking:
Understand the person before you solve the problem.

19/05/2026

📣 Opportunity Alert
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Appointment of a Temporary Academy Coordinator
Healthy Futures South Africa (HFSA) Programme
Fixed-Term Contract: 1 June 2026 – 31 October 2026

The HFSA programme focuses on strengthening community-based innovation and health entrepreneurship ecosystems to improve health outcomes and support youth development in South Africa. The selected candidate/service provider will support programme implementation across project sites in the Western Cape.

Read more and apply here by 1 June, 12pm (SAST):
https://uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/uct_ac_za/2888/rfp-hfsa-maternity-cover-i-june-2026.pdf
*Application deadline was extended

18/05/2026

A quick look back at last Friday’s Health Entrepreneurship Summit!

Powerful conversations, bold ideas, and a room full of people shaping the future of health innovation in Africa.

A big thank you to all our speakers and everyone who joined us and brought such amazing energy.

This is just the beginning.

13/05/2026

Why is the Impact Investing in Africa course relevant?

The African continent stands at the intersection of rapid economic growth, persistent inequality, and urgent sustainability challenges. With increasing global attention on climate change, social inclusion, and responsible capital allocation, Africa presents both significant need and opportunity for investments that generate measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.

Read more about the Impact Investing in Africa course here and apply by 11 August:

Impact Investing in Africa is a specialised short course, offered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UCT Graduate School of Business. The course is designed to equip wealth managers, consultants, funders

12/05/2026

More exciting speakers for the Health Entrepreneurship Summit lineup this Friday.

We’re excited to have:

Dr Solange Rosa
Director of the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Solution Space, who will open the summit with the Welcome Address.

Imraan Saloojee
Executive Director at RIIS, delivering our Keynote Address on innovation, resilience, and the future of health systems.

Alexandra Lugagne
Lead for RIIS Health Practice, presenting the “Social Innovation in the South African Health Ecosystem Review” - exploring the opportunities and innovations shaping healthcare in South Africa.

Read the report review here: https://bit.ly/4wtWykM or link in the bio

The countdown continues.
See you at the summit!

HealthSummit

11/05/2026

The countdown is on!

This Friday, 15 May, the Health Entrepreneurship Summit brings together inspiring speakers, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of healthcare across the region.

The morning programme will spotlight locally driven health innovations, with Health Entrepreneurs sharing real lessons on scaling solutions, navigating complex health systems, and creating impact where it matters most.

Attendees will also get to explore a vibrant poster exhibition and connect directly with the innovators behind the ventures.

HealthcareInnovation

07/05/2026

This week, the Health Entrepreneurship Academy students are focusing on building the digital skills needed to work, communicate, and build a venture - learning how to use key digital tools to stay organised, work efficiently, and develop their ideas.

As part of the week’s activities, students visited RLabs South Africa, where they were exposed to inspiring examples of technology-driven social innovation and entrepreneurship in action.

The students also had the opportunity to hear from Dr Chanell Marthinussen, who shared her journey behind My Pocket Health, a digital healthcare platform developed with support from RLabs.

Students further engaged with Zlto and Yoma, two innovative youth-focused platforms helping young people access opportunities, skills development, and digital tools for the future of work.

A valuable and inspiring experience showing students how technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship can be used to create meaningful social impact.

07/05/2026

South Africa became the first African country to approve Lenacapavir (LEN) in October 2025, and the country has now received doses of this twice-yearly injectable that prevents HIV infection. With an injection every six months, LEN has been shown to be safe in clinical trials and almost 100% effective at preventing HIV.

Public health models suggest that if two to four million people use LEN, South Africa could reduce new HIV infections and achieve epidemic control earlier than expected. But science alone won’t end HIV. Community Oriented Primary Care is what turns scientific breakthroughs into health impact.

That’s why the work being done through the Health Entrepreneurship Academy matters, where our students are introduced to health priorities to build innovative solutions that will improve health outcomes in future.

Our Academy students joined the today in to mark the launch of LEN rollout in the Western Cape.