DOHA, QATAR, November 7, 2019 – UBI Global, the Stockholm-based intelligence company and community, known for high-quality intelligence, assessment, and mapping of business incubation, released the top lists of business incubators and accelerators as assessed in the World Benchmark Study 2019 -2020. The recognitions and announcements took place at the World Incubation Summit 2019 in Doha, Qatar on November 6. This year’s event was hosted by Qatar Development Bank.
The Stellenbosch University LaunchLab was honoured to be recognised as the top University Incubator in Africa. This means that, as assessed by UBI Global, LaunchLab has demonstrated exceptional achievement in value for client startups, value for the local ecosystem, and overall attractiveness as a program as a whole.
“Following a rigorous data-driven approach, we assessed and benchmarked incubation programs across the world,” says Holger Meyer, Director of Research at UBI Global. “Our World Benchmark Study 2019 – 2020 is in tune with the multiple facets of the international incubation ecosystem and illustrates key challenges and opportunities faced by the participating programs.”
Brandon Paschal, Interim CEO at LaunchLab says: “Putting a startup incubator under the most prolific technology transfer office in South Africa (Innovus) has really set us up for success. There is incredible innovation constantly coming out of Stellenbosch University that we get to work with. Add to that the incredible entrepreneurs that we get to work with, it’s a perfect recipe for an impactful incubator. We’re very proud to receive this recognition for the second time, and hopefully the next benchmark phase we can be the first African university incubator to feature on the global rankings.”
This year, 364 programs located in 78 countries were selected after assessing and validating the data received from programs seeking knowledge about themselves through the study. One of the outcomes of the benchmark study is identifying the world’s top incubator and accelerator programs, which include the following categories:
- World Top University Business Incubators
- World Top Public Business Incubators
- World Top Private Business Incubators
- World Top University Business Accelerators
- World Top Public Business Accelerators
- World Top Private Business Accelerators
The UBI Awards & Recognition Gala took place at the Museum of Islamic Art, an amazing facility with art on display from three continents spanning 1,400 years worth of history. The world top lists of programs were each recognized for outstanding performance in nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation. For full rankings visit: ubi-global.com/rankings
LaunchLab is honoured to receive this award again having been named top challenger in Africa for 2017/2018. Africa has the talent and drive to bring economic growth and social change to our continent; to create the future. The incredible entrepreneurs that we have the privilege to serve everyday are creators of world-class innovation and the reason that we are able to achieve this global recognition.
About Nedbank Stellenbosch University LaunchLab
Nedbank Stellenbosch Univeristy LaunchLab is Stellenbosch University’s startup incubator, founded for university spin-outs and also incubates startups from the startup ecosystem and partner universities in South Africa and Africa. SU has collaborated with Nedbank on this exciting project for many years. The LaunchLab facilitates valuable connections for startups and corporates and is an initiative of Innovus, Stellenbosch University’s industry interaction and innovation company. For more information, visit www.launchlab.co.za.
About UBI Global
UBI Global is a Swedish-based intelligence company and community specializing in mapping, highlighting, and connecting the world of business incubation. Through a network of more than 1.000 member organizations from over 90 countries worldwide, UBI Global provides matchmaking, ranking, benchmarking, and research services to corporations and business incubation programs.
Previous results from UBI Global’s studies have been featured on BBC Radio, The Chicago Tribune, Le Figaro, Der Standard, The Huffington Post, The Irish Times, France 3, and many other media outlets around the world.
About QDB:
Qatar Development Bank offers financial and advisory services to develop and empower Qatari entrepreneurs and innovators to contribute to the diversification of the Qatari economy, through successful small and medium enterprises that are able to compete in global markets.