{"id":4489,"date":"2017-09-04T13:17:42","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T11:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/studentnewsgrid.com\/?p=4489"},"modified":"2017-09-04T13:17:42","modified_gmt":"2017-09-04T11:17:42","slug":"witsie-creates-wireless-charger-bid-win-100k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentnews.africa\/sng\/2017\/09\/04\/witsie-creates-wireless-charger-bid-win-100k\/","title":{"rendered":"Witsie creates wireless charger in bid to win 100K"},"content":{"rendered":"

A WITS engineering student has created a long-range wireless charger that has placed him in the top eight for Can Do! The unbreakable competition 2017<\/a>. The competition seeks to invest in and help young entrepreneurs, aged between 18 and 34, to grow their operating business.<\/p>\n


\nLungelo Sigudla, a second-year mechanical engineering student, is one of the eight on the list and designed the long-range wireless charger last year.\u00a0\u201cIt can charge your phone wirelessly over a distance of 10 to 15 metres,\u201d he said. The product is made up of a transmitter and a receiver. \u201cRadio waves are sent over the wall socket transmitter directly to your receiver, which is attached to your phone, to charge it wirelessly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The transmitter of the wireless charger which plugs into a socket. Photo: Provided<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

A receiver attached to a phone which receives the radio waves sent from the socket transmitter. Photo: Provided<\/p><\/div>\n

The 20-year-old student created this technological innovation under a company he founded last year called Polygon Energy. He describes the company as a \u201cconsumers\u2019 electronics company\u201d focused on creating products to improve innovation in South Africa. Sigulda\u2019s company currently works with manufacturers and suppliers on a contract base to design the charger. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten a lot of help from other people which has helped take my brand and product far,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sigulda attended the Wits Student Entrepreneurship Week, which took place this week, to gain insight on how to run his company. Tumi Ngqondo, technology transfer manager from Wits Enterprise, touched on issues that students encounter as entrepreneurs. \u201cYou develop a piece of technology but in a way, through your marketing, you could be possibly targeting the wrong people in that they may not be the people interested as opposed to taking a piece of technology further,\u201d Ngqondo told Wits Vuvuzela.<\/p>\n

Sigulda\u2019s product initially was designed to assist individuals in rural areas who do not easily have access to electricity but now Sigudla believes that his product can impact the whole of South Africa. \u201cI started this product out of need, for the fact that it solves an existing problem that people aren\u2019t able to charge easily and accessibly,\u201d he said. \u201cImagine what capabilities this product brings.\u00a0We are able to send energy to people who have never had energy their whole life,\u201d he added.\u00a0Ten thousand chargers are currently being manufactured and Sigulda hopes the product will be on the market in November this year.<\/p>\n

Other businesses developed by young entrepreneurs on The unbreakable competition\u2019s top eight include a hand crafted beard care kit, a clothing brand, a digital brand consultancy and a product based on bio charcoal. The winners are chosen based on the number of votes they receive online by Friday, September first. These will be confirmed by a panel of judges. The winner will receive R100 000 in \u201cvaluable resources\u201d. The winner will be announced on September 22.<\/p>\n

Watch Lungelo Sigudla\u2019s video for the CAN DO! Unbreakable Top 8 on his wireless charger product.<\/p>\n