10 Teams Advance in Milken-Motsepe AI Manufacturing Prize
▼ Summary
– The Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation have selected 10 semifinalists for their AI and Manufacturing prize, with each team receiving $50,000 in funding.
– A total of $2 million in prizes will be awarded, including a $1 million Grand Prize to be announced at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference.
– The prize aims to support companies using AI and advanced technologies to revolutionize manufacturing value chains and drive inclusive economic growth in Africa.
– The 10 semifinalist companies, based in various countries, will pitch their innovations at a summit in Abu Dhabi in December 2025.
– The semifinalists were selected based on criteria including commercial viability, technological integration, and a track record of operation in Africa.
Ten pioneering companies have moved forward in the prestigious Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing, each securing $50,000 in unrestricted funding to further develop their groundbreaking solutions. Announced by the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, this initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence within Africa’s manufacturing sector, a move projected to inject nearly $3 trillion into the continent’s economy over the next decade. The ten semifinalists were chosen for their potential to revolutionize manufacturing value chains, drive inclusive economic growth, and create sustainable development opportunities across the region.
These teams will present their innovations at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi this December. There, a panel of expert judges will assess each project based on commercial viability, technological integration, and market scalability. Five finalists will then be selected to compete for a share of the $2 million total prize pool. The ultimate winner will receive a $1 million Grand Prize at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, with additional awards for the runner-up and the project demonstrating the most advanced use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
Dr. Emily Musil, managing director at the Milken Institute, emphasized the prize’s broader impact, noting that supporting AI-driven manufacturing not only transforms industries but also generates widespread economic opportunities for local communities. The selected companies, which operate in over 60 countries, represent a diverse range of applications, from waste management and energy optimization to robotic automation and assistive technology.
The ten semifinalists are:
BleagLee, based in Cameroon, leverages AI to identify, collect, and recycle plastic, agricultural, and electronic waste into high-value materials like engineered polymers and 3D printing filaments.
DataProphet, from South Africa, offers industrial intelligence solutions that provide production insights for machine builders and manufacturers.
Digitech Oasis Limited, operating from the United Kingdom, develops AI and robotics systems to modernize warehouse and fulfillment operations.
Freshpack Technologies, a Tanzanian company, pioneers AI-powered cold-storage solutions to reduce food waste in informal markets.
GreenBDG Africa, a South African advisory firm, delivers climate-smart infrastructure and energy optimization strategies for real estate and manufacturing.
INDOS, an Egyptian industrial digitization company, uses AI to transform traditional manufacturing floors into data-driven, highly productive environments.
Spiro, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, manufactures innovative and eco-friendly electric transportation solutions.
Thola Inc., based in the United States, provides an AI platform for real-time energy monitoring and ESG performance insights for industrial facilities.
Torchit, an Indian social-tech enterprise, designs affordable AI-powered assistive technologies to enhance mobility and digital independence for persons with disabilities.
Toto Safi Limited, from Rwanda, runs an AI-enabled circular textile platform that helps women-led cooperatives produce reusable hygiene products at scale.
Now in its fourth year, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program has cultivated a global community of more than 12,000 innovators from 136 countries, providing not just funding but also mentorship, visibility, and critical investor connections. This year’s focus on AI and manufacturing continues the program’s mission of equipping visionary entrepreneurs with the resources needed to turn ambitious ideas into tangible impact.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
