© RACA Journal www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I June 2024 33
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MPUMZI SWANA : ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEUR PIONEER
By Eamonn Ryan
Born and raised in Lusikisiki , a small town in the Eastern Cape , Mpumzi Swana ' s journey to consulting engineer demonstrates a relentless pursuit of innovation and sustainability .
His upbringing was deeply influenced by his parents ' professions .
His mother , a dedicated schoolteacher instilled in him a love for learning and intellectual curiosity . Meanwhile , his father ’ s entrepreneurial gene laid the groundwork for Swana ' s entrepreneurial spirit .
Educated primarily at George Campbell School of Technology in Durban , Swana initially harboured aspirations of delving into nuclear engineering . However , the academic landscape at the time steered him towards pursuing a degree in chemical engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal .
During his university years , Swana met a group of like-minded individuals and delved into the realm of product development , focusing particularly on harnessing the power of ocean waves to generate electricity . This endeavour marked the genesis of Swana ' s passion for sustainable energy solutions .
Post-graduation , Swana gained valuable experience working at Toyota Manufacturing while continuing to tinker with product development . This became more serious when he attended a workshop by industry luminary , Willie van Straten of Verimark , organised by the Technology Innovation Agency ( TIA ).
This transformed his career as he discovered his calling in product development , particularly in the realm of energy innovation . “ I decided this is what I wanted to do .”
He co-founded a startup focused on developing off-grid air conditioning systems ( previously featured in RACA Journal ). This endeavour not only showcased his entrepreneurial spirit but also underscored his commitment to creating sustainable solutions for realworld challenges . “ We secured seed funding from Invotec and once a prototype had been developed , received more serious funding from TIA as we brought this product to fruition and launch .”
This experience led them to look at commercial HVAC . Swana explains that the nature of engineering is that there are many hoops to jump in product development and this period cannot be funded . “ We went 18 months without income or funding .”
Then , just as things began picking up , adversity struck in the form of the July 2020 riots , which ravaged the business workshop , destroying the premises and stealing priceless prototypes – erasing months of progress . Undeterred , he rose from the ashes , rebuilding his enterprise from scratch and fortifying his resolve to overcome obstacles .
What has helping him through , he explains , is that throughout his journey he has embraced the power of partnerships and collaboration , forging alliances with funding agencies and leveraging his expertise to propel his ventures forward . This is to the extent that he today delivers workshops and mentoring on how to raise funding for start-ups . “ You have to create credibility such as the qualifications to carry a business venture forward . Recognising the symbiotic relationship between engineering prowess and business acumen , he pursued further education , obtaining an MBA from GIBS to augment my entrepreneurial endeavours and making my ventures more investible .
“ Every idea is investible . You are the first investor in the idea through your effort – but to raise funding from others you have to align the stage of product development with the expectations of potential investors . They want to hear first about prototypes and patents , and for later funding about markets and business plans ,” explains Swana .
As he continues to chart a course for his business and engineering endeavours , Swana ’ s vision extends far beyond mere entrepreneurship – it transcends into the realm of industry-building and societal transformation . With a keen eye for innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability , his ambition is to leave an indelible mark on the engineering landscape and the broader community . RACA
© RACA Journal www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I June 2024 33