
Milken–Motsepe Prize Program
Overview
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 in AI and Manufacturing
Why AI and 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.

Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech
Why FinTech?
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is designed to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. This innovation award offers $2 million in total prizes, this includes a $1 million Grand Prize announced and celebrated at the Milken Institute’s 2025 Global Conference in Los Angeles, California.

Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy
Why Green Energy?
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy incentivized entrepreneurs who have ideas for solutions to advance progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. This prize is closed, and the winners were announced and awarded at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference.

Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech
Why AgriTech?
The inaugural Milken-Motsepe Prize focused on accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2: no poverty and zero hunger. The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech was a global competition for innovative solutions to increase economic value to farmers, from seed to sale. This prize is closed, and the winners were announced and awarded at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference.

Our Vision
For More Information
Visit the dedicated Milken-Motsepe Prize website for more information about the program.