When Giancarlo Beukes, 32, left a top engineering consulting firm after just three days, he wasn’t walking away from stability — he was walking toward purpose. The co-founder of Impulse Biomedical, Giancarlo has fused his passion for healthcare, background in mechanical and bio- medical engineering and entrepreneurial spirit to build life-saving technologies for underserved communities. Born from family experience with the short- comings of South Africa’s healthcare system, Impulse Biomedical develops affordable, accessible medical devices like the ZiBiPen adrenaline autoinjector and the Easy Squeezy asthma assistive device. The latter, distributed widely during the Covid-19 pandemic, has changed lives — most notably, a young girl whose first independent inhaler use moved her mother to tears. “That moment is why I wake up every day,” says Giancarlo. His leadership has helped the company secure patents across four continents, conduct clinical trials, and win global recognition, including the Cape Chamber of Commerce Innovation Award. Giancarlo is a proud member of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance.
My wife, Ziana Beukes, is someone I truly admire. Despite facing limited opportunities growing up, her resolve never wavered. She tirelessly pursued her legal education, studying from her phone after long workdays as a secretary, including weekends. Today, she is an admitted attorney at a prominent law firm in Cape Town — a testament to her relentless pursuit of her dream. Similarly, I deeply respect my parents. My mother started as a public school teacher; however, her dedication to her work led her to become the Executive Head (Principal) of a leading private school. My father’s journey from a public school teacher to the chief executive of a large public enterprise further highlights the power of ambition, dedication and hard work. I am truly fortunate to be surrounded by individuals who consistently demonstrate the impact of having a dream and pursuing it relentlessly. I also draw inspiration from my fellow Harambeans — entrepreneurs across Africa who are boldly challenging industry giants to create significant continental impact. Their belief in their purpose enables them to tackle formidable problems, competitors and challenges. Finally, I admire all entrepreneurs at the outset of their journey, whether first-time founders or seasoned veterans. Their courage is like holding car keys without fuel or direction, yet possessing the will to change the world. The thrill of embracing the unknown, combined with the belief that anything is achievable, is truly inspiring.