Student innovators - last call to enter Red Bull Basement University challenge

Image credit: Michael Krosny

Following a successful launch last year, Red Bull Basement University invites the next generation of innovators to challenge the status quo and use technology to create solutions that drive positive change on campus and beyond.

A global collaborative initiative, Red Bull Basement University will travel to almost 30 countries in 2019. All university students in South Africa who have an idea for how to use technology to improve student life will be eligible to participate and submit applications. Red Bull Basement University encourages creative students to apply, including makers, hackers, coders, architects, designers and engineers.

Competition phases

Through a voting and judging process, Red Bull Basement University will select the brightest ideas from student innovators in South Africa and help them bring those ideas to life. The winner will enter a five-week development phase to further evolve their idea and project with the support of designated mentors.

The winner from each country will then be invited to the Red Bull Basement University Global Workshop, a four-day event comprised of lectures, workshops and mentorship sessions, all leading up to a final pitching competition and the selection of the global winner. The Red Bull Basement University Global Workshop 2019 will take place in Toronto, Canada from 12-15 December 2019.

Red Bull Basement University launched its inaugural program in 2018 with more than 300 universities and 16 countries participating. The global winning idea in 2018 was awarded to Team Vacant in Toronto, which designed a prototype that enables students to get real-time information on study space availability across different buildings on campus.

For more information or to apply, visit Red Bull Basement University. Applications are open till 28 October.