Prizes
The total prize money is R1 million with a R500,000 pool available for both the mobile and the green theme. The top three submissions in each of the two themes will receive the following prizes:
- First place – R250,000: R75,000 as a cash prize, and seed funding of R175000
- Second place – R150,000: R45,000 as a cash prize, and seed funding of R105,000
- Third place – R100,000: R30,000 as a cash prize, and seed funding of R70,000
Prizes will not be allocated by theme focus areas. In other words, more than one prize can be allocated to a single focus area, and not every focus area will receive a prize. Seed funding will be given in approximately three payments, tied to agreed development milestones. In addition to the cash prize and seed funding, the three winners will receive mentorship and commercialisation support. Where possible, the theme coordinators will facilitate linkages with local government for potential procurement of the solutions. Please refer to the Rules page for more information on eligibility and the awarding of prizes.
Adjudication
All submissions that meet the entry criteria will be judged by an adjudication panel consisting of industry experts as well as representatives from local government. Entries will be judged according to the following criteria:
- Innovation: this can be in the underlying technology, the application, or the business model, but the award will be for the appropriateness of the innovation.
- Impact on service delivery: we are looking for concepts that have great potential to improve local government service delivery. Entries that closely match gaps or opportunities recognised by local government, will be favoured.
- Feasibility of concept: the concept must be feasible to implement and be commercially viable. This will be evaluated by industry experts.
- Capacity to implement: judging of innovations will favour working solutions that are close to the commercialisation phase, rather than concepts. The technical and management capacity of the entrants will also be considered.
- Socio-economic impact: concepts which result in wider social and economic benefit will have an advantage.
Entrants do not have to be based in Gauteng to enter the competition, but local submissions will receive a significantly higher weighting in the adjudication. Similarly, smaller enterprises will have an advantage over larger companies.
The top five entries in the mobile and green themes will be invited to present their solutions at the awards ceremony, where the final decision will be made.
