As Stellenbosch University (SU) LaunchLab continues its 10-year anniversary reflections, this second installment of our special series features Brandon Paschal, Deputy Director of Spinouts and Funds. Brandon shares his journey of shaping LaunchLab’s spinout strategy - from nurturing early-stage ideas to securing funding and building companies that create real-world impact. With an eye on both the lessons of the past decade and the opportunities that lie ahead, he reflects on the unique role LaunchLab plays in advancing research commercialisation, growing South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and positioning university spinouts for global relevance.