Cape Town-based non-profit green economic solutions development support organisation GreenCape on Friday announced the winners of the 2023 FNF GreenPitch Challenge. They are, in the startup category, BAOM eco solutions (BAOM) and, in the pre-growth category, Biological Agricultural Era (BioAge). BAOM and BioAge will now both receive a set of prizes, sponsored by (listed in the order given by GreenCape) RMB Ventures, Google Startups for Sustainable Development, LaunchLab, sarebi (spelt with a small s), AltGen and The Ethical Agency.

Biotech startup BAOM has developed 100% home-compostable biofilms as an alternative to flexible plastics. It has so far developed five prototype categories of these biofilms (see www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/cape-town-startup-seeks-to-replace-plastics-with-home-compostable-bio-materials-2023-07-14/).  

“So glad we participated in this awesome challenge,” said BAOM co-founder and product development lead Melian Dott. “Thank you for believing in BAOM and our projected impact.”

“The GreenPitch challenge was an incredible opportunity to be involved in, from innovative inspiration to partnering networks and highly valuable business-concept workshopping,” enthused BAOM co-founder and business development lead Chloe Cormack. “Gaining access to such incredible minds and support was invaluable. BAOM is over the moon to have won the startup category and shared in this rare opportunity to accelerate green economic businesses forward. Thank you to GreenCape and all the sponsors and judges for your dedication to green success.”

Agri-biotech startup BioAge has developed, as its flagship product, a liquid organic fertiliser, which it has branded as Nitro-Gro. This also acts as a plant bio-stimulant.

“The experience for BioAge has been phenomenal and created a pathway to scale our footprint across South Africa,” affirmed BioAge founder and CEO Reuben Riley, in a brief statement. (BioAge’s other founder, and COO, Solomzi Xintolo, did not issue a statement.)

“It was again a privilege to be part of this challenge that helps empower the green economy and links entrepreneurs to not only capital, but additional capabilities required for success,” highlighted RMB Ventures private equity transactor Ewan Gray. “This initiative is congruent with our purpose to empower South Africans to achieve their full potential. We applaud all the finalists for their remarkable ideas and efforts towards solving environmental problems, as well as seeking attractive commercial business models.”

The other finalists in the 2023 GreenPitch challenge were – AG BEYONG SUSTAINABILITY (AG as in agriculture), Disa Scientific, Greenmovement Energy, INO-Biodiesel, Learn Base Energy, Optima Agrik, Regen Organics, and STROOM Electric Cargo Delivery System.