Mauritz co-founded a biotech start-up in 2003 and since then conducted genetic research at Stellenbosch University, completing two postdoctoral fellowships (in plant biotechnology and human genetics respectively) and worked as a contract researcher and lecturer. He was part of the first group of postdoctoral fellows in South Africa to receive the NRF Innovation-Fund Postdoctoral Bursary in ***** . Mauritz attracted funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) of South Africa and served as a project leader under the MRC Self-Initiated Research Category from 2008 to 2010. He has presented papers at several national and international conferences and authored or co-authored several research, book chapter and authoritative review articles in plant/environmental biotechnology as well as human/medical genetics. Mauritz received a skills ***** bursary from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) of South Africa and was invited to join a business consultancy as a business analyst (one year internship) to gain experience in market research and business analysis for investors/clients in hi-tech industries (i. e. renewable energy, biotechnology and telecoms). Mauritz is particularly interested in assisting/mentoring start-ups with special emphasis on: project management, business strategy and feasibility, risk assessment and market research.