HIT graduate, Benjamin Karimatsenga, scooped the First Prize in the Business Plan Competitions beating other 11 contestants during the presentations held on 24 July 2019 at the campus.
Benjamin Karimatsenga, a graduate from the Chemical and Process Systems Engineering presente to a panel of judges and investors his project entitled "Xtra-Steam Laboratories". Xtra-Steam Labs (XSL) is an educational laboratory service company designed to equip Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) learners with innovative practical skills, providing resources for creating projects
and promoting research and development.
The enterprise gives students the opportunity to master STEAM crafts and equipment as well as doing their practical experiments of their own choice and at their own time. The company is registered with ZIMSEC and its also prepares students for their final examinations. Xtra-Steam Labs (XSL)
also helps university students who seek to obtain genuine experimental results and analytical results for their research publications.
According to Benjamin Karimatsenga, the company offers fully functional mobile lab units providing all curriculum based experiments at affordable prices as compared to other competitors. " The laboratories are always open for business to freelance individuals or groups and is registered with ZIMSEC, hence this gives confidence to customers. While there is a rapid increase in the number of schools in Zimbabwe, there is not much improvement in their educational delivery in science subjects like Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Some of the schools do not have proper laboratories in which practical experiments are done and students do not have the opportunity to repeat experimental work. Xtra-Steam Labs (XSL) will help to produce problem-solving learners who will excel in their practical experiments, obtaining genuine results, for their l research projects," said Benjamin.
Xtra-Steam Labs (XSL) will get access to the US$10 000 business loan facility for the period of 5 years at 1.5% interest as well as business mentoring and incubation services from the sponsors.
Munashe A. Mvere and Nyasha B. Mukwakwami came up second with their project entitled "Production of Poultry and Fish Feed from Black Solider Flies". Sunscreen Lotions (Pvt) Limited, a company formed by P.M Ngorima and T. Munyadu was awarded the third price while Maegacantha Pharmaceuticals came fourth. Varichem Pharmaceuticals sponsored the third and fourth prices.
The competitions were organised by the Technopreneurship Development Centre (TDC) and sponsored by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) together with ELEVATE Trust. The competitions were attended by SMEDCO CEO Mrs Gladys Kanyongo who was the Guest of Honour and a representative from ELEVATE Trust.
