The EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge unlocks tech solutions to societal challenges
The EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge officially opened for entries on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, launching what organisers describe as a structured pathway to develop student innovations into viable, scalable ventures that address pressing societal challenges across South Africa and potentially beyond.
Implemented within the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme of Universities South Africa (USAf), the EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge is just one of four initiatives included in a USAf-Absa partnership aimed at creating a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem across South Africa’s 26 public universities.
With a total prize pool exceeding R1 million and a comprehensive support system including mentorship, boot camps, and incubation programmes, the challenge represents the largest student entrepreneurship initiative ever launched across South Africa’s 26 public universities.
Beyond ordinary business: a call for innovation
Ms Zana Boshoff (left), Project Manager for Entrepreneurship at Universities South Africa (USAf), emphasised during the launch on 25 June that this competition deliberately sets itself apart from conventional business competitions.
“The competition is about identifying and nurturing ideas that break the mould, challenge the status quo, and demonstrate transformative thinking,” Boshoff explained.
According to Boshoff, the Challenge seeks to trigger “the development of original solutions – both high-tech and non-tech – in the form of products, services, systems, or processes – that address real-world problems or opportunities in a novel, impactful way.”
Students and recent alumni are encouraged to think beyond conventional boundaries, offering solutions that are innovative, impactful, feasible, and scalable.
Comprehensive evaluation and support structure
The EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge unfolds through eight meticulously designed phases that guide participants from initial awareness through to complete business incubation, ensuring comprehensive support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
- Phase 1: Awareness campaign (17 June – 24 June 2025) – In this phase, a national campaign was run, informing students and alumni across all 26 universities about the competition opportunity.
- Phase 2: Official launch (25 June 2025) – The formal announcement of the USAf-Absa partnership doubled as the competition launch at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Phase 3: Entry period (25 June 2025 – midnight on 1 August 2025) – A month-long window for students and recent alumni to submit their innovative business proposals through the EDHE website.
- Phase 4: University-level shortlisting (2 — 8 August 2025) – Student Entrepreneurship Coordinators at each of the 26 universities conduct initial reviews, selecting the top two innovations from their institutions to ensure local expertise informs the evaluation process.
- Phase 5: National expert panel review (11 August 2025 – 15 August 2025) – A panel of judges comprising representatives from academia, industry, and EDHE, along with Absa recommendations, evaluate university submissions to select the top 20 national finalists.
- Phase 6: Bootcamp and mentor allocation (5 September 2025 – 6 September 2025) – The 20 finalists participate in an intensive two-day bootcamp and are paired with experienced mentors to guide their venture development.
- Phase 7: Mentorship programme (6 September 2025 – 14 November 2025) – An eight-week intensive development programme featuring eight contact sessions between finalists and their mentors, culminating in preparation for the final pitch.
- Phase 8: Finals and incubation (19 November 2025 – 21 November 2025 onwards) – Final pitching takes place on 19 November 2025, followed by the awards ceremony on 21 November 2025.
The top five winners then enter a dedicated incubation programme running from December 2025 through March 2026.
Record-breaking prize structure and support
The competition offers unprecedented financial rewards for student entrepreneurs:
- First prize: R500,000
- Second prize: R250,000
- Third prize: R150,000
- Fourth prize: R100,000
- Fifth prize: R50,000
Beyond the substantial cash prizes, winners will gain access to comprehensive business development support, including ongoing mentorship, potential market access through Absa’s procurement networks, and connections to industry partners.
Learning from current student entrepreneurs
The launch event featured a dynamic panel of seven student entrepreneurs who shared practical insights about managing the entrepreneurship journey while studying.
The panel, moderated by Ms Ntsiki Mkhize (standing, below), Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager at EDHE, showcased the diversity of innovations emerging from South African universities.
Sitting from left: Ms Humeira Hassan, Co-founder: Aquagreen Technologies, DUT; Dr Wessel Myburgh, Co-founder & CEO: Urobo Biotech, Stellenbosch University; Mr Ntobeko Promise Songcata, Co-founder: Pro’land and Projects, Rhodes University; Mr Emmanuel Kiyonga, Founder: Emmaceutics, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University; Mr Luyanda Mchunu, Founder: GrocieFy-SA, UKZN. Ms Anga Mzozo, Co-founder: AL Winery, University of Zululand; Mr Andile Mkhize, Founder: AgriValue, Mangosuthu University of Technology.
