Die LaunchLab het oor die afgelope vier maande, in samewerking met die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US), die Stellenbosch Innovasie Distrik en Sustnet, entrepreneurs uitgedaag om met moontlike oplossings vir die  water- en vermorsingkwessies in die Wes-Kaap en Suid-Afrika vorendag te kom.

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The LaunchLab received many sign-ups and pitch submissions, which were narrowed down to the best 11 finalists. The four winners of the Water & Waste Management Innovation Challenge were chosen on 17 May 2017. They are:

• Jacobus Els - Revolute; A soil moisture monitoring system designed for commercial farms and research usage.
  
• Peter Turner - GreenChain Technology; An automated grey water system, integrated with a rain water solution.
  
• Jurie Erwee - Bridgeiot; A smart geyser control system on an IoT platform.
  
• Bettina Botha - Eva Solutions; An Eva spheres solution, plastic balls designed from recyclable materials, aimed at reducing the evaporation of dam water by 90%.  
  

The judging panel consisted of six judges selected from the Stellenbosch Municipality, Israeli High Commission, Enkanini Research Center, Aurecon and Stellenbosch University.  These 4 winners each wins seed funding and incubation support from the LaunchLab for the next 6 months to be used to launch and grow their business ideas. 

The LaunchLab will be carefully monitoring the development of these business ideas during this time to gauge their potential to positively impact or improve the water and waste issues in the Western Cape and South Africa. 

The competition came in the wake of a worsening water crisis in South Africa and the Western Cape. 

"South Africa is currently facing a multi-faceted water crisis, which, if not addressed effectively, has the potential to significantly limit the economic growth potential of the country," the SA Integrated Water Quality Management Plan reads. 

"Currently the Western Cape Government is busy with a review of its 'Sustainable Water Management Plan'. The government's role in water management is an imperative, however, achieving more sustainable outcomes requires full participation by universities and researchers, the private sector and citizens," a LaunchLab statement reads.