NIC Competition

The University of Cape Town has chosen its Top 3 Business Plans for the National Innovation Competition, which is sponsored by the Innovation Fund. The awards ceremony was held at the Research and Innovation Offices of the University on, 17 September 2009.

It was an evening filled with anticipation and excitement for all those who submitted their business plans. The guests present during the ceremony included, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Cape Town, Prof. Danie Visser; National Manager of the Innovation Competition, Mr. JP Kloppers, and several other stakeholders, some of whom were involved in the adjudication of business plans.

All entrants were presented with a book on business planning, to empower them for their future endeavours in entrepreneurship.

The moment that everybody was waiting for came when the Top 3 Business Plans were announced. The Third Prize of R20 000 went to Ludwick Marishane and Keoikantse Marungwana team members of Head Boy Industries CC, for their business plan on an invention called DryBathTM. DryBathTM is a revolutionary germicidal Bath-substituting skin lotion, aimed at providing an alternative to conventional baths.

The Second Prize of R30 000 went to Justin Beswick for his uncontained invention, which is an innovative solution for designing and manufacturing premium eco-friendly accommodation in South Africa.

The first Prize of R50 000 went to Dr. Sipho Mfolozi, for his Necro-Chronometer invention, a portable medical device for the forensic pathology niche market.

These three business plans will be submitted for entry in Phase II of the Competition to represent the University of Cape Town, in the national phase of the competition in 2010.