Ten African startups have been named semifinalists for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy, and will share US$500,000 in unrestricted funding as they compete for the US$1 million grand prize.
The Milken-Motsepe Prize is aimed at companies in Africa revolutionising using different technologies to revolutionise the circular economy on the continent. Run by the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, the prize will distribute a total of US$2 million in non-dilutive capital to companies using technology to scale circular economy solutions across Africa. Alongside funding, participants receive mentorship, investor connections and global exposure.
The 10 semi-finalists have now been announced, who will be whittled down to five finalists by judges assessing them on commercial viability, scalability, workforce and social impact, and environmental impact. The grand prize winner will be announced at the 2027 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, with a US$250,000 runner-up prize also on offer.
Kenya leads the way with three semi-finalists. Bottle Logistics East Africa combines digital reverse logistics with industrial glass recovery to turn discarded glass into returnable packaging, cullet and other products; Sanergy converts urban sanitation and organic waste into organic fertiliser, biochar and other agricultural inputs; and Safi Organics turns rice husks and sugarcane bagasse into a carbon-negative organic fertiliser.
Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt each have two startups in the running. From Ethiopia, EKT Trade and Investment manufactures products from plastic waste, and Zafree makes tree-free pulp and paper for the packaging industry using banana farm waste. Tanzania’s Country Materials uses AI to identify, trace and recover scrap metal for the continent’s steel industry, while SafeSip recycles plastic waste into pressure-rated resin and drip irrigation equipment.
The Egyptian contingent comprises Papyrus Egypt, which converts banana plantation waste into biodegradable packaging and liquid fertiliser, and Triple M Electrical and Electronic Contracting, which extends the lifespan of power infrastructure by purifying transformer oil and refurbishing transformers, switchgear and panels.
Nigeria’s Cold Hubs, which builds and runs solar-powered cold rooms, refrigerated trucks and reusable crates for food markets and farm clusters, completes the list.
“Africa is uniquely positioned to lead in this transition,” said Emily Musil, managing director at the Milken Institute, who added that the prize backs entrepreneurs turning resource efficiency into competitive, job-creating businesses.
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