BUSINESS: HEADBOY INDUSTRIES | SECTOR: INNOVATION

Ludwick Marishane is the founder & MD of Headboy Industries Inc., and is the country’s youngest patent‐filer after having invented DryBath at the age of 17. In 2011, he was rated as the best student entrepreneur in the world (Global Champion of the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards 2011). That same year, Google named him as one of the 12 brightest young minds in the world. He holds a Bachelor of Business Science, majoring in Finance & Accounting, from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In December 2013, TIME Magazine named him as one of the 30 people, under 30, who are changing the world. One of only 2 Africans on the list.

DryBath is a Bath-Substituting gel, designed to replace the need for soap, water and skin lotion. It is a proprietary blend of cleansers and moisturisers that make it a uniquely viscous blend of bioflavonoids, natural emollients, and fruit acids to cleanse the skin while preventing dryness and irritation. The gel consistency means the product is easy to use. DryBath was designed to provide more hygiene to the 2 billion people without adequate water access, who still use the traditional bucket‐bathing method.

Ludwick started DryBath while in Grade 11 in rural Limpopo where he grew up. During this time he did research and spent 6 months reading up on lotions, gels and hand sanitizers and understanding how these products were made. During his matric year he endeavoured to finding a formulation that he would later patent. Ludwick was fortunate to receive the Allan Gray Orbis Scholarship that allowed him entry into the University of Cape Town.

He developed the product whilst at UCT and after graduating decided to start Headboy Industries which is primarily an invention-development and commercialisation company. Their biggest challenge is making DryBath a success in water-insecure communities globally.

Twitter: @Theheadboy