Innovative solution to safe drinking water for Africa
FOURWAYS – Read to find out who is the winner of The Venture III SA.
After a nationwide search for the best innovative business idea, an pioneering solution to safe drinking water for Africa has been announced as The Venture III SA winner.
James Steere, co-founder and director of I-Drop Water, was announced as the winner of the competition. Steere said 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa did not have access to safe drinking water, and this resulted in enormous social and economic costs that could hold communities back from full development.
I-Drop Water designs, develops and deploys water purification and dispensing units that sell safe drinking water at affordable prices at local grocery stores.
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I-Drop Water’s purification process is 100 per cent environmentally friendly. During the removal of bacteria and viruses from the water, no electricity or chemicals are used and no waste water is produced.
“We at I-Drop Water see the lack of access to clean, safe drinking water as not exclusively a government problem, but one that the business community could help solve,” said Steere.
“For instance, people who can afford bottled water pay a premium for a commodity that should be low-cost while destroying the environment with plastic waste. We aim to break this pattern.”
Launched in 2014, The Venture is a Chivas Regal Global Social Entrepreneurship competition aimed at supporting businesses that do well by doing good and bring about positive change.
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“Access to clean and safe drinking water is not a problem unique to South Africa but one which affects millions across the world and, thus, through The Venture we aim to support socially conscious entrepreneurs such as Steere, who is motivated and inspired to positively impact the world,” said Shelley Reeves, marketing manager at Chivas Regal South Africa.
She added that Steere would travel to the global final of the competition in Los Angeles, where he will compete against other deserving finalists from 31 countries across six continents for a share of $1 million (over R13 million) to take his business to the next humanitarian level.
Do you know of other entrepreneurs that are worthy contenders? Tell us @Fourways_Review
