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Explore how funders assess entrepreneurs, from commitment and cash planning to confidentiality, leadership, investor bias and common misconceptions

I began my entrepreneurial journey later in life, confident that my experience had prepared me well. I had written bankable business plans for start-up ventures, raised millions of rand in funding and helped establish several spin-out companies from the organisation where I worked. I understood both science and business, and thought I knew what it took to build a company. Starting six companies of my own over the following two years showed me how much I still had to learn. It

What makes a business plan bankable? Maravion explains why biotech and deep-tech start-ups need strong financial models, valuations and commercialisation strategies.

A critical element is securing funding. South African biotech startups should explore diverse funding avenues, including government grants, venture capital, and international partnerships. Understanding the funding landscape and tailoring proposals to meet investor expectations is vital

Deep-tech startups face more than one Valley of Death. Maravion explores three critical funding gaps spanning R&D and commercialisation, market access, and growth and expansion, and why South Africa's innovation ecosystem needs to address all three

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and innovation, the role of strategic partners in industrialising deep-tech inventions cannot be overstated. Maravion has emerged as a pivotal player in South Africa and the broader African continenet, offering comprehensive support to startups, universities, incubators, and innovation hubs. Our focus is on enabling these entities to commercialise their inventions effectively and secure the necessary funding to scale their impac

From Commercialisation to Independent Biotech Company C began with a deeply entrepreneurial decision: to move from supporting the commercialisation of other technologies to building an independent biotech business from the ground up. Founded around enzyme and product development, the company initially entered the market with a focus on speciality enzymes and research reagents. However, like many science-based ventures, early assumptions about market attractiveness quickly enc

Company A emerged from a promising biotechnology platform built around advanced biocatalysis technology originating from publicly funded research. Like many deep-tech spinouts, the company began with a strong scientific foundation and early-stage public funding support. At first glance, the pathway to commercial success appeared straightforward: compelling science, protected intellectual property, and a clear technological advantage. However, the realities of scaling a biotec

Africa’s deep-tech and biotech sectors hold enormous potential. Across the continent, innovators are developing technologies in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, agritech, advanced materials, Indigenous Knowledge-based products, and other high-impact sectors. The quality of innovation emerging from African institutions and startups continues to grow rapidly. However, scaling these innovations into sustainable businesses remains challenging. Many startups face limited access to ca