Aspiring proptech innovators now eligible for Greenovate Awards

The Greenovate Awards are back and better than ever this year, with an exciting addition to the line-up – a brand new proptech category.

Now in its ninth year, this esteemed annual Greenovate Awards programme by SA REIT Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT) and Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has become the go-to platform for showcasing up-and-coming talent and innovations in the built industry.

Since launching in 2015, the Greenovate Awards have been all about sparking a passion for sustainable development in young students. Initially, the awards only included students of the built environment, then they added an engineering category. This year, for the first time, the Greenovate Awards will include technology solutions for a sustainable built environment.

Growthpoint’s Head of Sustainability and Utilities, Grahame Cruickshanks says, “There is vast opportunity in the proptech space for the real estate sector – both for unlisted and listed property – innovators and entrepreneurs alike. The possibilities include disrupting a conservative and slow-moving industry, attracting investment, boosting productivity, shifting mindsets to a technology-forward understanding of property, building better future cities, and enhancing tenants’ experience. This year, the Greenovate Awards will not only highlight green innovation but also showcase what’s next in proptech and sustainability within the South African context.”

GBCSA’s Head of Technical, Georgina Smit, says, “By encouraging innovation in the property technology sector, we create the potential for improved sustainability, higher occupancy, greater value, better communication, transparency and increased innovation in the real estate sector. The Greenovate Awards’ new category is a great way to get noticed and shape a more sustainable future. Technology has a key role in green building to create better more sustainable cities, towns and neighbourhoods.”

The challenge for all three categories – property, engineering and prop-tech – is simple: conduct research to propose unique and sustainable solutions to real-life problems, which will then be presented to a judging panel of industry decision-makers.

This year, those entering the Greenovate Awards will have access to some of the most exciting mentorship and collaborative opportunities available in the property industry today, with expert guidance and access to crucial resources.

And if that wasn’t enough, the top teams in each category will take to the innovation stage at the 2024 GBCSA Convention for a career-defining opportunity to present their ground-breaking projects to business leaders and influencers. All winners of the Greenovate Awards will also be treated to exclusive tickets to attend this event from the GBCSA, with a travel and accommodation allowance sponsored by Growthpoint.

Then, there’s also the R37 000 for the winning team in each category, with runner-ups receiving R18 500, and third place taking home R12 500, all sponsored by Growthpoint. There is also a prestigious award from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and linked to EDGE green building certification, an innovation of the IFC, where one winner between the property and engineering stream will receive a laptop and EDGE Expert training with the GBCSA. The top three participants from each stream will also win entry to a nationally recognised GBCSA Accredited Professional (AP) Candidate Course.

Proptech category entries will be accepted from Masters and PHD university students in property studies, construction, quantity surveying or engineering. Post-graduate Technikon students can also enter. What is more, for the first time the competition is extending entries beyond the student community to include small businesses working on technological innovation that are still within the research and development phase.

This year, participating universities include the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, University of Free State, University of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University, Northwest University, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and University of KwaZulu-Natal.

All proptech submission summaries must be entered by 31 July 2023. Ten finalists will be chosen from the entries and announced on 31 August 2023. All finalists will be invited to present their research to an expert panel of judges on 29 November 2023 and the winners in each category, will be announced at the prestigious gala dinner and prize-giving, an exclusive event with a reputation for opening doors for young green thinkers.

Getting your foot in the door with the Greenovate Awards comes down to three factors: originality, improving the property sector and increasing sustainability.

Ready to enter Greenovate Proptech 2023? What are you waiting for? Head over to greenovatecompetition.co.za register to sign up now. This is your chance to shine and be part of the next generation of game-changing planet shapers!