Innovation Prize Programs
AgriTech in Africa: Why an AgriTech Innovation Competition?
11
11
AgriTech in Africa: Why an AgriTech Innovation Competition?
11
11
Milken Institute Innovation Prizes offer exciting and effective tools for partners interested in sourcing or scaling innovative solutions. As a think tank and research institute, the Milken Institute approaches each unique prize as an important opportunity to landscape a given field, incentivize new ideas and innovators, create and analyze data, and prime new markets and entrepreneurs for success. From seed money and achievement awards to large-scale global competitions, we tailor competitions and awards to maximize the impact and goals of our partners. Through its exceptional research capacity, convening power, expertise, and global network of experts and investors, the Milken Institute is well-positioned to execute each prize cycle stage.
Current Competitions
Milken–Motsepe Prize Program
Competition Cycle
Through its exceptional research capacity, convening power, and global network of experts and investors, the Milken Institute is well-positioned to execute each competition cycle stage.
Innovation Prize Programs
Highlights
Advancing Africa’s Digital Economy: A Prize in FinTech to Advance Financial Inclusion
Approximately 350 million adults in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to essential financial services, trapping them in a cycle of economic instability that hinders their ability to open bank accounts, save for emergencies, and achieve...Read Report
Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Finalist: Milken-Motsepe Prize Finalist: Smart Agri-Centres
“The long-term impact of Smart Agri-Centers is a massive increase in incomes for farmers in rural communities. They are now able to operate their businesses for much longer hours. They're able to access energy that they couldn't access...Read ArticleMilken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Finalist: Milken-Motsepe Prize Finalist: Newdigit Technologies
“We're the first start-up in Nigeria that is manufacturing green hydrogen and fuel cell technology. This innovation, Just Add Water, has been tested and deployed in real communities and is a game changer for many communities in Africa.” —...Read ArticleMilken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Finalist: Milken-Motsepe Prize Finalist: GEG Group of Companies
“We went into this because it looks scalable and viable. There's lots of great technologies that are expensive. But we are attracted to this because the costs per kilowatt hour are quite competitive. We would not have developed a technology...Read ArticleMilken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Finalist: Milken-Motsepe Prize Runner-Up: OMNIVAT
“OMNIVAT was basically born out of ideas and previous work that all of these co-founders had worked on with the hopes that one day, someone somewhere will see Africans’ potential to our own problem-solving and the very real impact that we...Read ArticleMilken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Finalist: Milken-Motsepe Prize Grand Prize Winner: Aftrak
“Suddenly, we had a viable system, and we complete the economic circle to make our microgrid sustainable in the long term. [Before the prize], this did not exist. With the prize, we have slingshotted this into reality. We ended up with...Read Article
Electricity Access in Africa: Why a Green Energy Innovation Competition?
This report explores the challenges and opportunities surrounding accessible energy in Africa, emphasizing sustainable solutions that drive progress and prosperity. Why It Matters In Africa, reliable electricity access is essential for...Read Report
Stories from the Field: Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Meet the Finalists: Omnivat
Tell us about your team. Our team is composed of five members with diverse backgrounds who represent various corners of sub-Saharan Africa (South Africa, DR Congo, and Tanzania). We all met at the University of Cape Town and have been...Read Article
Stories from the Field: Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Meet the Finalists: Newdigit Technologies
Tell us about your team. On a rainy night in Nigeria, tragedy struck when Joy Egbe’s pregnant aunt brought her fossil-fuel-powered generator inside her apartment to shield it from the rain. This unintentional decision inadvertently exposed...Read Article
Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy
This prize is the second in a series of innovation competitions launched in partnership between the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation. Winning teams will demonstrate the ability to deploy distributed green energy solutions at scale in Africa, dramatically expanding access to reliable electricity.
Partner with the Milken Institute
Together, we can catalyze global change by incentivizing creativity and collaboration, transforming challenges into opportunities for progress.
Email us at [email protected] to learn more.