Celebrating cross-cutting green economy solutions with 2025 FNF GreenPitch Challenge winners
Peco Power (pre-growth) and OmniTek (early-stage start-up) are the respective category winners of the 2025 FNF GreenPitch Challenge, hosted by GreenCape in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) on 4 September 2025. Village Bucket Water Filter (pre-growth) and Arable Grow (early-stage) were respectively selected for the Innovate UK prize. Village Bucket Water Filters were also the People's Pick winner. The category winners and finalists of the 2025 FNF GreenPitch Challenge win cash and in-kind prizes to the value of more than R300 000. Prizes are sponsored by RMB Ventures, Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa, The Ethical Agency, Thinkroom and B-Lab Africa.
"At FNF, we believe entrepreneurship is key to addressing climate and sustainability challenges while unlocking the economic growth our country needs. We're inspired by the vision and drive of this year's finalists and proud to support them through the GreenPitch Challenge, together with our partners and investors, as they scale their solutions for a greener future," said Kwezi Sogoni from FNF.
The finalists for the 2025 FNF GreenPitch Challenge were selected from more than 200 entries, representing various green economy investment opportunity sectors, including circular economy, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water and sanitation. The judging panels consisted of investors and green economy eco-system enablers. The event was attended by close to 100 investors and green economy eco-system support organisations. Programme participation by the global Climate Finance Accelerator and National Treasury's Jobs Fund, provided a full-circle call for support of green businesses across the spectrum of business life-cycle stages.
"The Green Pitch Challenge was an exceptionally well-run event that highlighted the depth of innovation in the green economy in South Africa. The quality of the pitches and the calibre of entrepreneurs, both startup and pre-growth, were outstanding. It was inspiring to see passionate founders tackling real sustainability challenges with creativity and impact. RMB Ventures is proud to be a sponsor of this event, and we thank the GreenCape team for putting together this professional and energising platform," said Aaron d'Souza, Value Creation Consultant, RMB Ventures.
Pre-growth category winner: Peco Power is a renewable energy start-up bringing affordable, solar-powered home energy solutions to underserved communities. Its flagship product, the PowerBrick™, is a modular, plug-and-play solar system that powers lights and essential appliances. Through a rent-to-own model, customers make small monthly payments over two years, removing the barrier of upfront costs and enabling full ownership. A network of trained local entrepreneurs called Champions, support sales, installation, and maintenance, creating jobs and boosting community adoption. Peco Power's inclusive approach combines clean energy access, financial empowerment, and local economic development, offering a scalable solution for energy-poor areas across Africa.
"This event was a fantastic opportunity to see the sector from every angle, from funders and facilitators to accelerators and solution creators. Being in one room with all the key stakeholders truly broadened my perspective on the need in the sector and how to meet it. The hosting was impeccable, and the event was incredibly well organised, ensuring everyone was not only well-catered for but also given a part to play. My deep appreciation goes out to the GreenCape organising team and the sponsors for creating such a valuable initiative. Winning was amazing, it highlighted an important challenge of moving forward," said Rodney Landsberg, Business Development, Peco Power.
Early-stage category winner: OmniTek's Magnetic Repulsion Motor (MRM) is a frictionless industrial motor that uses proprietary magnetic repulsion technology to replace traditional contact-based components.
"My experience of the FNF Greenpitch Challenge was phenomenal. I'm mostly grateful for the pitch refinement sessions we had building up to the event, those sessions really helped me refine my pitching skills. The event itself was wonderful and I got to network with industry experts, potential clients and investors. Overall, it was a truly productive experience," said Phumelela Mkhize, OmniTek founder.
"Reflecting on this year's GreenPitch Challenge, I was inspired by the creativity of South Africa's early stage innovators tackling challenges in water, waste, energy and agriculture. Our prize winners are Arable Grow, advancing vertical farming, and Village Bucket Water Filter, delivering safe drinking water to underserved areas. We are proud to support both with post pitch mentorship and funding to help them scale their impact," said Nicola Redelinghuys, Innovate UK Business Connect: Global Alliance Africa.
