Social Innovation
Meet The Innovators to Represent SA at Red Bull Basement World Final
'Ndzilo Fire Solution' is set to represent the nation on the global stage at the Red Bull Basement World Final in Tokyo, Japan. Read on to learn more:
This year’s Red Bull Basement winners presented a powerful concept that leverages AI technology to create a sensor that detects possible wild fires, impressing the local judges with its innovation, impact potential and technical feasibility.
Ndzilo Fire Solution, the winning team members expressed their excitement for the upcoming global final, stating: “It feels amazing to be the winners considering the fact that there was a lot of brilliant ideas, we are looking forward to representing the country in Tokyo and bringing it home for the first time.”
The Judges, Mixo Ngoveni and Ian Mangena
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
The South African judging panel, including notable tech visionaries Ian Mangena, Mixo Ngoveni and Mashudu Modau, assessed each idea on several criteria: originality, feasibility, business potential and alignment with global challenges. The judges were impressed by the ingenuity and forward-thinking approach demonstrated by all finalists.
Ian Mangena, a seasoned tech journalist and one of the judges, commented, “What I appreciate about Red Bull Basement competition is that it makes innovation more accessible and less intimidating, by showing people across South Africa that innovation is note a luxury, you don’t have to be super smart or have a technical background by virtue of you existing within a social crisis you are qualified to come up with a solution to a problem.”
Clarah Mailinda
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
Mixo Ngoveni, tech entrepreneur and community builder, also praised the winners, noting, “Red Bull Basement is great for young people to showcase their skills when it comes to solving local relevant problems, it also forms as a platform for them to compete on a global scale, so while they are thinking of local solutions they also thinking of solution on a global front.”
Learn More About Red Bull Basement
Mashudu Modau commented “ I think it’s such an incredible opportunity that Red Bull Basement has created, not only to challenge young creators and innovators to come up with solutions that have an impact on the world whilst thinking about solutions from a global sense of how things there are built and how the can affect the world we live in”
The South African finalists will now join other national winners in Tokyo, where they will receive mentorship, engage in AI-focused workshops, and pitch their ideas to an elite panel of global judges, venture capitalists and industry leaders. The global winning team will be awarded a three-week experience in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles in 2025, gaining exclusive mentorship and networking opportunities.