GreenCape and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), in partnership with Invest Cape Town, an initiative of the City of Cape Town, invite innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy innovation business ideas to enter the FNF GreenPitch Challenge 2019. Entries are open from Monday 18 November 2019, and close at noon on Friday 29 November 2019. The digital entry form is online at dev3.theethicalagency.co.za/greenpitch2019.
“The FNF is excited to partner with GreenCape around this event in order to promote environmentally sustainable innovation that leads to green economic growth in the Western Cape and beyond.” said Cecelia Kok, Head of Research and Advocacy Projects, FNF South Africa. “The green economy is filled with opportunities for entrepreneurs and has the potential to bring about the kind of job creation South Africa so desperately needs,” she added.
Enter your green economy innovation business idea to stand a chance of pitching to a panel of esteemed judges at a “shark tank-style” networking event, hosted in Cape Town on 12 December 2019. Network with potential investors, business incubators, local government decision-makers and green economy experts.
“We are always looking for opportunities to create an enabling environment that attracts investment that generates economic growth and job creation in the City, strengthening and promoting Cape Town’s status as a high-performance, African business hub that supports big ideas and innovation,” said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management. “The City of Cape Town’s Enterprise and Investment Department, through our Invest Cape Town initiative, is excited to be part of this event to offer our expert knowledge, and to support and assist with identifying development opportunities to small and medium sized businesses in the green economy, which is one of our key catalytic growth sectors.”
Entry requirement
Your green economy innovation business idea has to align with at least one of the Green Economy sectors and identified investment opportunities highlighted in the 2020 Market Intelligence Reports overview video, available online at dev3.theethicalagency.co.za/greenpitch2019. This video is produced in partnership with FNF for the FNF GreenPitch Challenge 2019.
Who should enter?
Innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy innovation business ideas. The business idea can be in any phase of development: Pre-venture (Ideation, Conceptual); Start-up (Registered and trading/Research and development); Pre-growth (Registered and trading/ Break-even); Growth (Established and profitable) or Mature (Scaling/ Commercialising).
Why enter?
As part of the journey towards resilience, GreenCape, FNF and Invest Cape Town offer their support to innovators and entrepreneurs in the green economy landscape. The winner of the FNF GreenPitch Challenge 2019 will be awarded with R30 000 worth of in kind business support through GreenCape, in partnership with FNF. The type of support on offer could include: Business plan development, growth trajectory guidance, financial forecasting, market opportunities insight, marketing assistance and media exposure, hardware and digital tech support, business mentorship and skills training, access to funding and raising finance. The support will commence in 2020.
How to enter
Fill out the digital entry form available online: www.green-cape.co.za/greenpitch2019. The digital form allows you to submit either a 500-word written motivation, a 10-slide PowerPoint, or a 3-minute recorded video.
Key dates
GreenPitch Challenge entries open: Monday 18 November 2019
Closing date for entries: Friday 29 November 2019 @ 12:00
Finalists announced: Thursday 5 December 2019
Pitch event: 12 December 2019, 15:00 – 17:30
Finalists will be notified by 16:00 on Thursday 5 December 2019, and will have a week to prepare a 7-minute (strictly timed) pitch for the event.
The winner will win in kind business development support worth R 30 000, through GreenCape in partnership with FNF. The winner will be selected by a judging panel on the day of the event. Their decision is final. Terms & Conditions apply. The support will commence in 2020.
Recommended Twitter post: The FNF GreenPitch Challenge 2019 is live! Hosted by @thegreencape, in partnership with @FNF_Africa & @InvestCapeTown. Enter your green innovation business idea. Entry form and prize details online: www.green-cape.co.za/greenpitch2019. #GreenPitch2019
