Angel Pinnock, a third-year Computer Science student at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), walked away with J$1 million on Tuesday after winning the top prize at the fifth staging of the UTech/Sagicor Innovation Challenge, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew.

Her pitch, Flood Sense, is a real-time flood prediction and gully management system that uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and data analytics to mitigate flood risks and support government response efforts.

“I believe garbage management is something we really need to address in Jamaica,” an elated Pinnock told the Jamaica Observer. “A lot of money is spent on manual interventions. If we can use computing and hardware, we can not only reshape our current infrastructure but also create better solutions to existing problems.”

Pinnock highlighted Jamaica’s ongoing challenges with flooding, particularly due to illegal dumping which leads to blocked gullies. She believes Flood Sense offers a viable and much-needed solution.

Winner of the 2025 UTech/Sagicor Innovation Challenge Angel Pinnock celebrates victory (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

“Jamaica’s gullies weren’t meant to be garbage dumps, yet every time it rains, they become flood zones—costing lives and damaging property. We drove from Olympic Way to Old Hope Road and noticed a lack of public garbage bins. This encourages public littering and illegal dumping. Blocked gullies result in deadly flash floods. Last year, the government spent J$2.5 billion cleaning gullies. We’ve come up with a great solution,” she said.

As part of Flood Sense, Pinnock introduced Gully Guard—an IoT-based ecosystem designed to detect and prevent flooding. It uses durable barriers and a rope-style neck closure system to capture rubbish before it reaches the gullies.

Her mother, Tamika Ennis, beamed with pride as she recalled the origins of the idea.

“Angel brought this idea to me when she was still in high school. I told her it was a good idea and encouraged her to keep working on it. To see her stick with it, pray over it, and now to see it come to life—it’s a wonderful feeling,” Ennis said.

The mother also shared Pinnock’s personal connection to the issue.

“Her grandfather had a business that was built over a gully. Whenever it rained, we had to rush out because it felt as though the shop would be washed away. I don’t know if that experience planted the seed, but it’s come full circle. If I could have funded her back then, I would have. But God worked it out for her now, in university, to win this competition,” she said.

(from left) Second-place winners, Team Blue Print—comprising Garvain Campbell, Jada Howard, Chae Francis, and Kamilia Garrick—first-place winner Angel Pinnock, and third-place winners, Team Jana, which included Natalya Murray, Najay Green, and Jamar Plummer. (Photo: Napthali Junior)

The second-place prize of J$250,000 went to Team Blue Print, which conceptualised a smart surveillance system called Street Guard. The system uses LiDAR and artificial intelligence to detect crimes, hazards, and environmental threats, sending real-time alerts to the authorities.

Third place was awarded to Team Jana for their commuter-focused app One Stop Ja, which provides real-time data on public transport wait times and crowding. The app aims to help both passengers and operators optimise routes.

Ray St Michael Williams, director of the Sagicor Innovation Lab at UTech’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing and research fellow, emphasised that the competition is not just about showcasing ideas for a day, but about turning them into reality.

“What we’ve been able to do over the years is quietly secure partners for the teams and support them behind the scenes, so they’re able to launch. There are about four or five ideas from this year’s competition that have attracted investor interest. Those conversations are ongoing,” Williams revealed.

Winner of the 2025 UTech/Sagicor Innovation Challenge Angel Pinnock being handed a cheque of $1 million by Mark Chisholm, executive vice president in sales – individual life division at Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

“I saw them grow over the course of the workshops—incorporating feedback and delivering beyond expectations. I’m especially happy for Angel. She addressed a real social problem, and her solution shows how young innovators in Jamaica are thinking and applying their talents,” he said.

He also commended the other finalists stating: “Team Jana really impressed me with their advocacy for public transport, and all the top teams showed great promise. It’s inspiring to see university students already learning the ropes of entrepreneurship and innovation.”

This year’s competition showcased a diverse array of ideas aimed at solving real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, finance, education, agriculture, and public safety.