Applications for RE:SOLVE innovation challenge are open

Established by The Craft and Design Institute (CDI), a non-profit company and in partnership with the City of Cape Town, the RE:SOLVE challenge, an initiative that encouraged entrepreneurs to take the next step, has announced that applications for its second round are officially open.

Applications close on 24 October 2021

James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management at the City of Cape Town comments on the launch of the programme for its second year running. 

“We are proud supporters of the RE:SOLVE initiative as these unprecedented times call for innovative thinking and product creation. As a City, our primary focus is on recovery through innovation and the support of fresh ideas from our ecosystems. These innovations will ultimately lead to the stabilisation of the economy and job creation. We call on individuals, teams and SMEs to participate in this challenge.” 

The initiative aims to empower and encourage entrepreneurs and SMEs to create innovative solutions to economic opportunities, quality healthcare, food security, and water and sanitation.

The programme

Applications will undergo rigorous analyses and selected participants will be shortlisted to take part in the eight-month programme. Upon completion of the programme, the most viable business solutions will be given the opportunity to prototype their concept and win a share of R100 000 in grant funding. 

Erica Elk, Group CEO of the CDI provides insight into what the challenge aims to do.

“We are looking particularly for solutions that can improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our society. It’s a Challenge not just for designers, but for anyone who is passionate about contributing to finding solutions to some of our biggest problems and has ideas for products or services – new or already tried and tested in some way – that they want to get traction with. The RE:SOLVE Challenge is also ideal for those small businesses in the country who have ideas for new products or services that improve equitable access in our society – the Challenge can assist these innovative existing entrepreneurs to shift their concepts to the next level.”

Applications must be completed online and are open from 20 September 2021 and close on 24 October this year. 

The programme is funded by the City of Cape Town and managed by the CDI.

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Featured image: Surface via Unsplash