Mobile operator Cell C has launched an innovation challenge that could provide an incentive for small information and communication technology (ICT) business innovators to accelerate their proposed solutions.

The mobile operator, in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency, will make available to disadvantaged small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) with “great ideas” a partnership opportunity comprising interest-free loans, mentorship and an opportunity to potentially work with Cell C as a preferred supplier.

The Cell C Innovation Challenge will be the ideal platform to support both entrepreneurship and transformation in the ICT industry, says Cell C chief human capital development and transformation officer Juliet Mhango.

“We believe in the exponential growth that technology-enabled services can bring to the world of work and play and want to be the catalyst that enables first-stage entrepreneurs to catapult their startup concepts into businesses.

“We have, over the past few decades, seen how innovation in the ICT industry has led to employment and transformation in South Africa – we want to enable the next wave of technology upstarts to do the same,” she continues.

The Cell C Innovation Challenge, in a quest to find the innovators and entrepreneurs with the “next big technology ideas” to invest in, opened early in October and the first initial round of pitches kicked off on October 30 and 31 at Cell C.

“There is no deadline. Your idea could still be selected to present at future pitch days thereafter,” the company assures.

Business ideas will be assessed for their viability and innovative nature and entrepreneurs will be able to pitch their ideas in person to a select panel of judges.

The product and/or solution presented needs to be a digital, next-generation, commercially viable, scalable product or service using mobile technologies and fall within the ICT sector.

An expert panel will undertake the initial screening and identify a shortlist of finalists, who will then present to a second expert panel at the pitch days.

“There will not be a winner or winners, [but] rather successful concepts which Cell C can choose to invest in.

“There may be more than one successful SMME, so we are hoping that businesses will come out in numbers to provide compelling pitches,” says Mhango.