Pre-growth Innovate UK & People's Pick winner: Village Bucket Water Filters provide safe, clean drinking water by removing dirt, contaminants, and 99.99% of harmful pathogens, including Cholera, Typhoid, E. coli, and more. Tested and certified by the SABS and aligned with World Health Organisation standards, these filters are ideal for households using untreated water from rivers, wells, boreholes, or rainwater tanks.
"The greatest part of this journey has been the support and guidance from experts. From the initial workshop to one-on-one support session in marketing, finance, product pricing, investor pitch presentation, etc. The lessons are priceless and have enriched how we approach various elements of our business going forward. Huge lessons learned also from fellow top 10 company owners, to see amazing solutions being presented made me feel part of a great Mzansi team working towards enhancing people's lives, society, country and making a positive global impact," said Ninky Shuenyane, Director, Village Water Filters SA.
Early-stage Innovate UK winner & People's Pick runner up: Arable Grow is an agritech start-up transforming urban food production through sustainable vertical farming. They design and manufacture locally built, hydroponic systems (ranging from desktop units to container farms) that grow fresh, pesticide-free produce year-round using 90% less water. Ideal for households, restaurants, and community projects, their systems bring farming closer to consumption, reducing food miles, emissions, and chemical use.
"The FNF Challenge was an incredible opportunity to showcase Arable Grow to a wider audience. I truly value these events for their networking potential, because building a startup in South Africa is no easy task, especially in such a tough and often closed market where being discovered can be challenging. The cash prize will go a long way, as access to funding in South Africa is notoriously difficult. It was also inspiring to see fellow entrepreneurs doing such amazing work and pushing boundaries in their fields," said Hein Duvenhage, Co-founder and CEO of Arable Grow.
Arable Grow (Sustainable Agriculture, Water): Arable Grow is an agritech start-up transforming urban food production through sustainable vertical farming. They design and manufacture locally built, hydroponic systems (ranging from desktop units to container farms) that grow fresh, pesticide-free produce year-round using 90% less water. Ideal for households, restaurants, and community projects, their systems bring farming closer to consumption, reducing food miles, emissions, and chemical use. Tailored for Africa's climate and resource challenges, Arable Grow also creates jobs, builds skills, and improves nutrition in water-stressed areas.
DC Solar Reclaim solar module disposal and recycling (Circular Economy, Renewable Energy): DC Solar Reclaim is launching South Africa's first dedicated end-of-life solar PV disposal and recycling service. With over 5.6 GW of solar installed and rapid growth ahead, safe, certified disposal is critical. Their service includes removal, site rehabilitation, material recovery, and regulatory compliance. They aim to secure R15 million in grant funding over three years to scale operations and infrastructure. By diverting hazardous solar waste from landfills, recovering valuable materials, and enabling circular economy practices, they create inclusive green jobs in logistics, disassembly, and site cleanup, stimulating local supply chains while supporting responsible, sustainable growth of South Africa's solar industry.
Dominion Solutions (Circular Economy, Sustainable Agriculture): Fish Renew is a circular waste management solution that transforms fish waste from aquaculture farms and processing facilities into high-value raw materials for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. By collecting and processing offcuts, shells, and nutrient-rich water, Fish Renew produces eco-friendly products such as collagen-based ingredients. Their programme offers a structured alternative to informal disposal methods, helping fish farms reduce environmental impact, meet regulatory compliance, and unlock new revenue streams. Through consistent, professional waste collection and resource recovery, Fish Renew supports a more sustainable aquaculture sector while advancing local green economies and responsible marine resource use.
