Innovation Prize Programs
Advancing Africa’s Digital Economy: A Prize in FinTech to Advance Financial Inclusion
Advancing Africa’s Digital Economy: A Prize in FinTech to Advance Financial Inclusion
Milken Institute Innovation Prizes offer exciting and effective tools for partners interested in sourcing or scaling innovative solutions. From catalytic early-stage support and achievement-based recognition to large-scale global competitions, we design tailored prize models that advance our partners’ goals and maximize long-term impact. 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.
Current Competitions
Milken–Motsepe Innovation 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
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AGOA in the Balance
After 23 years, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) expired on Tuesday.Read Article -
Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing Names 10 Semifinalists
Milken Institute to award total of $2 million to 10 companies revolutionizing next-generation manufacturing solutionsRead ArticleImage
Sam Roth
Associate Director, Media RelationsSam Roth is the associate director of media relations for the Milken Institute. Based out of the Washington, DC, office, she oversees media coverage for the Health and Strategic Philanthropy pillars. -
Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation Announce Winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech and Launch New Prize
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation are proud to announce the winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech, a $2 million innovation award designed to reward companies working to expand access to capital and financial services...Read Article -
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 -
Stories from the Field: Oze
The story of Oze starts in the Peace Corps. I, Meghan McCormick, served as a community economic development advisor in Guinea, while my cofounder served in Benin. We saw firsthand how these business owners had to navigate complex...Read Article -
Stories from the Field: Verto
Our company, Verto, was founded by Ola Oyetayo, chief executive officer, and Anthony Oduu, chief technology and product officer. Both began their careers in finance and then decided to become entrepreneurs.Read Article -
Stories from the Field: Chumz
My name is Samuel Njuguna, and I'm passionate about eradicating poverty through two key pillars: financial inclusion and education. I have a background in computer science and currently serve as the CEO and cofounder of Moneto Ventures LTD.Read Article -
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 Article -
Milken-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 Article
FAQs
Milken Institute Innovation Prizes are a portfolio of customizable tools that help partners source, scale, and accelerate innovative solutions across sectors and geographies. They range from early-stage support and achievement-based recognition to large-scale global competition.
No. The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program is one prize program within the broader Milken Institute Innovation Prizes portfolio. The Milken–Motsepe Prize is a specific partnership with the Motsepe Foundation focused on Africa.
The Milken Institute works with a range of partners spanning philanthropy, business, and government to design and execute prizes tailored to their needs. Partners interested in designing and/or executing a prize can contact [email protected].
The Milken Institute provides research, field landscaping, data analysis, expert convening, and access to a global network of experts and investors across every stage of a prize cycle.
Prize formats can range anywhere from prize advisory services and prize design to developing and executing medium- to large-scale national and global awards, contests, and competitions, each tailored to a partner's goals and the needs of a given field.
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.