start-ups

Driving Sustainable Innovation Across Borders

The South African Cleantech sector is at a pivotal moment. With a growing focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture, the sector is ripe with opportunity. However, innovators face significant challenges, including accessing international markets, securing funding, and validating cutting-edge technologies.

The South Africa-Switzerland Cleantech Innovation Challenge is here to bridge these gaps. By connecting South African innovators with Switzerland’s world-renowned Cleantech ecosystem, this challenge offers a unique platform to accelerate your startup’s global impact.

Challenge Overview

This prestigious challenge, supported by leading industry partners such as ABB South Africa, Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), as well as, the Department of Science and Innovation, is designed to help you achieve critical objectives:

• Foster Cross-Border Collaborations: Build powerful partnerships with Swiss innovators and industry leaders.
• Market Access & Validation: Gain access to international markets and validate your technologies through expert guidance.
• Enhance Innovation & Commercialization: Leverage world-class mentorship to refine and scale your solutions.
• Promote Sustainable Development: Contribute to global sustainability goals by driving impactful change.

Why Participate?

By joining the South Africa-Switzerland CleanTech Innovation Challenge, you’ll unlock a suite of unparalleled benefits designed to elevate your startup’s potential and position it for global success:

• Exclusive Pitch Competition: As a selected participant, you will present your innovation at SA Innovation Summit 2024 (SAIS’24), Cape Town International Convention Centre. This event is more than just a pitch—it’s a high-stakes battle where South African and Swiss startups compete for the top 3 spots. It’s your chance to demonstrate your solution’s impact, network with top international innovators, and gain significant recognition.
• Switzerland CleanTech Ecosystem Tour: Discover the cutting-edge Cleantech landscape of Switzerland through an exclusive tour. This experience offers you the chance to engage with Swiss Cleantech pioneers, gain deep insights into the Swiss market, and build strategic international partnerships that can drive your startup’s success on a global scale.
• South Africa CleanTech Ecosystem Tour: Spend an entire week exploring South Africa’s leading Cleantech hubs and hotspots in Cape Town. This immersive experience will connect you with local innovators, investors, and industry leaders, providing you with invaluable networking opportunities and insights into the dynamic South African Cleantech ecosystem.
• Access to World-Class Mentorship: Benefit from direct guidance and insights from industry experts across both South Africa and Switzerland. These seasoned professionals will help refine your business strategy, optimize your technology, and prepare your startup for successful market entry.
• International Market Insights: Gain a deep understanding of the Swiss and broader European markets, including key industry trends, regulatory landscapes, and potential customer bases. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions as you expand your startup internationally.
• Global Showcase Opportunities: Elevate your startup on a global stage by validating and showcasing your innovative solutions to an international audience. This exposure can attract investors, partners, and customers from around the world, accelerating your startup’s growth.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the challenge, your startup must meet the following criteria:

1. Cleantech Focus: Your startup should be involved in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, or sustainable agriculture.
2. South African Citizenship: Startups must be founded by South African citizens.
3. Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3-6: Your technology should be in the early stages of development, ready for testing and validation.
4. Early-Stage Startups: Ideal for startups seeking Seed to Series A funding.
5. Active Co-Founders: A minimum of two co-founders must be actively involved in the startup.

Challenge Timeline

• Pitch Competition: 18-20 September 2024
• SA Ecosystem Tour: 16-20 September 2024
• Switzerland Ecosystem Tour: December 2024/January 2025

Join the South Africa-Switzerland Cleantech Innovation Challenge 2024 and transform your Cleantech innovation into a global success story. Apply now to scale your impact!