NITheCS Chapter Final of IGPRC2025
Prof Robert Faff congratulates Stellenbosch University student Nelson Kyakutwika on winning the NITheCS Chapter Final of the InSPiR2eS Global Pitching Research Competition.
Nelson Kyakutwika, a final-year PhD student in Financial Mathematics at Stellenbosch University, has been named the NITheCS/Stellenbosch University Chapter Winner of the InSPiR2eS Global Pitching Research Competition (IGPRC2025). Nelson is supervised by Prof Mesias Alfeus, Prof Bruce Bartlett, and Prof Erik Schlögl.
His winning pitch, “Parsimonious Mixed Bergomi Model: A Simplified Calibration Framework for VIX Derivatives,” earned him a place in the upcoming All-Africa stage of the competition, on the road to the IGPRC2025 Global Grand Final.
Runner-up awards went to:
2nd Prize: Teboho Mochai – “From representation to emotion: Getting VAD scores via deep learning frameworks for emotion classification from text.”
3rd Prize: Mulweli Prince Rembuluwani – “Mathematical and Machine Learning Approaches for Early Detection of Financial Fraud in Cryptocurrency Transactions Targeting Youth in South Africa.”
The Chapter Final took place on 17 September 2025 at Stellenbosch University and showcased innovative, high-impact research pitches using the InSPiR2eS Pitching Research Framework. The event highlighted the creativity and dedication of emerging researchers who delivered concise, engaging presentations.
Special thanks go to all finalists, their mentors, and to Prof Robert Faff (Research Professor, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary) for serving as judge and for his continued support of the Pitching Research Framework.
NITheCS congratulates Nelson on his achievement and looks forward to cheering him on as he represents NITheCS and Stellenbosch University in the continental round. The winner of the All-Africa stage will receive €1,000 and secure a place in the IGPRC2025 Global Grand Final.
