Dancing to victory in Impact Inspired Launchpad

Image: @impacthubjoburg

The 2018 cohort was a group of entrepreneurs focused on finding solutions to South African health challenges. The programme consisted of several modules designed to move these social enterprises from concept stage to market-ready ventures. Between modules, participants immersed themselves in the environment of their end-users, tested their solutions, received feedback on their prototypes and guidance from mentors and industry experts.

Midway through the process, they participated in a hackathon where participants and community members worked together to find solutions to operational challenges, as well as a pitch event where they pitched for small loans to help them implement solutions and strategies on their way to market-readiness. At the end of the programme, the 2018 finalists pitched their ideas to the five judges, who selected the winners of the prize money, sponsored by Novartis.

Geluksdal Dance Academy, winner of the R50,000 first prize, is an academy that not only teaches youth to dance and in doing so keeps them active and healthy, but also trains dance instructors who can eventually open their own studios and create jobs.

The runner-up, winning R25,000 was Mammo on the Move; a mobile clinic that goes to patients to do cancer screens and referrals. For more information, contact them on https://twitter.com/breastcadvocacy