Denis Opudo
South Africa’s Chivas Venture was launched in 2014 to provide financial support to over 600 social enterprises. Successful enterprises were awarded an annual share of $1million fund to improve the welfare of future society. In 2017, about 29 countries took part across five continents globally.
Engineer Clement Mokoenene, an entrepreneur whose innovation in electricity plan was ranked the best in 2011 when he discovered the impact of A380 Airbus landing runways. During the interview, Mokoenene noted that his innovation was as a result of heat and pressure plans exacted on the runways. This condition starred his mind to think on ways through which pressure could be harnessed to generate electricity. He explained further that his Vehicle Energy Harvesting System (VEHS) Company operates in a manner similar to wind turbine principle. The final product of the company is energy generation for both domestic and industrial consumption. The type of energy obtained was 90% cheaper than South Africa energy from coal-fired power stations which had a great environmental impact.
Masie also marveled about innovation pointing out that it had a large positive effect on environment and human. He added that the idea will eradicate poverty, sustainable delivery of goods and services and improving the living standard of the society.
Mokoenene won $1million business funding after being announced the South Africa Chivas Venture winner of the year. He emerged the best during a stiff competition of five contenders chaired by a panel of three adjudicators. The panelists were convinced that Mokoenene’s company also stands a good chance of winning Amsterdam Chivas Venture IV competition.
According to Masie, there was a remarkable progress amongst entrepreneurs who participated in the final lap of Chivas Venture competition. He noted that Mokoenene’s innovation which drew the connection between electricity generation, road pressure and airplanes made him win R350 000.
Mokoenene attended accelerator programme in Oxford University for a period of one week before undertaking global Chivas Venture 2018 in Amsterdam.
