Falling Walls Lab

Cape Town 2025 showcases bold ideas

Today, Cape Town became the stage for some of the brightest young minds in science, technology, and social innovation as the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025 took place. This unique event challenged each finalist to present a groundbreaking idea in just three minutes, an idea capable of breaking down barriers holding society back. From health and education to sustainability and entrepreneurship, the pitches highlighted the power of bold thinking to reimagine the future.

The Lab was proudly organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), with the support of esteemed partners, including the City of Cape Town Municipal Council, the University of Cape Town, and the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (the ‘D-School’). Their involvement reflects a growing commitment to fostering innovation.

The line-up of finalists showcased the diversity of challenges and opportunities facing South Africa, Africa, and the wider world. In a country where children face profound difficulties, from abuse to poverty, it was heartening to see young innovators tackling these issues head-on. Courtney Hodgeson presented her vision for Breaking the Wall of Ending Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence through a novel intervention to curb predatory behaviour on dating apps. Rahul Rama-Panchia’s pitch, Breaking the Wall of Childhood Safety & Abuse, introduced a game designed to teach South African children bodily safety and empower them to speak out. Similarly, Charne Verster’s Breaking the Wall of Worn-out Paths offered an innovative shoe that grows with a child’s foot, easing the financial strain on low-income families.

Health innovations were another highlight. Timmy Joji’s Breaking the Wall of Avoidance explored the use of virtual reality therapy to tackle mental health challenges, while Eurinah Koeras’s Breaking the Wall of Harmful Prostate Cancer Therapy proposed a natural, organic approach to prostate cancer treatment. Ahlisha Chetty followed with her work to Break the Walls of the Deadliest Infection, offering a unique solution to treat tuberculosis.

Agricultural and environmental challenges were also explored. Joelle Bel-Ange Ndongmo Vouffo Epse Tsopze impressed with her drought-resistant plant research in Breaking the Walls of Sustainable Agriculture Under Drought Stress. Isaac Ngwata addressed energy inequality and its connection to food insecurity, proposing solutions for Africa’s most climate-vulnerable communities in his presentation, Breaking the Wall of Hunger and Energy Access.

Ultimately, Candace Eslick emerged as the winner with her compelling project, Breaking the Wall of Clean Cooking in Africa. Her innovation tackles the widespread use of unsafe and polluting cooking methods across the continent, offering a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable alternative. For her outstanding work, Candace received R15,000 and earned the opportunity to represent Cape Town at the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin on 6 November 2025.

The judges also recognised two exceptional runners-up: Joelle Bel-Ange Ndongmo Vouffo Epse Tsopze, who took second place, and Rahul Rama-Panchia, who was awarded third.

Reflecting on this year’s competition, Kwezi Sogoni of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom noted:
“This was the most competitive cohort of finalists we’ve selected, and it showed in the quality of their presentations. Our new partnerships enabled us to access networks of emerging and talented innovators that we were previously unable to reach as successfully as we did this year. We are excited and proud of every finalist and their courage and commitment to changing our society through innovation.”

The Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025, organised by FNF and its partners, showcased not only the creativity and determination of its participants but also the immense potential of young innovators to break barriers and create a better future for all.