Milken–Motsepe Innovation Prize Program
Accelerating Innovation for Global Impact
The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program is a bold partnership between the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation to advance technological innovations that address the world’s most pressing challenges. Through a series of multiyear, multimillion-dollar innovation awards and competitions, the program mobilizes global innovators to develop and deploy technology-driven solutions that drive meaningful, scalable change, with a focus on advancing opportunity and resilience across emerging markets.
Each prize targets a critical issue—from off-grid energy access to financial inclusion for small-to-medium enterprises—and offers $2 million in unrestricted funding, expert mentorship, and high-level networking and pitching opportunities with senior investors.
Milken-Motsepe Prize Impact
Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI & Manufacturing
This prize is designed to transform manufacturing value chains in emerging markets through AI and advanced data analytics, boosting efficiency, reducing waste, and driving innovation and operational excellence. This innovation award offers a total of $2 million in prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize, which will be announced and celebrated in May 2026. Registration for this prize is now open through August 21, 2025.
Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech
The Prize in FinTech was designed to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. This global innovation award offered $2 million in total prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize, which went to Verto, a company in Tanzania that helps businesses in emerging markets send and receive cross-border payments by eliminating extra fees and speeding up transactions. This Prize is now closed.
Green Energy Highlights
The Prize's DesignThe Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy leads the charge in innovation by catalyzing investments in sustainable energy solutions.
The Award CeremonyJoin us in celebrating the power of ideas and innovation, advancements in energy access, and the shared vision of long-term economic growth and shared prosperity.
The Prize's ImpactThe Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy was a two-year, $2 million innovation competition that challenged innovators to expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable off-grid electricity in Africa.
FinTech Highlights
The Prize's DesignIn Advancing Africa’s Digital Economy: A Prize in FinTech to Advance Financial Inclusion, the Milken Institute’s Strategic Philanthropy team highlights the transformative impact of prize programming in identifying groundbreaking solutions within burgeoning fields.
The Award CeremonyThis must-see event will showcase the transformative power of entrepreneurship for social good. With an electrifying atmosphere of anticipation and celebration, you’ll witness the incredible journey of bold FinTech innovators breaking barriers and expanding access to capital across emerging and frontier markets.
The Grand Prize WinnerIn 2017, during a casual poker game, Ola and Anthony discussed how difficult it was to send money from their home country, Nigeria, and other African countries. The more they spoke, the greater the opportunity for change seemed.
Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy
The Prize in Green Energy was designed to incentivize entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to help expand access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy across Africa. This global innovation competition offered $2 million in total prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize, which went to Aftrak, an initiative based in the UK and Malawi, for its innovative system involving solar microgrids to power custom-designed tractors for deep-bed farming. This Prize is now closed.
Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech
This Prize in AgriTech was designed to develop innovative solutions to increase economic value for farmers—from seed to sale—across Africa. This global innovation competition offered $2 million in total prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize, which went to NovFeed, a Tanzanian-based biotech company for its proprietary technology that turns food waste into healthy, eco-friendly plant-based protein and natural fertilizer. This Prize is now closed.
Milken–Motsepe Innovation Prize Program
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Our Vision
- The purpose of the prize is to find anyone on this planet who has a good idea—who has an entrepreneurial way to solve a problem—and reward them.- Michael MilkenChairman Milken Institute
- The Milken-Motsepe Prize is a powerful tool for solving some of Africa’s problems, particularly when it comes to hunger and poverty.- Dr. Precious Moloi-MotsepeCo-Founder and CEO Motsepe Foundation
- Technology provides a unique opportunity to leapfrog—allowing Africa to join the fastest growing economies of the world.- Dr. Patrice MotsepeFounder and Chairman, Motsepe Foundation
For More Information
Visit the dedicated Milken-Motsepe Prize website for more information about the program.