Total is a major energy player, which produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity.
On the 5th of March 2019, winners of the 2018/19 Startupper of the Year by Total Challenge in South Africa were presented with their awards at an official ceremony held at Hyatt Regency Johannesburg.
These young entrepreneurs will collectively receive financial support of R900 000 to develop their projects. They will also receive personalised support, coaching and a communications campaign to publicise their projects.
Nyeleti Mabunda’s company GrandChem Industries participated in the 2018/19 Startupper of the Year by Total Challenge which is held simultaneously in 55 countries – 37 of which are in Africa, 11 in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East region, 4 in the Americas, and 3 in Europe. This challenge reaffirms Total’s commitment to social and economic development in host countries worldwide. By helping innovative young entrepreneurs to realise their projects, the challenge strengthens the local social fabric.
Calls for applications started last year in October where 1280 young people entered. The competition was strictly for Social Entrepreneurs with projects that are innovative, feasible and have a larger Social impact.
Nyeleti Mabunda entered the competition on behalf of her business GrandChem Industries with no hope of being selected. She did not submit the required documents, but amazingly she received an email from Total South Africa stating her business had been top ranked; meaning her business was part of the 100 selected projects.
Vahlave’s wildest dream had to wait for approximately 5 weeks for results on who made it to the top 15. She received yet another email stating GrandChem Industries has made it and is supposed to go pitch on the 8th February 2019; the rest is history.
Grandchem Industries, a company in the innovation space which aims to help obliterate the Health and Safety issues caused by mobile toilets. They provide convenient, flexible and high quality water less system. She has partnered with two students from the Witwatersrand University; Muhammad Ballim, a PhD Chemistry student who’s also part of the South African Scientist Society and Lubabalo Sawuli who is a BSC Chemistry Graduate and currently a post-graduate Law Student.
Making it to the top 13 was a dream for Grandchem Industries considering that they haven’t been in business for long. This to them is validation that they are on the right track and they should keep working harder and moving forward.
