UVU Accelerate team
Lara Rosmarin
Cape Town-born Lara Rosmarin has a Bachelor of Social Science degree from UCT and an Honours degree in Clinical Psychology from UWC. Early in her career, Lara worked in a corporate environment specialising in behaviour risk management where she was exposed to various businesses in different industries and learnt to interact with all levels of management and executive teams.
Lara then chose to divert her expertise to the NGO. She combined her business skills with her passion for philanthropy and invested most of her time advising some of South Africa’s top companies on their CSI and aligned strategy.
This provided her with the opportunity to raise funds for projects that she believed in. During this time, Lara wrote her first children’s book “A Magical Day For Dreaming”, all proceeds of which she donated to charity.
Armed with an in-depth knowledge of the cycle of CSI funding, Lara began working with an international organisation that promotes and facilitates effective giving, volunteering and social investment.
Lara’s corporate experience, combined with her expertise in business development and funding groomed her for her role as the CEO of Seed Academy and an Executive Director of Seed Engine. Lara’s focus at Seed Academy was to educate and empower entrepreneurs in order for them to take control of their own destinies. She believes that everyone has the ability to be an engineer of change.
After exiting Seed Academy with the sale of her shares in 2017, Lara continues to consult in the space of entrepreneurship connecting both businesses looking for an investment as well as investors looking for innovative opportunities.
Most recently Lara is focused on her role as Head of Entrepreneur Development and Incubation for The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative. As an organisation, CiTi’s mission is to build a future-proof inclusive society through technology and innovation. “By providing entrepreneurs with access to top technology tools, support, guidance, mentorship, networks and funding opportunities they are best positioned to build successful and sustainable businesses.”
Lara continues to work with various charitable organisations with a specific focus on vulnerable children, women’s issues and those facilitating much needed employment opportunities.
Riyanah Achmat
Having been in the travel industry for 13 years has given Riyanah the ability to work well with people and recognize their needs. She is now utilizing her abilities to make a positive contribution CiTi as an organization and clients.
She enjoys being out in nature, long walks, long drives, a good cup of tea and good conversation. She is a people’s person and has a genuine interest in people and their lives.
Life quote: If you’re only good to those who are good to you then what good are you – Shayhk Ninowy
Bronwyn Marks
Bronwyn, who is born and bred in beautiful Cape Town, holds a BTech in Public Management. Her career in various roles spans several industries from government agencies to corporate. Most of her career has been within the Human Resources field, and undertaken various roles from Recruiter to HR Consultant. She joined the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative, first, in the CapaCiTi team and then changed course, and is now in the Entrepreneurial and Incubation Department. Her core focus is the flagship, Top Tech Tools for Women in Business Programme. The Women in Business programme provides a platform and creates a supportive space for women entrepreneurs to gain experiential learning experience of tech tools available and to leverage these tools which can assist to grow and scale their business. She is pleased to be associated with CITI and the spaces provided and work they do to support business and youth remaining relevant and digitally skilled, even more at such unprecedented times.
