2017 Finalist of the GCIP-SA, Clement Mokoenene of Vehicle Energy Harvesting Systems was announced the winner of the South African Chivas Venture competition, winning R350 000 towards his business.
A judging panel consisting of Lucas Radebe, Unathi Msengana and Stafford Massie selected Mokoenene from among 5 social entrepreneurs for his electricity generation solution, which utilises the pressure created by cars on a roads surface to generate electricity.
Also among the 5 finalist teams was 2015 semi-finalist team SolarTurtle, led by alumnus James van der Walt.
Clement will now attend a week-long accelerator programme at Oxford University and will then represent South Africa at the global finale of the Chivas Venture 2018 in Amsterdam, in May. He will compete against 28 other country winners for a share of US$1-million.
Judge Stafford Massie — a former Google country manager as well as founder and CEO of payment solution thumbzup — said he was struck by how each pitch had a massive positive effect on humanity and the environment.
“For me, it wasn’t just the commercial opportunity that impressed me,” he said. “It was the change that particular innovation could have on eradication of poverty, improving the quality of people’s lives and delivering of services in an environmentally sustainable manner.
We look forward to seeing Clement rise to new heights.