Two South African science-based start-ups have been selected for the Falling Walls Venture TOP 100 2026, placing African innovation among some of the world’s most promising science-driven businesses. The recognition gives both companies an international platform to present technologies that address global challenges while highlighting the strength of research and innovation emerging from South Africa.
The selected companies, C STAR and MariHealth Solutions, are representing Africa in the global initiative that brings together entrepreneurs who have successfully transformed scientific research into commercially viable businesses. Their inclusion is expected to increase international visibility for African innovation, create new opportunities for investment and partnerships, and demonstrate how university research can be translated into solutions with real economic and social impact.
Falling Walls Venture is an international pitch competition for founders who have turned scientific discoveries into businesses. Twenty-five finalists will be invited to pitch during the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin on 6 November, with the finalists set to be announced on 11 August.
Organised by the Falling Walls Foundation, the initiative serves as a global platform connecting science, business and society. Inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the foundation promotes collaboration across borders and disciplines to support breakthrough ideas that can solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. Since its launch in 2009, Falling Walls has grown into an international network that supports innovation, scientific freedom and the practical application of research.
Science-Based Solutions Addressing Global Challenges
One of the selected companies, C STAR, is developing technology that converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen into sustainable hydrocarbon fuels through a compact, containerised production platform. The system enables fuel to be produced on demand and on site, reducing dependence on traditional global fuel supply chains.
Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from the University of Cape Town’s Catalysis Institute within the Department of Chemical Engineering, C STAR was established by Professor Michael Claeys and Professor Nico Fischer. The company has developed an innovative process-catalyst system that simplifies the conversion of carbon dioxide into fuels, allowing for a highly efficient single-pass production process.
Its vision is to make decentralised, sustainable hydrocarbon fuel production possible anywhere by transforming captured carbon dioxide into usable fuel. Through strategic partnerships, C STAR is also working to reduce production costs, expand market access and accelerate the commercialisation of sustainable fuel technologies.
The company’s work supports global efforts to reduce carbon emissions while creating alternative energy solutions that can strengthen energy security across multiple industries.
University Research Driving Commercial Innovation
The second South African company recognised in the TOP 100 is MariHealth Solutions, a biotechnology company using protein science to improve animal health in aquaculture. The business focuses on early disease detection, biological insights and the development of new treatments that help improve fish farming while supporting global food security.
Founded in 2021 as a University of Cape Town spin-out, MariHealth Solutions was established by Dr Sarah Carroll and Professor Vernon Coyne, whose research partnership began in the university’s marine biotechnology laboratory. Both scientists studied microbiology and zoology at Rhodes University before continuing their research careers at the University of Cape Town, where they specialised in proteomics.
The founders recognised that while aquaculture is the world’s fastest-growing food production sector, the tools used to monitor fish health have lagged behind those used in human medicine and livestock production. Existing methods often identify problems only after fish begin showing visible signs of disease, by which time significant losses may already have occurred.
MariHealth Solutions applies proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins, to provide a more complete picture of animal health. Instead of analysing a single biological marker, the technology measures thousands of proteins simultaneously, giving producers deeper insight into immune response, stress, metabolism and growth before disease becomes visible.
Although introducing new technology into the aquaculture sector has presented challenges, the company has continued to develop its solutions with support from investors and the University of Cape Town.
