Stellenbosch studentpreneur Amohetsoe Shale is a girl on fire, winning top awards in innovation

When diminutive lights beamed down on the stage of the seventh annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity, it was clear the audience was in for an empowering moment.

As the enchanting strains of Alicia Keys’ anthem "Girl on Fire" engulfed the auditorium, the spotlight illuminated Amohetsoe Shale, a Stellenbosch University student and innovative entrepreneur.

The applause was not just for her stage presence; it was for her remarkable achievement as the winner of this year's Top Student Womanpreneur Award.

Amohetsoe's winning moment was made even sweeter by the recognition she garnered in multiple competitions during the event.

Alongside the R25,000 prize for the Womanpreneur Award, she secured R10,000 as the runner-up in the Academic Research Commercialisation category, and R100,000 for placing fourth in the EDHE Absa Top Student Innovator of the Year.

Her total winnings amounted to an impressive R135,000.

The EDHE initiative is dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among university students, academics, and university leaders.

This collaborative effort between Universities South Africa (USAf) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) encourages young minds to transform their ideas into tangible solutions, ultimately fostering a more economically active society.

Amohetsoe Shale, a full-time MEng Sc Biomedical Engineering student, is also the founder and CEO of NAVU, a company that designs affordable, high-performing prosthetic knees for amputees.

Her winning innovation, a passive polycentric prosthetic knee, stands out for its cost-effectiveness and superior functionality.

The knee employs a four-bar linkage system, ensuring a stable and natural gait for transfemoral amputees, while cleverly repurposing off-the-shelf components, like mountain bike shocks, to enhance its performance.

“The knee has been developed using Design for Manufacturing principles to ensure it can be produced using low-cost processes. It is modular, making local repairs and adjustments easier for clinicians,” Shale elaborated. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between high-cost commercial components and the pressing needs of clinics and amputees in underserved settings.”

The inspiration for her project was ignited during her undergraduate studies in Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics.

Direct exposure to amputees in clinical environments opened her eyes to the stark disparity in quality among prosthetic devices accessible to them, especially in low-resource settings. “I realised I had to contribute to a solution,” she stated.

“It was disheartening to witness patients receiving inadequate devices, which hampered their mobility and independence.”

Shale's reflections reveal a broader societal challenge. She expressed her discontent with the fact that advanced prosthetic solutions exist yet remain unreachable due to financial constraints. “Mobility shouldn't depend on wealth,” she declared, voicing the urgency that drives her mission.

Securing multiple accolades within the EDHE framework is more than personal success for Shale; it represents a celebration of the perseverance of women in innovation.

“These wins affirm the importance of what we’re doing,” she said. “In a country where women face numerous barriers, it is inspiring to stand with other female innovators.”

Her commitment goes beyond innovation; she aims to mentor and uplift other women entering male-dominated fields.

“Toni Morrison once said, ‘If you have some power, then it is your job to empower somebody else,’ and I take that to heart,” she emphasised.

With her prize money, Shale intends to accelerate the refinement and testing of her prosthetic knee, backing it with user trials and development for regulatory approval.

She envisions NAVU expanding over the next five years to produce affordable prosthetics for clinics across sub-Saharan Africa, not just guaranteeing their functional efficacy, but also ensuring the representation of African amputees like never before.

“I want them to see themselves wearing NAVU prosthetics, thriving in their daily lives,” she expressed passionately.

“The struggle for mobility deserves more than just a niche market; it calls for systemic change.”

Competitions like those organised by EDHE are crucial for budding entrepreneurs like Shale. They provide meaningful avenues for exposure, fostering connections and unlocking resources vital for success.

“These platforms help student innovators find their footing, encouraging them to move from concept to impact,” she concluded.

As she walked off the stage, it was hard to shake the notion that Alicia Keys’ words resonated even more profoundly that evening—celebrating not just Amohetsoe Shale, but a whole generation of empowered women ready to change the world.

BUSINESS REPORT