You can vote SA social entrepreneur onto global success – Times LIVE

As the South African winner of Chivas Regalas global The Venture II competition for his potentially life-saving app CrashDetech, Mr Gerrits will join 26 other young entrepreneurs from around the globe in New York for the chance to win a portion of a US$1 million pool that will take their humanitarian aspirations as far as possible.

Having been in the tech industry for about 14 years, he acknowledges that there are insurance giants in South Africa who offer impact-assistance devices as part of their packages. However, 70% of the population have no insurance on their vehicles and, so, no life-saving backup.

aIn a global context, there are about 1.3 million people killed and about 50 million injured in car accidents every year,a says Mr Gerrits. The monetary cost is also sobering, with South Africaas economy losing more than R300 billion annually.a

CrashDetech is affordable, can be downloaded onto cell phones regardless of whether the user has insurance, and is backed by the countryas largest independent register of emergency services and personnel to ensure accident victims get help as soon as possible.

The device springs into action as soon as an impact is sensed: An automated voice begins an emergency countdown. Now it is on to New York for the opportunity to asella a panel on the social benefits and scalability of his business.a

Although he is looking forward to pitching his idea, Mr Gerrits acknowledges that his chances to walk away with the lionas share of the million-dollar prize rely not only on his belief in his product and his ability to make the judging panel believe in it, too, but also the backing of his home country: he needs South Africans to start casting votes for CrashDetech to influence the final decision.

A total of US$250A 000 is based on votes alone, and if you wish to support your fellow countryman and his world-changing, life-saving innovation, go to www.theventure.com/global/en/finalists/crashdetech.