French/EDHE AI and Blue Tech Incubation Programme
In partnership with the French Embassy to South Africa
Calling All Innovators! Join South Africa’s Premier AI & Blue-Tech Student Challenge
Are you passionate about AI or Blue-Tech and ready to tackle global challenges with innovative solutions? The French Embassy to South Africa, in partnership with Universities South Africa (USAf) and the EDHE Programme, invites you to compete in the AI and Blue-Tech Entrepreneurship Challenge! This is your chance to showcase your creativity, represent your university, and kick-start your entrepreneurial journey.
This competition highlights the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among South Africa’s brightest minds, preparing the next generation to lead in technology and sustainability. Let’s shape the future together!
Candidates must be registered and enrolled in one of the 26 universities in South Africa. Proof of student registration (at time of submission) must be provided. This includes Masters/Post-doctoral academics/students.
Congratulations to the Top 4 Finalists
Congratulations to the French/EDHE AI & Blue Tech Studentpreneurs Challenge winners!
We are thrilled to announce the winners who will embark on a 5-6 month virtual Incubation Programme designed to turn their innovative ideas into impactful businesses:
AI Category:
- Gaianova – Sol Plaatjie University
- NuFlo – University of Cape Town
- Shinrin – University of the Witwatersrand
Blue Tech Category:
- Jellypine Orbs – University of South Africa
This Incubation Programme will empower these studentpreneurs with:
- Strategic Innovation & Business Model Development: Using frameworks like the Blue Ocean Strategy to create new market opportunities.
- Prototyping & MVP Development: Building Minimum Viable Products to test and validate ideas.
- Investor Readiness & Funding Opportunities: Attracting investment by showcasing market-disruptive potential.
- Global Networks & Talent Development: Connecting local talent to international opportunities.
Top 7 Finalists
We are excited to announce the top 7 businesses selected for the French/EDHE AI & Blue Tech Incubation Programme!
In partnership with the French Embassy South Africa, the following student-led ventures represent some of the most innovative ideas in AI & Blue Tech:
- EcoMind AI – University of Kwazulu-Natal
- Gaianova – Sol Plaatje University
- Advanced Academy of Excellence – Nelson Mandela University
- NuFlo – University of Cape Town
- Groceify-SA – University of Kwazulu-Natal
- JellyPine Orbs – University of South Africa
- Shinrin AI – University of the Witwatersrand
Invitation to watch the Final Pitching event
Invite your friends, family & university community to support these businesses.
The four winners will be announced on 28 February on EDHE social media pages!
Judging Criteria Summary for Round 1 of the AI & Blue-Tech Entrepreneurship Challenge:
In this competition, we are looking for student entrepreneurs who can demonstrate innovative thinking, practical feasibility, and market impact through their business concepts.
Here’s what the judges will evaluate:
- Value Innovation (20%)
- Ideas that create entirely new market spaces by combining uniqueness with affordability, reducing competition.
- Scored on the novelty and differentiation of the concept.
- Market Potential (20%)
- Solutions addressing significant problems with broad appeal or a clear target audience.
- Focus on the scale of the problem and how the idea resonates with potential users.
- Commercial Viability and Scalability (20%)
- A business model that shows potential for profitability and wide adoption.
- Supporting evidence such as a go-to-market plan, user feedback, or financial projections will strengthen this score.
- Technical Feasibility (20%)
- Concepts leveraging existing, proven technology to deliver the proposed solution.
- Participants must present credible research or evidence supporting feasibility.
- Quality of Presentation (20%)
- A clear, engaging, and visually compelling presentation that captures the judges’ interest.
- Tools like a Strategy Canvas to demonstrate market positioning and differentiation are recommended.
Each of these criteria will be scored out of 5, ensuring a balanced evaluation of innovation, market readiness, and presentation quality. Judges will seek ideas that not only inspire but are also practical and impactful.
The virtual incubation programme will include aspects such as:
- Strategic Innovation and Business Model Development: participants learn to think beyond traditional market boundaries, employing frameworks like the Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) canvas and value innovation techniques to craft new business models.
- Prototyping and MVP Development: participants create prototypes or Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) that incorporate their unique value propositions, enabling quick market validation and testing.
- Investor Readiness and Increased Funding Opportunities: by showcasing innovative and market-disruptive potential, entrepreneurs attract investment, securing funding needed for scaling and enhancing their market presence.
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