The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation announced the 10 teams advancing to the semifinalist round of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing, with each team receiving $50,000 in unrestricted funding to drive inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Africa.
Semifinalists will present their innovations at the Milken Institute Center East and Africa Summit, December 4–5, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. A total of $2 million in prizes will be distributed for this prize, along with opportunities for global visibility, mentorship, and investor connections.
The prize highlights companies that are revolutionizing manufacturing value chains in Africa through artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies. In Africa alone, AI is projected to add nearly $3 trillion to the continent’s economy between 2024 and 2033. The prize sought established, scalable companies in the manufacturing sector with a track record of over two years of operation in Africa, demonstrated Series A+ traction, and a clear commitment to advancing job growth and workforce development.
“By focusing on AI and manufacturing, this award identifies and supports visionary teams transforming industry with advanced technologies, which has a multiplying effect by creating economic opportunity for communities across Africa,” said Emily Musil, PhD, managing director at the Milken Institute. “From the semifinalist stage to beyond the prize, we are excited to provide a global platform and network for future-forward entrepreneurs and social impact companies.”
The 10 semifinalist teams will pitch their innovations to a panel of expert judges and investors, who will evaluate them based on commercial viability, operational economics, technological integration, and market scalability in Africa. Five finalists will be selected to advance to the final round. Following the December pitch event, a $1 million Grand Prize will be awarded at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, alongside a $250,000 runner-up prize and a $100,000 award for the Most Advanced Use of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies. These teams operate in more than 60 countries on five continents, with innovations that hold the potential to revolutionize manufacturing value chains, drive job creation, and ignite breakthroughs across the globe.
The 10 semifinalists for the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program in AI and Manufacturing:
- BleagLee (https://apo-opa.co/46TPaEq)
Team Lead: Juveline Ngum Ngwa
Based in Cameroon, BleagLee is a waste management and recycling company that uses AI and specialized software to rapidly identify, collect, and transform plastic, agricultural, and electronic waste into high-value inputs like engineered recycled polymers, 3D printing filaments, and bio-based carbon materials.
- DataProphet (https://apo-opa.co/46z3wsn)
Team Lead: Ridwaan Seedat
Based in South Africa, DataProphet is an industrial intelligence technology and advisory company providing production intelligence solutions for machine builders and manufacturers.
- Digitech Oasis Limited (https://apo-opa.co/46VjTkk)
Team Lead: Ayan Mohamed
Based in the United Kingdom, Digitech Oasis is an award‑winning AI and robotics company developing robotic systems and industrial automation platforms to modernize warehouse and fulfillment operations across industries.
- Freshpack Technologies (https://apo-opa.co/46ALVAn)
Team Lead: Editha Mshiu
Based in Tanzania, Freshpack Technologies is a cold-storage solution company pioneering AI-powered cooling innovation to reduce food waste for Africa’s informal markets.
- GreenBDG Africa (https://apo-opa.co/46ka8fu)
Team Lead: Songo Didiza
Based in South Africa, Green Building Design Group Africa (GreenBDG Africa) is a tech-enabled advisory firm offering climate-smart infrastructure solutions and energy optimization strategies for real estate and manufacturing clusters.
- INDOS (https://apo-opa.co/48xciJZ)
Team Lead: Ahmed Nounou
Based in Egypt, INDOS is an industrial digitization company transforming labor-intensive manufacturing floors into AI-powered, data-driven environments to boost productivity and drive quality in real-time.
- Spiro (https://apo-opa.co/4pEAksT)
Team Lead: Kaushik Burman
Based in the United Arab Emirates, Spiro provides accessible and affordable mobility solutions through manufacturing innovative, eco-friendly electric transportation.
- Thola Inc. (https://apo-opa.co/46HHofL)
Team Lead: Nneile Nkholise
Based in the United States, Thola is an AI-powered software platform that provides real-time energy monitoring, forecasting, and ESG performance insights to help industrial facilities become insurable, resilient, and grid-conscious.
- Torchit (https://apo-opa.co/46lPvj3)
Team Lead: Hunny Bhagchandani
Based in India, Torchit is a social-tech enterprise that designs and manufactures affordable, AI-powered assistive technologies to empower persons with disabilities with mobility, literacy, and digital independence.
- Toto Safi Limited (https://apo-opa.co/3IFrdau)
Team Lead: Faith Waraga
Based in Rwanda, Toto Safi is an AI-enabled, circular textile manufacturing platform, enabling women-led tailoring cooperatives to produce reusable hygiene products such as diapers and period pants at scale.
Now in its fourth year, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program has brought together visionary thinkers across sectors, from agriculture to financial technology, equipping them with the capital, resources, and network needed to push their ideas forward. Since launching the prize in 2021, the prize community has grown to over 12,000 innovators and entrepreneurs from 136 countries.
Africa Fact: Africa is a continent with clearly defined borders and 54 independent countries. The largest African country is Algeria, occupying around 7% of the continent’s territory. Seychelles is the smallest African country, occupying 115 islands stretching along the mainland’s eastern coast. Morocco is the most popular travel destination in this part of the world, South Africa is the second most popular destination, followed by Egypt and Tunisia.
Peanut Butter Woman
A baby was born in South Africa. The village was very poor, and the makeshift hospital didn\’t have some necessary equipment.. such as scales.
The father however, was desperate to know the newborn baby\’s weight. After quite a bit of asking around, the hospital\’s chairman came up with an idea.
\”Five miles west, there\’s a butcher shop. The owner deals with meat, he should have a rather precise scale. You could just put your baby on the meat scale, and the weight reading you\’ll get should be pretty accurate.\”
And so the father departed westward. After much walking, with his newborn child cardled safely in his arms, he finally arrived at the butcher shop. He explained his dilemma to the shop owner, to witch the latter replied:
\”Don\’t worry, friend. It\’s not even a problem, I\’ll check it for you, free of charge.\” And so he took the child to the back, where the scale was located.
The father heard rumbling noises, and some scraping.. About a minute later the butcher came back.
\”About three pounds boneless\” He said.
VenusXX
North Korea: You have two cows. Its name is Kim Jong Un.