Dr Vuyisile Phehane

I have over 20 years’ experience in the funding, creation, protection and commercialization of Intellectual Property in local and global territories. Across my career, I have developed a strong track record in technology commercialisation and revenue generation, including managing over R65 million in royalty income and enabling international market access for locally developed innovations. I have deployed over R1 billion in funding towards various initiatives in biotech in my career. Using my specific strengths in due diligence for investment decisions, I have successfully structured and negotiated commercial agreements, supported venture development, mediated IP ownership disputes, and contributed to building innovation ecosystems that drive both financial returns and broader socio-economic impact. I have training in Venture Capital (I am a Fellow of Dream VC, an investor-accelerator, community-driven education platform centred specifically around venture capital across Africa's start-up ecosystems. My training in Impact Investment, and the contacts developed in these specialist fields have assisted in bringing funding to innovations. I have identified best practices in technology incubator and accelerator programmes whilst on fellowship in the USA, as an Eisenhower Fellow. I have served on the boards of several start-up as well as established companies in the Life Sciences.