9 SA startups to battle it out in Get In The Ring pitching competition

Nine South African startups have been chosen to to compete for top honours and funding opportunities in the global pitching challenge Get In The Ring 2015.

The Get In The Ring competition made its debut last year in South Africa and is part of the Dutch House of the Future programme. Today it has participants from 64 countries, connecting more than 3 000 entrepreneurs to thousands of funders and millions of fans.

The national leg of the competition, which takes place 17 to 18 November 2015, will decide which South African finalists will participate in the African finals in January next year. The international finals will then take place in Columbia, March next year.

Last year, Shalton Mothwa from EpoChip and GoMetro’s Justin Coetzee represented South Africa at the African Regional finals in Rwanda. GoMetro ended up winning the African finals and was ultimately named a runner-up in the international competition.

Read more: GoMetro launches low-cost data mobi site in all 11 official SA languages

The nine South African startup finalists have been sourced from three provinces and are as follows:

North West:

NewTech Rail (Jan Jooste): cheaper and more effective overhead systems for increased train speed.
Phat Pat Catering (Patricia Esterhuizen): consulting for the catering industry
Solar Bliss (William Hartzer): solar systems

Gauteng:

UmoyAir (Sapho Maqhwazima): a cross network, free mobile call platform
Tousca ( Dorian Toussaint): a global ground transport aggregator using a unique online tool.
Adfire Creative M3dia (James Sands): an app that lets anyone create their own 3D illusions.

Western Cape:

SnappSales (Karen Wessels): Innovative outsourced sales support.
Stokvella (Sebastian Daniels): an app designed to help regulate the Stokvel market by introducing a system of accountability and transparency to build trust.
AdCanvas: Branded coffee cups with insignia or for a chosen campaign message.

Image via Startups.be