About the Labs
Local insight, turned into working technology.
SALA Innovation Labs is the research and venture-building arm of the South African Legacy Association. We run four operating pillars, incubate ventures from idea to scale, and keep a mentorship network working across the country.
Our mission
Why the Labs exists
To turn local insight into working technology - building research-backed ventures that create opportunity where it is needed most.
A South Africa where a founder in a rural town has the same access to research, infrastructure and capital as one in a metro.
By the numbers
Where we are today
Counts update automatically as the Labs publishes new work.
Operational pillars
How the work is organised
Research
Applied research that starts with a real problem in a real community, not a paper.
Venture Building
We build and co-found ventures in-house, then hand them to founders with the runway to run.
Community
An active mentorship network connecting students, professionals and founders across the country.
Capital
Structured pathways to funding - from first grant to institutional investment.
Leadership
The people running it
Inothando Mrawuzeli
Founder & Head of Labs
Mazisi Bangani
Chief Governance & Investment Officer
Zukiswa Mbimbi
Operational Administrator
Bhekisa Bavini
Executive
Lizalise Nyanga
Executive
Lizwi Bangani
Executive
Lungisa Makhosi
Executive
Mihlali Zokufa
Executive
Sinazo Cobongela
Executive
Siyavuya Nyathi
Executive
Get involved
There is room for what you do.
Whether you research, build, fund or mentor - the Labs runs on people who show up.