Healthcare and Biotechnology Innovation
Mr Emmanuel Kiyonga, the 2024 EDHE Student Entrepreneur of the Year from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, develops pharmaceutical treatments for breast cancer and nyaupe addiction through Emmaceutics. Dr Wessel Myburgh, co-founder of the Stellenbosch University spin-off Urobo Biotech, uses enzymes and microbes to break down problematic plastics while producing high-value chemicals. Mr Ntobeko Promise Songcata, co-founder of Pro’land and Projects from Rhodes University, created PetriCam, a device for real-time bacteria monitoring in healthcare and food sectors.
Technology Solutions for Food Security
Mr Luyanda Mchunu from the University of KwaZulu-Natal developed GrocieFy-SA, an e-commerce platform connecting consumers with retailer specials to reduce food waste and make groceries more affordable. Ms Anga Mzozo from the University of Zululand co-founded AL Winery, which repurposes overripe bananas from street vendors, transforming them into non-alcoholic wine, creating employment while reducing waste.
Agricultural and Environmental Innovation
Mr Andile Mkhize from the Mangosuthu University of Technology presented AgriValue, combining skills development with crop monitoring technology for remote farm management. Ms Humeira Hassan from Durban University of Technology showcased her co-founded initiative Aquagreen Technologies, which harvests algae to create affordable, nutritious feed supplements for aquaculture.
Practical advice for aspiring participants
The panellists offered candid advice about working with university systems and overcoming challenges. Several emphasised the importance of connecting early with their universities’ Student Entrepreneurship coordinators and taking advantage of university incubation facilities and support systems.
The entrepreneurs highlighted that success often comes from identifying problems within their communities and developing practical solutions rather than trying to create complex technologies without precise market needs.
They also stressed the importance of persistence, noting that many of their ventures evolved significantly from initial concepts and that university competitions like the EDHE InterVarsity Competition often serve as crucial stepping stones to larger opportunities.
Broad Scope, Focused Impact
While the competition draws inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Boshoff emphasised that there are no restrictions on categories or industries. “These themes are not rigid categories. They are points of reference to help participants identify how their ideas contribute to solving societal problems.”
The EDHE-Absa Challenge seeks solutions that demonstrate:
- Innovation and originality
- Problem-solution fit and solution-market fit
- Transformative impact and radical creativity
- Feasibility and development potential
- Sustainable approaches to emerging or overlooked problems
- Concepts that reimagine industries, communities, or systems
- Future-oriented thinking beyond just market readiness
- Scalability, replicability, and measurable impact
Eligibility and entry process
The competition is open to students registered at any of South Africa’s 26 public universities in 2025, as well as alumni who completed their studies between 2022 and 2025. All participants must be under 35 years old, and entries can be submitted individually or in teams of up to five members.
Boshoff stressed the importance of thoroughly reading the terms and conditions document available on the EDHE website, noting that this comprehensive guide would address many student questions. “We took much time to develop those terms and conditions, to explain some of the concepts, to give you examples, to give you the judging criteria, to prepare you well for your entry.”
Government support
The EDHE programme operates within a robust support structure that demonstrates the government’s commitment to entrepreneurship development in higher education. The programme is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and managed by Universities South Africa, the representative body of all 26 public universities in South Africa.
This institutional backing was evident during the launch, with Mr Phillip Tshabalala, Chief Director: Teaching, Learning and Research Development at the DHET, joining the launch online to extend “a message of support to this landmark EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge.”
Official call to action
Ms Mkhize officially opened the competition entries, encouraging students across all disciplines to participate. The competition website at www.edhe.co.za provides comprehensive information, including eligibility criteria, judging guidelines, and university coordinator contact details. Students can connect with their university’s Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator for local support and guidance.
Mr Sandile Shabalala, Senior Student Engagement Officer at EDHE, serves as the primary contact point for competition queries, available via WhatsApp on +27 78 103 2519 or via email at sandile@usaf.ac.za.
Entries for the EDHE-Absa Innovation Challenge close on 25 July 2025. Entry forms are available at https://edhe.co.za/edhe-absa-innovation-challenge/
Tersia Gouws is a commissioned writer for Universities South Africa.
