Giancarlo Beukes

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.

• BEng (Mechanical Engineering), University of Pretoria
• Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town

• Founded Impulse Biomedical
• Successfully commercialised the first product
• Granted multiple patents across South Africa, the US, India and the UK
• Secured strategic partnerships and funding
• Led clinical trial efforts, with results published in respected journals
• Received numerous awards, including the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry Innovation Award for Best University Spin-off Company
• Collaborated with the Allergy Foundation of South Africa and PolyOak during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Contributed to medical innovations at the University of Cape Town’s MedTech Unit
• Co-developed a tabletop semi-automatic device for safe disposal of needles and sharps in low-resource settings

• My wife, Ziana Beukes, despite limited early opportunities, studied law using her phone after long days working as a secretary. Now an admitted attorney at a prominent Cape Town law firm — a model of grit and perseverance
• My parents – my mother started as a public school teacher and, through commitment and excellence, became 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
• My fellow Harambeans – entrepreneurs across Africa who are boldly challenging industry giants to create a significant continental impact. Entrepreneurs across Africa who are challenging industry giants, inspired by purpose and determined to make a continental impact
• Entrepreneurs at the start of their journey, whether first-time founders or seasoned veterans