Meet Tumelo Photolo, 24, who is changing lives with innovative idea

- A local man has invented a solar cellphone charger

- The 24-year-old used money he won to develop the product

- His product is currently being worked on at the Central University of Technology in the Free State

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A young man from Qwa Qwa has developed a solar cellphone charger – with the battery neatly tucked into a cellphone cover. Tumelo Photolo used money he won to develop the product.

The small battery is solar powered, meaning it converts energy from sunlight into electricity. When the sun sets, it uses energy it has stored to charge the phone. The 24-year-old won R100 000 in the Destea Tabalaza Pitching Session in 2018 and used the money to fund the project.

The Tabalaza Pitching Session tat encourages entrepreneurship among young people by identifying business ideas and products that can be supported by potential investors.

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Photolo is of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church faith and explained that when he went to the church’s annual gathering in Moria, he and many congregants struggled to find places to charge their phones.

He saw the need as a business opportunity. Speaking to SowetanLIVE, he said:

“I don’t give up because I believe that every problem has a solution, all we need to do is stretch our minds."

He went on to say that business requires someone who is innovative and who is always looking for ways to develop and improve the idea and business.

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Photolo’s product is currently at the Product Development Technology Station at the Central University of Technology in the Free State.

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Source: Briefly News