The winning business idea presented by the UMPCFERI multidisciplinary team focused on converting ripe mangoes into dried snacks, and byproducts (leaves, seeds and peels) into compost, to support rural communities in Mpumalanga.
The Ideathon Competition is an international competition organised by UNICC, a forum comprising 17 universities from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India and South Africa. Its objective is to enhance capabilities in assisting startups, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and skills, and foster resource sharing.
The platform also offers investors opportunities to discover new ventures and can enhance visibility, broaden networks, facilitate connections with potential partners, investors, and accelerators, and unlock additional resources.
UMPCFERI Centre Manager, Professor Kanayo Ogujiuba, said: “The 2024 UNIIC Ideathon Competition provided our students and budding entrepreneurs with the unique opportunity to expand their networks, and engage with potential partners, accelerators, and forge meaningful relationships with participants from other universities.”
UMPCFERI team presented in the Vertical: Health and Wellness category.
Students at partner universities within the consortium, equipped with early-stage ideation, undergo screening at their respective institutions. Those selected engage in a series of online workshops, culminating in a pitch during the physical Demo Day event at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.
This technology-based business idea competition has five categories: Smart Cities, Climate Action, Food Innovation, Agriculture, and Health and Wellness. More than 156 students from various universities participated in the global competition and their business concepts were assessed by judges based on the ability to demonstrate innovativeness, social impact, teamwork, communication, and business feasibility.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the award at UMP, Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso hailed the team’s dedication, discipline, and professionalism.
“Your work is a true reflection of our graduate attributes, which require you to be resourceful, responsive, and responsible, have critical thinking skills and be knowledgeable, be innovative and entrepreneurial, become effective communicators, be ethically and socially aware change agents and lastly, be adaptable. You have demonstrated traits of greatness, and may you continue to make us proud as the UMP community,” she said.
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