--- title: "From Cape Town to Berlin — Innovators Called to Break Barriers at Falling Walls Lab 2025" description: "Last year, in a packed arena in Berlin, 26-year-old Sekelo Shude stood before an international audience of scientists, researchers and innovators pitching an idea born in the informal settlements of Durban and shaped by the resourcefulness of his single mother." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Sponsored Content" author: "Friedrich Naumann Foundation" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/friedrich-naumann-foundation/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-15-from-cape-town-to-berlin-innovators-called-to-break-barriers-at-falling-walls-lab-2025/" published: "2025-07-15T05:26:24" updated: "2025-07-15T10:40:08" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 595 --- # From Cape Town to Berlin — Innovators Called to Break Barriers at Falling Walls Lab 2025 > Last year, in a packed arena in Berlin, 26-year-old Sekelo Shude stood before an international audience of scientists, researchers and innovators pitching an idea born in the informal settlements of Durban and shaped by the resourcefulness of his single mother. By Friedrich Naumann Foundation · Published 15 July 2025, 07:26 SAST · Updated 15 July 2025, 12:40 SAST ## Key points - In a world drowning in plastic, Sekelo Shude is paving the way—literally—by transforming trash into treasure with his innovative bricks, while the call for the next wave of South African innovators to break barriers at the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025 echoes louder than ever. - Sekelo Shude’s project transforms plastic waste into paving bricks, showcasing innovation and community impact despite not winning the top prize. - Applications are now open for the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025, inviting South Africa’s next generation of innovators to pitch their ideas. - The Falling Walls Lab serves as a global platform for young minds to tackle societal challenges across various fields, culminating in a pitch at the Berlin Science Summit. - Supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Lab aims to empower local talent and provide opportunities for mentorship and networking on a global stage. ## Content His project — “Breaking the Wall of Plastic Pollution” — turns discarded plastic into paving bricks, collected from local landfills and informal recyclers. It’s simple, effective, and profoundly impactful: reducing plastic waste, creating income opportunities, and producing sustainable materials for roads and pavements. Though Sekelo didn’t win the top prize, his story — one of resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to community — resonated well beyond the Summit’s walls. Now, a new call has gone out: Applications are open for the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025, and South Africa’s next generation of changemakers is being urged to step forward. ![Falling Walls Lab CT 2024 Winner Sekelo Shude in Berlin in November 2024 - Falling Walls Lab Foundation.](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Ki_uw6hHalXDeEzXl1BpFusHXZo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Apply-Now-ZA.jpg) *Falling Walls Lab CT 2024 Winner Sekelo Shude in Berlin in November 2024 - Falling Walls Lab Foundation.* Falling Walls Lab is not just a competition. It’s a global platform that brings together the brightest young minds in science, entrepreneurship technology, and social innovation. Participants from more than 70 countries pitch ideas aimed at breaking down the “walls” that hold society back — whether they be environmental, economic, political, or scientific. At its core, Falling Walls is about turning bold ideas into real-world impact — challenging the status quo, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and imagining solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing problems. Innovators are called to submit their application via an online portal on the Falling Walls website. Selected finalists are invited to Cape Town to present a three minute pitch of their world changing idea within any academic field of research. A winner with the best and most practical idea will earn the chance to represent Cape Town, present their pitch at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, sharing the stage with some of the most talented young innovators in the world. ![Falling Walls Lab CT August 2024 - Premier Winde1 - Friedrich Naumann Foundation.](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/lTTfhkR5c_BHE0mpGqUgv_H21wg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Falling-Walls-Lab-CT-August-2024-Premier-Winde1-Copyright-Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation.jpg) *Falling Walls Lab CT August 2024 - Premier Winde1 - Friedrich Naumann Foundation.* Supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the Cape Town Lab is part of a wider network of Labs held across Africa. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation has long championed ideas that strengthen democracy, inclusion, and economic opportunity. For the Foundation, platforms like Falling Walls are essential for empowering young Africans to lead from the front. ![Falling Walls Lab CT August 2024 - Premier Winde2 - Friedrich Naumann Foundation](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dDDyZ2jGdEavoC0Mtqg1mCy0i3I=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Falling-Walls-Lab-CT-August-2024-Premier-Winde2-Copyright-Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation.jpg) *Falling Walls Lab CT August 2024 - Premier Winde2 - Friedrich Naumann Foundation* South Africa is brimming with talent. But far too often, that talent lacks access to the spaces where ideas can be seen and scaled. Falling Walls Lab offers just such a space. ### **Who Should Apply?** The call is open to students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from all disciplines. Whether you’re rethinking chemical solutions, healthcare delivery, working on food security, exploring AI for social good, or developing climate solutions — if your idea breaks a wall, this is your stage. ![Falling Walls Lab Participants in Berlin November 2024 - Copyright - Falling Walls Lab Foundation](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/wbh5mq1bIs0_H7M8gq15R5n5f7A=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Falling-Walls-Lab-Participants-in-Berlin-November-2024-Copyright-Falling-Walls-Lab-Foundation.jpg) *Falling Walls Lab Participants in Berlin November 2024 - Falling Walls Lab Foundation.* Winners from local Labs, including Cape Town, will join a global cohort of innovators in Berlin in November 2025. More than just exposure, the experience offers mentorship, networking, and a springboard to real-world impact. Sekelo’s journey from Durban to Berlin is proof that ideas born in the margins can move the world. His story is a reminder that breakthrough thinking doesn’t always come from high-tech labs or billion-dollar start-ups — sometimes, it starts with a problem, a passion, and the courage to do things differently. If you’ve got an idea worth sharing, now is the time. **Applications for Falling Walls Lab Cape Town 2025 are now open. To apply, visit**[**Falling Walls Lab**](https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-cape-town)**. Deadline: 18 July 2025.** Share your ideas and be heard. Which wall will you break next? **DM** *Author: Kwezi Sogoni*