RMB Ventures congratulates the winners of the 2025 Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) GreenPitch Challenge, which showcased South Africa's most promising green economy entrepreneurs at a hybrid pitch event held in Cape Town on 4 September 2025.

This year's finalists represented innovative solutions across the circular economy, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management sectors. From biodegradable agricultural products and vertical farming systems to solar waste recycling and water treatment technologies, the entries demonstrated the breadth and depth of South Africa's green economy potential.

The competition featured two categories to recognise businesses at different development stages:

• Early Stage Start-up – for proof-of-concept ventures running pilots and seeking seed funding
• Pre-growth – for registered, trading businesses with sales looking for Series A funding to accelerate expansion

RMB Ventures' Support for Green Innovation

As a key sponsor of the GreenPitch Challenge, RMB Ventures recognises the critical role that funding, mentorship, and networks play in scaling green businesses. The 10 finalists participated in an intensive investment readiness workshop sponsored by RMB Ventures in August, where they refined their business models, sharpened go-to-market strategies, and prepared for funding rounds. The workshop equipped participants with practical tools for market entry, regulatory compliance, investor communication, and funding strategies. Their remarkable progress was evident during the final presentations.

"Participating in and sponsoring the GreenPitch Challenge reinforced our belief in the innovation driving South Africa's green economy," said Aaron d'Souza, Value Creation Consultant at RMB Ventures. "These entrepreneurs are developing commercially viable solutions to critical environmental challenges while building scalable businesses with measurable impact. We're proud to support a platform that provides entrepreneurs with essential tools, networks, and visibility to succeed in this vital sector."

Announcing the Winners

Following comprehensive evaluation of business model viability, market opportunity, environmental impact, scalability potential, and team capability, the expert judging panel selected the following winners:

People's Choice Winner: Village Bucket Water Filter

Village Bucket Water Filters provide safe drinking water by removing 99.99% of harmful pathogens, including cholera, typhoid, and E. coli. Certified by SABS and aligned with World Health Organisation standards, these filters serve households using untreated water from rivers, wells, boreholes, or rainwater tanks. Requiring no electricity, chemicals, or replacement parts, the filters last over five years and are designed for schools, clinics, and homes in underserved communities. This low-cost, high-impact solution addresses urgent water safety needs across rural and peri-urban areas.

Early Stage Winner: Onmitek's Magnetic Repulsion Motor

This proudly South African innovation represents a breakthrough in motor technology built by South Africans, for South African conditions. The Magnetic Repulsion Motor (MRM) uses proprietary magnetic repulsion technology to create a frictionless industrial motor, delivering up to 30% lower energy consumption and 90% less maintenance compared to conventional motors. Its modular design enables easy retrofitting onto existing systems including pumps, conveyors, and HVAC units, while built-in solar/DC compatibility supports off-grid applications without inverters. Currently at proof-of-concept stage, the MRM targets high-demand sectors such as agriculture and mining, where power instability and diesel reliance create significant costs. Onmitek presented an Africa-focused solution addressing continent-wide challenges, with full product development expected by end-2025.

Pre-growth Winner: Peco Power

Peco Power delivers affordable, solar-powered home energy solutions to underserved communities through its flagship PowerBrick™ – a modular, plug-and-play solar system powering lights and essential appliances. A key value proposition is the ability to stack multiple PowerBricks, enabling customers to power additional household items as their energy needs grow. Using a rent-to-own model, customers make small monthly payments over two years, eliminating upfront cost barriers while enabling full ownership. A network of trained local entrepreneurs called Champions supports sales, installation, and maintenance, creating jobs and boosting community adoption. Peco Power combines clean energy access with financial empowerment and local economic development, offering a scalable solution for energy-poor areas across Africa.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 GreenPitch Challenge highlighted South African entrepreneurs' ability to develop world-class solutions addressing urgent environmental and economic challenges. These winners represent the future of sustainable enterprise in South Africa – combining environmental impact with commercial viability to create lasting value for communities, investors, and the broader economy.

RMB Ventures remains committed to supporting the continued growth of South Africa's green economy through strategic partnerships, mentorship, and investment opportunities that enable innovative businesses to scale and create meaningful impact.