MPUMALANGA GREEN INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2024: And the winner is…
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA), in partnership with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and supported by the Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (Just SA), Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Seriti Green, and Indalo Inclusive, proudly announces the winners of the 2024 Mpumalanga Green Innovation Challenge. This impactful initiative celebrates and supports local entrepreneurs whose innovative green solutions promise a more sustainable future for Mpumalanga.
The Challenge attracted passionate innovators from across the province, each with a vision for addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable practices. Finalists benefited from a transformative journey, including a preparatory workshop facilitated by Indalo Inclusive, where they learned to refine their presentations and project confidence in pitching their ideas to an audience.
At the main event, twelve finalists pitched their green business ideas to a distinguished panel of judges, including Peter Venn (Seriti Green), Rivash Panday (Sasol), Sizanele Zondi (Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency), Tapiwa Chimbganda (JET PMU), Marian Engelbarts (GIZ), and Murendi Netshaulu (Indalo Inclusive). Each finalist showcased their innovations, competing for funding to help advance their ventures from early-stage ideas to scalable enterprises.
MGCA is delighted to announce the top three winners of the 2024 Green Innovation Challenge:
- First Prize (R100,000): Nic & Nic, founded by Nick and Nichole Nyalungu, a venture focused on collecting tire tubes and turning them into different products ranging from handbags to wallets.
- Second Prize (R50,000): TNK GreenHouse Technology by Given Ngwamba, which makes charcoal briquettes from agricultural waste material collected in the community.
- Third Prize (R30,000): Untum Recycling by Nomuntu Ndhlovu, a business aimed at producing black soldier fly larvae, which they then sell as organic food waste in their community.
These awards were made possible by our sponsors, with Seriti Green sponsoring the first prize, Sasol supporting the second, and Standard Bank backing the third. Our gratitude also goes to Daisy Lee Events for organizing the event and to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, represented by MEC Ms. Masilela from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, for their steadfast support of this initiative.
The MEC for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism gave an address based on the Green Innovation Challenge; she said, “The Mpumalanga Green Innovation Pitch Challenge event aims to expand and attract a wide range of participants and further offers enhanced support for green innovators with a focus on sustainability and economic viability. This year’s challenge is designed to become a key platform for promoting green entrepreneurship, which will in turn tackle the stubborn triple challenge of unemployment, inequality, and poverty in Mpumalanga.”
In addition to the prize money, all finalists will receive ongoing mentorship and support to advance their projects. They will also be assisted in registering their projects on the new Just Energy Transition (JET) Funding Platform, launched by the JET PMU in the Presidency, which provides additional funding opportunities and resources for green projects.
Congratulations to our top 12 finalists for making it this far. We are excited to see how their businesses grow and positively impact Mpumalanga. Through initiatives like this, we aim to nurture innovation, create jobs, and build a green economy that benefits both the environment and the people of our province.
Please see images from the event below:
