The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) has been exploring marine red algae along the Eastern Cape coastline as a source of novel compounds with potential against breast cancer. These algae, including species such as Laurencia and Gelidium, produce chemically diverse metabolites such as halogenated terpenes, bromophenols, and sulfated polysaccharides.

Sawubona Mycelium is a South African biotechnology company harnessing the power of African medicinal fungi to create sustainable, high-value bio-based ingredients for industries such as personal care, functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Founded in 2018 and based in Centurion, the company integrates fermentation science, indigenous knowledge, and AI-driven data analytics to unlock novel biomolecules from a library of over 3,000 fungal strains sourced across Southern Africa.

Setsong Tea Crafters manufacture and commercialise indigenous herbal teas, as natural antibiotics to help manage STIs and as an immune booster.

Pelebox also known as Technovera (Pty) Ltd is a South African health-tech company offering smart lockers to radically cut patient waiting times at clinics, from over three hours to under two minutes. Their “Think Inside” philosophy emphasises designing for local realities: they view constraints not as setbacks but as catalysts for creative, frugal, contextually relevant innovation.