UKZN alumnus Ms Kelisha Pandaram, has been selected as one of the Top 7 business pitches presenters at the prestigious France/EDHE AI and Blue Tech Entrepreneurship Challenge.
The challenge is a competition that brings together student entrepreneurs from all 26 universities in South Africa to present AI-powered and Blue Tech solutions addressing global challenges.
This initiative is organised in partnership with the French Embassy in South Africa, Universities South Africa (USAf), and the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Programme, providing unique opportunities for young innovators to engage with industry leaders, policymakers, and academics.
Pandaram showcased her ground-breaking project, EcoMind AI, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) driven solutions to help protect and promote environmental sustainability.
‘The motivation behind this initiative stems from the urgent global need for data-driven environmental management, particularly in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecological degradation.
‘EcoMind AI aims to bridge the gap between advanced data analytics and practical sustainability efforts by focusing on collecting environmental data using AI-powered monitoring systems to help predict sustainability trends to help businesses, policymakers and governments track their environmental impact in real time and make informed decisions,’ she explained.
For Pandaram, being recognised as a finalist was both an honour and a validation of the role African-led innovation can play in sustainability and technology. She said the competition reinforced the global impact of African entrepreneurship, highlighting the powerful intersection of artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability and business innovation.
As a proud alumnus within the College of Law and Management Studies, Pandaram is determined to share her experience and knowledge with the University community through guest lectures, workshops and mentorship opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
‘One of the most valuable aspects of participating in the challenge was gaining first-hand exposure to the intersection of entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. I believe that insights from this competition can help shape how students at UKZN approach technological innovation,’ she said.
Pandaram, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours (summa cum laude), Postgraduate Certificate in Education (cum laude) and has recently completed her Master of Commerce (MCom) degree, credits her academic background to academic mentors, business professionals, and fellow researchers who guided her in this process, providing insights into the practical application of AI in sustainability.
Building on her success Pandaram recently did a four-month course to sharpen her entrepreneurial skills on a global platform and was awarded a Global Jury Certificate with distinction by the Wadhwani Foundation, in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, for her prototype educational app she developed as part of the UKZN 2024 cohort.
Words: Ayanda Radebe
Photograph: Supplied