OmniTek's Magnetic Repulsion Motor (MRM) (Renewable Energy, Sustainable Agriculture): The Magnetic Repulsion Motor (MRM) is a frictionless industrial motor that uses proprietary magnetic repulsion technology to replace traditional contact-based components. This results in up to 30% lower energy consumption and 90% less maintenance compared to conventional motors. Its modular design allows for easy retrofitting onto existing systems like pumps, conveyors, and HVAC units, while built-in solar/DC compatibility enables off-grid or hybrid power use without inverters. Currently at the proof-of-concept stage, the MRM is designed for high-demand sectors such as agriculture and mining, where power instability and diesel reliance drive high costs. Full product development is expected by end-2025.
Selectra's Asset Co. (Water, wastewater): Increased sewage treatment capacity without construction costs. Selectra, in partnership with Jaeger, introduces the ShearCon® process, an innovative solution to South Africa's wastewater infrastructure challenges. As aging treatment plants face growing urban demand and limited expansion space, ShearCon® boosts existing plant capacity by up to 50% without requiring new basins. Its compact design also enables smaller, cost-effective new builds. Locally manufactured, self-cleaning cassettes reduce operational complexity and eliminate the need for expert operators. This patented technology provides a scalable, affordable alternative to costly infrastructure overhauls, offering municipalities and utilities a practical path to improve wastewater treatment efficiency and resilience amid rising population pressures and limited public funding.
Agrikey Hydroponics (Circular Economy, Sustainable Agriculture): AgriKey Hydroponics builds vertical hydroponic systems that maximise crop production in limited spaces using nutrient-rich water solutions with minimal or no soil. Their versatile structures, including towers, A-frames, pipes, and wall-mounted units, are designed for commercial farms, communities, and households, supporting crops like lettuce, spinach, herbs, and small fruits. Beyond equipment, AgriKey operates an Agrihub supplying seedlings, organic compost, and ongoing agricultural support. Having empowered over 1 000 community members and subsistence farmers, they boost food security, increase incomes, and create jobs, especially for youth, who make up 90% of their workforce. AgriKey promotes sustainable, skill-building, urban and peri-urban farming solutions.
Peco Power's Power Brick (Renewable Energy): Peco Power is a renewable energy start-up bringing affordable, solar-powered home energy solutions to underserved communities. Its flagship product, the PowerBrick™, is a modular, plug-and-play solar system that powers lights and essential appliances. Through a rent-to-own model, customers make small monthly payments over two years, removing the barrier of upfront costs and enabling full ownership. A network of trained local entrepreneurs called Champions, support sales, installation, and maintenance, creating jobs and boosting community adoption. Peco Power's inclusive approach combines clean energy access, financial empowerment, and local economic development, offering a scalable solution for energy-poor areas across Africa.
Roc Water Technologies (Circular Economy, Water): Clean water and salt from leachate and brine. This innovative solution treats saline wastewater to recover clean water and saleable salts using freeze crystallization, with solar evaporation as a pre-treatment. Ideal for managing high-salinity effluents (up to 220 g/L), the process removes water via ice formation, allowing selective crystallization of valuable salts. Compared to traditional evaporation or distillation, freeze crystallization is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and significantly reduces CO₂ emissions. It also eliminates the need for long-term saline pond storage, reducing environmental risks. This approach provides a sustainable pathway for industries to transform waste into value, particularly in regions facing water scarcity and saline waste management challenges.
Village Bucket Water Filter (Water): Village Bucket Water Filters provide safe, clean drinking water by removing dirt, contaminants, and 99.99% of harmful pathogens, including Cholera, Typhoid, E. coli, and more. Tested and certified by the SABS and aligned with World Health Organisation standards, these filters are ideal for households using untreated water from rivers, wells, boreholes, or rainwater tanks. They require no electricity, chemicals, or replacement parts, and last for over five years. Designed for schools, clinics, and homes in underserved communities, the filters support safe drinking, cooking, and hygiene. This low-cost, high-impact solution addresses urgent water safety needs across rural and peri-urban areas.
If you are interested in partnering or investing into any of these businesses, please contact the GreenCape Green Finance team.