This month, the Foundation celebrates the success of a University of Cape Town student and Allan Gray Fellow, Ludwick Marishane, who has won a number of entrepreneurial awards for his business, Headboy Industries.

Marishane conceptualised a simple, antibacterial cleanser that could be used in lieu of bathing water. This idea led to Marishane being the first sub-Saharan African to win the Global Student Entrepreneur Award.

Marishane’s invention, DryBath replaces the use of polluted water for regular bathing in areas of the world where the water is so contaminated that people catch diseases from washing. DryBath can also be used by hotels looking to conserve water, or for passengers on long-haul flights. Marishane is currently working with British Airways on various test deals and has established strategic partnerships with Oxfam and WaterAid to provide his product to disaster victims across the globe.

Marishane told the judges that his product could become, “a poor man’s necessity and a rich man’s convenience.”

The competition included more than 2000 contestants and culminated with an intense session of 30 student entrepreneur finalists occupying the New York Stock Exchange and pitching their business concepts to panels of veteran entrepreneurs. The contest was run by the Entrepreneurs' Organisation and was sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the NYSE. The grand prize was a cash sum of $150 000.00 and a year of mentorship.