Le Shift Lab welcomes 14 start-ups to its incubation cohort

Fourteen entrepreneurs from South Africa and Malawi have been selected for the first cohort of Le Shift Lab, a new incubation programme supporting early-stage businesses working in green technology and digital innovation.

An initiative of the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, in partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, Le Shift Lab supports entrepreneurs developing technology-based solutions to environmental and economic challenges in Southern Africa.

The programme brings together start-ups working across renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water management, waste reduction, electric mobility and digital technologies.

Over the course of the incubation programme, participants will benefit from tailored mentorship, expert-led workshops and opportunities to connect with the South African and French innovation ecosystems.

Meet the cohort

The 14 selected entrepreneurs are developing solutions to a range of challenges, from improving access to clean energy and reducing agricultural waste to making transport and business operations more sustainable.

Innocent Mandili | MI Technologies and Innovations (Malawi)

MI Technologies and Innovations is transforming agricultural waste into clean energy solutions that power households, reduce deforestation, and create sustainable livelihoods. The goal is to make clean energy affordable, scalable, and accessible to every community in Africa.

Bronwen Turner | BL Turner Group (South Africa)

BL Turner Group is a female-owned South African private company based in KwaZulu-Natal, that specialises in sustainable solutions such as a reseller of atmospheric water generators, and organic waste-to-liquid fertilizer production to help replenish the earth and climate challenges.

Bafokeng Mofokeng | BAMO Holdings (South Africa)

BAMO Holdings is the trusted verification layer for Africa’s circular economy, turning e-waste from a compliance liability into measurable, monetizable impact.

Rachel Kumwenda-Kaunda | Drone Link (Malawi)

Drone Link empowers farmers with drone and data technology that monitors pests and diseases to reduce crop losses and improve productivity. Our actionable insights provide the early warnings farmers need to protect their harvest and secure food security.

Tshepo Bhengu | Muna (South Africa)

Muna is the infrastructure partner that helps retailers recover margin and grow through resale; without compromising brand trust. It’s not a marketplace or a side business, but the embedded, brand-safe layer that powers inventory recovery (Deadstock) and in-brand resale (Muna Resell).

Michell Moswane | Mishies Company (South Africa)

Mishies is a South African cleantech enterprise that transforms organic waste into renewable energy solutions through anaerobic digesters, biocharcoal, and biomass briquettes, driving a sustainable circular economy.

Letlotlo Motlhake | Aeronautical Works – AeroDelivery (South Africa)

AeroDelivery is transforming logistics through AI-powered Drone delivery, providing faster, smarter, and more sustainable access to healthcare, e-commerce, and essential goods for underserved communities across South Africa.

Tumelo Mashita | Laeta Cool (South Africa)

Laeta Cool offers refrigeration-as-a-service to vendors to rent cold-storage space and to buy and swap reusable long-lasting ice packs to keep products cold in their coolers while selling.

Zama Zamisa | Malesedi (South Africa)

Malesedi believes that clean mobility should create opportunity. By combining electric mobility with youth skills development and local innovation, they aim to build a greener economy that leaves no community behind.

Mamello Maliehe | Amanzi Technologies and Solutions (South Africa)

Amanzi X is a deep tech water technology startup. The organisation aims to build the data and AI infrastructure for African water utilities to detect leaks in water pipelines and address non-revenue water.

Alinafe Kaliwo | Mechro Limited Munda AI (Malawi)

Mechro is building Munda AI: Africa’s soil intelligence infrastructure, combining AI, IoT, and climate data to help smallholder farmers make smarter irrigation and soil management decisions. They aim to empower farmers with simple, data-driven recommendations that improve productivity while restoring soil health and conserving water.

Riyaad Howard | eSwitch AI (South Africa)

eSwitch AI is an end-to-end EV fleet and hardware agnostic energy management system. They install solar, chargepoints and use our very own eSwitch Nexus platform to holistically track and manage carbon, energy and electric fleets in one complete view.

Tumisang Maramane | Circular Build (South Africa)

CircularBuild believes construction materials should never become waste while they still have value. Through digital technology, they connect surplus materials with demand, creating a more affordable, transparent, and sustainable construction industry.

Kamogelo Motshidi | FLEETAINABLE, The Itsile Group (South Africa)

FLEETAINABLE (by The Itsile Group) is a carbon intelligence tool for smart emissions management in asset‑heavy sectors like mining, logistics, and energy.  They enable accurately measuring, managing, and reducing environmental and operational impact.

The Le Shift Lab cohort reflects the range of practical solutions being developed by entrepreneurs in the region. From renewable energy and agricultural technology to more efficient resource management, the selected businesses are addressing environmental challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Through its combination of technical expertise, business mentorship and connections with French and South African innovation networks, Le Shift Lab aims to help these early-stage businesses develop their solutions, strengthen their business models and explore opportunities for growth.

The programme will conclude with a Demo Day in early 2027, providing participants with an opportunity to showcase their progress and connect with potential partners and investors.