On the 14th of November 2024, Nova Pioneer Ormonde Senior held its inaugural Shark Tank event, marking a significant milestone for both the school and its students. The event provided an exciting platform for Novaneers to pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of distinguished judges, each bringing a wealth of experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
This event is part of Nova Pioneer’s commitment to shaping future-ready innovators and leaders by offering real-world opportunities to test entrepreneurial ideas, think critically, and drive social change. The energy was palpable as students presented their ventures, and the ideas pitched showcased a blend of creativity, sustainability, and social impact.
The Judges: Leaders Who Inspire Innovation
The Shark Tank event would not have been possible without the invaluable insights of our esteemed judges, who evaluated the pitches and shared their expertise with the participants.
Katleho Mohono
Katleho is a leadership development expert with over a decade of experience in corporate education and organisational growth. He is renowned for his ability to create transformational learning experiences, drawing from his background as a founding member of the African Leadership University and a key player in the pioneering team at ALX in Nairobi. As a master facilitator and coach, Katleho was instrumental in helping the students think deeply about leadership, resilience, and purpose in their ventures.
Currently, Katleho serves as the Co-Founder and CEO of NiaDelta, a leadership and culture consulting firm, and Executive Director at People Dynamics, a coaching and training company. His approach, which emphasizes problem-solving and collaboration, earned him the nickname “The Catalyst” and made him a key figure in Nova Pioneer’s Shark Tank event.
Samson Ayele
Samson’s background in economics, investment banking, and nonprofit leadership made him an invaluable judge at the Shark Tank event. With a degree from Harvard University, he worked at Lazard Freres & Co. and served as the Director of Finance & Development at NAMI Eastside. Currently, Samson is the Manager of the African Leadership Foundation and Project Leader at the African Leadership Academy.
His ability to understand complex business models and his commitment to the African leadership ecosystem provided participants with essential feedback on scaling their ideas, especially when it comes to business sustainability and impact.
Lesego Puso
A communications strategist and brand manager, Lesego brought a wealth of experience to the judging panel. With over 10 years of experience in brand communication and strategy development, she currently serves as the Senior Manager for External Communications at one of South Africa’s largest banks. Lesego’s career has spanned various markets globally, including the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, which made her uniquely positioned to evaluate how these student-led businesses could position themselves in the market and communicate their vision effectively.
The Winning Ideas: Business Models That Make a Difference
The Shark Tank event highlighted some truly inspiring ventures. The top three winning ideas showcased not just business innovation but also a commitment to sustainability and social change.
1st Place: Jabulani Khuzwayo and Molemo Kodisang – ClevrMind
The winning team, Jabulani Khuzwayo and Molemo Kodisang, presented ClevrMind, a social enterprise aimed at addressing unemployment in underprivileged communities through vocational training and job creation. They offer training in practical skills such as plumbing, electrical work, IT, and green jobs like solar installation and recycling.
ClevrMind’s recycling initiative is central to its mission, as it transforms waste into local products, benefiting both the environment and the economy. Their sustainable model of job placement and community empowerment earned them the top spot, with the judges praising their vision for a circular economy that combines economic mobility with environmental sustainability.
2nd Place: Kganya Morabe and Aliziwe Nobevu – Eco-Friendly Pad Brand
Kganya and Aliziwe impressed the judges with their sustainable eco-friendly sanitary pad brand, which prioritises both the health of young women and the planet. Their fully biodegradable sanitary pads are made from organic cotton, natural wood pulp, bamboo fiber, and plant-based plastics. The company’s mission is to empower young girls and women while reducing environmental impact, offering a sustainable, high-quality solution to period products.
Their pitch focused on comfort, quality, and environmental responsibility, demonstrating the potential for eco-conscious products to make a real difference in the market.
3rd Place: Njabulo Sithole and Balisa Lushozi – USY Bags
Njabulo and Balisa introduced USY Bags, a sustainable solution to the plastic waste problem in South Africa. Their reusable bags, made from eco-friendly materials and equipped with NFC tags for discount rewards, aim to reduce plastic pollution while encouraging sustainable consumer habits. The bags come in multiple sizes, with custom branding available for retailers.
Additionally, the pair’s “Bag to School” program allocates 30% of profits to fund bursaries for underprivileged students, blending environmental consciousness with social responsibility. The venture’s potential to create lasting impact was evident, and their vision for expanding the business and supporting education in South Africa stood out.
The Impact of Shark Tank on Nova Pioneer Students
Nova Pioneer’s first-ever Shark Tank event was a resounding success, offering students the chance to apply their academic learning in a real-world setting. The event encouraged critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration—key values embedded in the Nova Pioneer curriculum.
By providing a platform for students to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas, Nova Pioneer is helping shape a generation of innovators and leaders who are equipped not only with academic excellence but also with the practical skills needed to address global challenges.
The first Shark Tank event at Nova Pioneer Ormonde Senior is just the beginning. The creativity, passion, and purpose-driven ventures presented at the event showed the immense potential of our students. As Nova Pioneer continues to cultivate future-ready innovators, we look forward to more events that allow our students to grow as leaders and change-makers in a world that needs their voices and solutions.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from Nova Pioneer Ormonde Senior!
