Winners of South Africa’s first national business idea competition, 2013 have been announced today. This competition was aimed precisely at inventors and innovators.
The competition, sponsored by Sasol and Technology Innovation Agency of the Department of Science and Technology, received nearly 400 entries from innovators all over the country.
Winners were of all categories from the farm to the salon products to ICT, to chemistry and many more. they included a spray to rapidly detach braids from natural hair, a cattle “breathalyzer” that can diagnose diseases and eliminate blood tests, and a South African “drone” used for aerial firefighting.
The champions will take home a total of R4.5 million, prizes and benefits like coaching, mentorship, cash, tablet devices and business support from the Small Enterprise Development Agency.
“This has turned out to be the ‘Idols of innovation’ in South Africa,” says Project Director Martin Feinstein,Traction. “There is enormous innovation talent out there, coming up with concepts that solve real-world problems and have great commercial potential. The programme will assist them to link up with investors, as well as receive mentorship and coaching.”
Traction has partnered with a range of venture capital funds and entrepreneur support organisations, as well as Microsoft, the Innovation Hub, the SA Innovation Network and others.
These were the winning teams;
- Chemicals – Kraalbos Bio-Health Products (Jeremy Klaasen)
- Mining and manufacturing – CSR-Africa Tank Repairs CC (Ismael Hassen & Rashaad Musa)
- ICT – Steadidrone (Duran & Alexa de Villiers)
- Energy – Delta Steam Systems (Bryan Anderson & Jacques Verwey)
- Health and biotechnology – Advanced Affordable Prosthetics (Drew van der Riet) and BB Unbraid Spray (Xoliswa Malinga & Malegola Mohlala)
- Green environment – Interloop Global (Michael Suttner)
- Food and agriculture – Bio Research and Development CC (Amelia Rampersad).