The City of Johannesburg’s Challenge Fund has teamed up with Resolution Circle and the University of Johannesburg for TheGreenCityStartup, in January 2015. TheGreenCityStartup seeks to provide funding of up to ZAR1 million (US$88,000) for entrepreneurs, with revolutionary or immediately feasible ideas, to help grow them into sustainable businesses.
The initiative is inviting applications for ideas, products and processes in energy, waste, water, transport or building, for the chance to gain not just funding, but mentorship as well as guidance from Resolution Circle, the University of Johannesburg’s technology commercialization company and incubator.
“The challenge is steep – only those who have revolutionary or immediately scalable ideas will stand a chance to get the support and money to make their idea fly, to build the green companies of the future,” the City of Johannesburg said.
Twenty proposals will be selected to pitch to an awards panel of serial entrepreneurs and distinguished researchers, with two weeks of free mentorship before the pitch. Two winners will be selected by the panel six months later to receive up to ZAR1 million each to turn their idea into reality.
Entries are open to startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and partnerships. Applications close on January 30.
Click here to apply.
