MariHealth Solutions - Aquaculture biotech solutions for a sustainable future

This has been one of my favorite episodes of the Africa Biotech Conversations podcast because it is about 2 of my favorite topics women and biotech business. In honor of August being women's month in South Africa, I interviewed Dr Sarah Carroll who is CEO and co-founder of MariHealth Solutions, a spin-off company of the University of Cape town, in South Africa. MariHealth Solutions was co-founded with her ex-PhD supervisor, Vernon Coyne to make real-world use of research that was being done at the academic institution. Sarah is passionate about climate change activism and finding innovative ways to live sustainably in a changing climate. Her introduction to business has been aided by mentorship and business ideation and execution through a venture acceleration program hosted by the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, in partnership with Ayoba. Sarah and I had a fun and insightful conversation around: Building an open and honest relationship with her PhD supervisor and now co-founder The origin story of MariHealth Solutions from research lab focus to a university spin-off company Filling the gap by shifting focus from a reactive aquaculture health management to a proactive approach Opportunities in the aquaculture business sector within the South African context Challenges of being a female entrepreneur and leader in the African biotech space Skills that have enabled her to be a successful entrepreneur How to ensure more women become biotech entrepreneurs in Africa Trends that will drive biotech innovation in Africa over the next few years