Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and manufacturing: 10 teams advance to semifinals

The Milken Institute, in collaboration with the Motsepe Foundation, has announced the exceptional ten teams that have advanced to the semifinalist round of the prestigious Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing. Each selected team will receive $50,000 in unrestricted funding to propel their innovative solutions aimed at fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development across Africa.

Celebrating innovation in Africa

This exciting announcement highlights the growing intersection of technology and manufacturing on the continent, positioning these innovators as pivotal players in the future of African industry. Scheduled for presentation at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit on December 4–5, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the semifinalists will showcase their groundbreaking innovations to a prestigious panel of expert judges and investors. These innovations aim to revolutionise manufacturing value chains, a critical step as artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to contribute nearly $3 trillion to Africa's economy between 2024 and 2033.

Empowering visionary teams

Emily Musil, PhD, managing director at the Milken Institute, expressed her enthusiasm about the prize: “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.” This reflects the prize's broader goal of not only recognising achievement but also fostering a supportive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

Meet the semifinalist teams

The ten semifinalist teams have been carefully selected based on their established track record of over two years in operation in Africa, demonstrating substantial Series A+ traction and a firm commitment to advancing job growth and workforce development. These innovations include:

• BleagLee (Cameroon): A waste management enterprise leveraging AI to convert various waste into high-value products, including engineered polymers and 3D printing materials.
• DataProphet (South Africa): This industrial intelligence company provides production solutions that enhance operational efficiency for machine builders and manufacturers.
• Digitech Oasis Limited (United Kingdom): Focusing on robotic systems, this company develops automation platforms aimed at modernising warehouse operations.
• Freshpack Technologies (Tanzania): An innovator in cold-storage solutions powered by AI, tackling food waste in informal markets across Africa.
• GreenBDG Africa (South Africa): A tech-enabled advisory firm offering strategies for climate-smart infrastructure in manufacturing and real estate.
• INDOS (Egypt): This company digitises manufacturing processes, bolstering productivity through AI-driven environments.
• Spiro (United Arab Emirates): Provides eco-friendly electric transportation solutions, making mobility accessible and affordable.
• Thola Inc. (United States): An AI-powered platform focused on real-time energy monitoring, helping industrial facilities become more resilient.
• Torchit (India): A social-tech enterprise that develops AI-powered assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.
• Toto Safi Limited (Rwanda): An AI-enabled platform that empowers women-led cooperatives to produce reusable hygiene products sustainably.

Looking ahead

The upcoming December pitch event will culminate in the selection of five finalists, who will compete for a transformative $1 million grand prize at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. Additional awards include a $250,000 runner-up prize and $100,000 for the Most Advanced Use of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies.

Through the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, visionary thinkers from a multitude of sectors—ranging from agriculture to fintech—are equipped with the resources and network necessary to advance their innovative ideas. Since the prize’s inception in 2021, the programme has nurtured a community of over 12,000 innovators spanning 136 countries, underlining its importance as a catalyst for change.

The Milken Institute, a nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank, aims to drive measurable progress toward a meaningful life, enhancing various facets of health and providing invaluable resources to tackle pressing global challenges. Concurrently, the Motsepe Foundation continues its mission to eradicate poverty and improve living standards across Africa and beyond, a commitment underscored by the philanthropic principles of its founders, Dr. Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe.