Supported ventures
VEZ Technology
VEZ Technology (Pty) Ltd
Brands: VEZ Technology (Pty) Ltd, BioActive toilet paper
Flagship product: BioActive 1-ply and 2-ply toilet paper with beneficial bacteria for sanitation and environmental impact
Founding team: Vanessa Snyman, Thuli Ncongwane, Zonke Nhleko
Application: Eco-friendly, biologically active toilet paper that improves sanitation, reduces plumbing blockages, and supports wastewater treatment efficiency
Sector/Industry: Biotechnology
Subsector: Sanitation innovation, sustainable consumer goods
Year founded and commenced operations: 2021
Year partnered with TuksNovation: 2024
Contact email address: info@vez-tech.com
Description
VEZ Technology (Pty) Ltd has localized an internationally patented product: Biologically Active Toilet Paper. This innovative toilet paper is designed to reduce blockages and plumbing operations, counteract the growth of pathogens like E.Coli and salmonella, and have no environmental impact.
Unlike traditional toilet papers that compete on price, softness, and sheet count, VEZ’s product is a technical, maintenance, and green solution that offers cost and time savings. The company aims to revolutionize the concept of toilet paper by transforming a daily action into an environmentally respectful gesture.
Growth Objectives
The broader goal is to increase the efficiency of the country’s outdated municipal wastewater system by treating sewage waste at the source
Differentiation/Value Proposition
Adds good, beneficial bacteria to the toilet paper in a dormant state, which differentiates it from competitors who claim eco-friendliness based only on using Sappi Triple Green paper. It is a technical, maintenance, green, and importantly, a cost and time-saving product.
VEZ Tech’s BioActive Toilet Paper is also the 1st GreenTag Certified toilet paper brand on the African continent, allowing organizations to claim sustainability points in Greenstar certified buildings.
Business Stage/Phase
The company is in the commercialization phase:
- TRL 8: Product completed and validated through certification and testing
- Products listed on Makro website and available for purchase
- Packaging and marketing materials finalized
- Products Dermatologically Tested and approved
- Products Green Tag Certified
Investment Stage/Phase
VEZ Technology is seeking strategic investment to support scale-up:
- Funding required for machinery acquisition and raw material procurement
- Exploring partnerships with property developers and facility managers
- Preparing to expand distribution into retail chains and institutional buyers
Investment Raised
VEZ Technology has raised funding from the following sources so far:
- R150,000 Seed Fund grant from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)