A solution to help reduce greenhouses gas emissions from cars has won the second edition of the City of Joburg Green City Startup, walking away with a R1 million grand prize.

Ducere Holdings’ solution called MISER, is a fully automated transmission system which can be fitted on old and new vehicles to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieving fuel savings of up to 70% for motorists.

“Thank you, the City of Joburg. This award is encouraging. I share a passion for Johannesburg. It’s unbelievable what this means to us. The main thing for us is collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and independent parties. By the middle of next year our company will be making money rather than spending money,” Ducere Holdings CEO, Andre Reynecke, said being announced the winner.

Watch a video of how MISER works, at the bottom of this article.

The R400 000 second prize went to Solid Insight, for its one-stop solution to resource use in buildings, which brings energy and water data to the age of cloud computing.

Third prize worth R300 000 went to Rydawi Fish Farms for its Farm-in-a-box, which is a complete farming system, ready to add water and Tilapia fish and is ideal for small scale farmers.

Green City Startup was developed by the City of Joburg in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and Resolution Circle to unearth creative green entrepreneurs whose ideas could help boost Johannesburg’s green economy.

“I look up to you. Every idea impacts the world. I would love to be able to conceptualise ideas but it is far easier in politics. This programme has been our key achievement since we have been in government,” said Joburg MMC for Economic Development, Sharon Peetz.