Finalists announced for Innovation Awards

In addition, several seed grants will be awarded to deserving innovations. Grants include funding for the up scaling and commercialisation of the innovative solution, a process supported by the Foundation over a period of two years or longer, as needed. The size of the grants is designed to allow substantive progress to be made by the winners.

The awards form part of the Foundation's primary focus to ignite a culture of entrepreneurship in South Africa as a source of economic growth, job creation and innovation.

Finalists

1. Ekasinet Internet Telephony Solution - low-cost internet telephony and cyber café concept aimed at under-serviced communities.
   
2. Ecotyre - eco-friendly filtration system producing clean air and water made from recycled tyres.
   
3. Greenboards - inexpensive environmentally friendly chalkboards painted directly onto walls.
   
4. Bio-Intensive Mini-Farming - agricultural system based on natural, bio-intensive and organic methods.
   
5. African Angels Wellness Huts - mobile and fixed pampering and relaxation unit, called a Wellness Hut, operated by therapists from local communities and set up at game farms and guest lodges.
   
6. Malaria pf/PAN (pLDH) - innovative test kit that detects and distinguishes between malaria strains, as well as indicates within 30 minutes whether treatment is effective.
   
7. Isidima Sabantu Deliveries - a peri and rural bicycle delivery services to the elderly and others travelling long distances to collect chronic medication.
   
8. Ilima Cleaning and Recycling - collection of recyclable materials in township communities.
   
9. Muthi Futhi - produces a range of indigenous medicinal plant material.
   
10. 3 to the power of 9 - making Maths, Science and Accounting fun and accessible to rural communities.
    
11. iMobiMama - interactive mobile technology based health care service for women to help prevent fatalities during pregnancy and childbirth.
    
12. Paperight - website offering inexpensive printable educational books and documents.
    
13. Apple Green Outsourced Recycling - business providing opportunities to local recycling SMME's to service large customers profitably and a source of income generation for people in low-income areas.
    
14. MeMeZa Home Security - simple and affordable alarm system accessible to low-income earners using community and sector police support.
    
15. Interactive Drive Education System (Ides) - driver training solution for learners and professional drivers.
    
16. Sanitary Pads from Banana fibres - manufacturing of inexpensive sanitary pads using banana fibres.
    
17. On the wheel computer literacy - internet access to local communities using a bus.
    
18. Tunnel Vision Farm - recycling of waste to fertilise vegetable crops.
    
19. Marula National Products Trust - provides a household income generation opportunity to 2000 rural women.
    
20. Pimp My Book Network - online distribution of educational textbooks by connecting students across the country.
    
21. The Handy Power Range - cellphone charger, computer charger, radio and table lamp which works without electricity and generates own power.
    
22. iYeza Express - medication delivery service operating in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
    
23. The Fish Farm - use of aquaculture to generate income for low-income households. Consists of a micro-intensive fish farm built into a 12m shipping container.
    
24. Funda - Educational product that aggregates and distributes matric resources for teachers and high school students on cellphones and personal computers.
    
25. Eco-dynamic Toilet - designed to save water and enhance sanitation networks.