Science meets innovation

Sanlam Namibia in conjunction with StartUp Namibia announced the five Sanlam bridge recipients on 24 June in Windhoek. Sanlam Bridge assists local businesses with the necessary skills needed to run a business and capital to get the brand afoot. Awarded as one of the Sanlam Bridge winners is BrightlightAgritech. The agribusiness, founded by a final year science student at the University of Namibia (UNAM), Immanuel Simao, is an agricultural pioneer business that works through science and innovation with the focus set on producing bio-fertilisers to find a sustainable way of farming. This allows the production of crops for mass production and vegetables for human consumption in the country. Simao’s experience is pegged on his childhood. Growing up, his family had a backyard garden where his mother grew vegetables like spinach, tomatoes and carrots. “In the process of tending to the garden every day, I identified challenges. The solutions I have come up with are now incorporated into the solutions that our business has to offer,” he said. He says his business is uniquely driven by having an organic approach to fertilisers that are chemical free and he believes this is the way to contribute to sustainable agriculture in Namibia.A helping hand Simao says the funding received from Sanlam Bridge makes the operations of the business easier. “With these funds, we are able to start preparing for the production and the launch of our products and consequently get the business fully operational,” he said. Having the business function effectively allows Brightlight Agritech to help the local community. The company will produce fertilisers fit for use by urban and rural farmers. As a final year student, Simao says he has a lot on his plate, focusing not only on his business but also school work. He says a typical office day includes him going through research papers about agriculture and learning to discover things he is not able to contextualise in the Namibian aspect. Upon hearing he was one of the successful candidates for Sanlam Bridge, he says the feeling was surreal as he believes there were many other brilliant businesses who pitched their ideas. “It was really humbling and encouraging at the same time. My heart is indeed grateful,” he says. Simao says the business is currently working on new products and other agricultural innovative mechanisms to be launched in the future.

Science meets innovation

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Republikein 2026-02-23

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Science meets innovation

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Republikein 2026-02-23

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