Reliable energy solution wins The Pitch UCT 2025

Vuyo Hlongwane’s Caelix, a renewable energy company that leverages economic drivers and pioneering technology to make an impact, has come up trumps at The Pitch UCT finals. This year’s event was a special occasion as it was the 10th anniversary of the flagship student entrepreneurship programme and competition at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

The event, hosted at UCT’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB), was themed “From Campus to Continent: 10 Years of Entrepreneurial Vision”. For the past decade, The Pitch UCT has empowered over 1 000 students to transform ideas into real, impactful startups. The 10th anniversary finals combined Oscars-style elegance with entrepreneurial energy: live jazz by students from the South African College of Music (SACM) , vibrant decor, and a diverse audience of students, alumni, industry leaders, and senior UCT leadership.

“Caelix began in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, with solar panel, inverter, and battery sales to support households and businesses seeking reliable energy solutions. Building on that foundation, we are expanding our energy product portfolio by developing a robust process for producing biodiesel from used cooking oil. In simple terms, we take something as ordinary as waste cooking oil – which would normally be discarded – and transform it into biodiesel, a cleaner fuel that can power vehicles, trucks, and farming equipment,” said Hlongwane.

A master’s student in chemical engineering, Hlongwane was up against fellow students who wowed the judges and audience and left people with the sense that innovation and entrepreneurship is in safe hands, so long as there are opportunities to showcase them.

The Pitch UCT’s vision is to make the institution the heart of Cape Town’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, where students turn bold ideas into ventures that uplift communities, inspire change and lead South Africa into the future. Spearheaded by founder Frank Karigambe, The Pitch UCT is led by the Academic Representative Council in the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) in partnership with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

The initiative is supported by the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika), the Solution Space at the UCT Graduate School of Business, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, the Residence Academic Development Committee (RADC), UCT Careers Service and the Development and Alumni Department (DAD).

Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, UCT’s deputy vice-chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, said with its partners such as the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, there is an appreciation of paying it forward, while internal partnerships within the university cultivate a blossoming ecosystem.

Business ideas ranged from ways to overcome food insecurity and a student-focused digital marketplace, while others focused on wellness. “These are great ideas; they show that our students can identify gaps in the market and tap into them. These are the hallmarks of astute entrepreneurs,” said Professor Ramugondo. “To those who will win, know that we won’t stop supporting you.”

Dr Nontobeko Mabizela, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, said their journey with The Pitch UCT is defined by a vision to ignite a generation of entrepreneurs who would not only create wealth for themselves, but to make a difference. “For us, it’s been two decades of cultivating potential and betting boldly on the dreams of young individuals, many of whom who would not have seen themselves as entrepreneurs.”

UCT alumnus and Busamed CEO, Dr Dumani Kula, delivered an address on the evening, and complimented the introduction of a pillar on innovation and entrepreneurship as part of the university’s strategy going forward: “It is timely, and those of us who are in corporate should rally around it.

“Yes, people need financial support, but often the biggest support needed is access to the market. Once you have identified a problem, you must build a sense of purpose around it because it is much easier to mobilise people around purpose.”

Validation

Hlongwane added: “The Pitch UCT was an incredible experience. It pushed me to refine my business model, sharpen how I communicate the vision, and connect with other inspiring entrepreneurs. I’d also like to thank the judges who collaborated with The Pitch UCT; their feedback was practical, insightful, and very helpful in shaping how I think about scaling Caelix. I truly enjoyed the constructive input and the energy of being in a space that celebrates innovation.

“Winning The Pitch is a major milestone. It validates all the hard work we’ve put into Caelix, and it shows that renewable, community-focused solutions can capture people’s imagination. For me and the team, it’s a source of motivation to keep building and contributing toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for South Africa.”

The winners will receive several benefits, including mentorship from Allan Gray, support from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for their venture needs as well as getting masterclasses from UCT alumni, among others.