Daniel Ndima is a scientist who specialises in the structural biology of infectious diseases. He is trained in protein engineering and crystallography, bioprocess engineering and biomanufacturing. He has Bachelor's and Honours degrees in biotechnology (University of the Western Cape) and a Master’s degree in structural biology of infectious diseases (University of Pretoria). Throughout his academic journey, he has received multiple awards and scholarships for his excellence in academics, social responsibility, student leadership and entrepreneurial initiatives. He is a Fellow at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. This Fellowship provides education beyond a degree, offering 360 degrees of entrepreneurial training to ensure that Fellows create value through responsible entrepreneurship, that they see entrepreneurship as a viable career path and are able to take an idea and develop it into a viable opportunity.

Daniel is also a Scholar at the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (Class of 2015) and a Brightest Young Minds (BYM2016) Alumnus. He founded three start-ups as an undergraduate student and was subsequently awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Award at the University of the Western Cape. In 2020, he was listed as one of Africa’s Influencers for Change by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa. He is a Careers 1825 Role Model and has been featured in the magazine Africa Innovates. He participated in various panel discussions on pandemics, including the South African National Coronavirus Conference chaired by the Minister of Science and Innovation – with the President and World Health Organization Director as some of the speakers. He also participated in the United Nations’ dialogue on Africa's Readiness to combat Covid-19. He is a Mail & Guardian Top 200 South African 2021 Winner, under the Science and Technology category.

Daniel strongly advocates for science that creates jobs, improves the quality of ordinary lives, and contributes to national development and the economy. He worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) between 2015 and 2018 towards the commercialisation of technologies as a technologist and business developer for the CapeBio initiative – funded by DSI and the CSIR.

Daniel is the founder and CEO of CapeBio, a South African biotech company that manufactures molecular biology reagents, enzymes and kits for diagnostics, forensic DNA analysis and other life science applications. CapeBio recently developed a South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA)-approved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing kit for coronavirus detection and the company is expanding its diagnostics research, development and manufacturing for diseases prone to Africa – and the world.