The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program is a series of multi-year, multimillion-dollar innovation competitions and awards to advance technological solutions that accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a spotlight on Africa.
The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program mobilizes significant financial and human capital through its inclusive and integrated approach to access and mobility for innovators and startups.
The program’s inclusive ethos provides an equal opportunity for success—irrespective of age, status, education, location, or past achievements.
There will be significant new data captured and ideas generated from the range of innovations and field tests. Prizes are useful tools to accelerate data capture for evidence-based research.
Revolutionizing manufacturing value chains
This prize will award innovators that demonstrate scalability, improve efficiency, and reduce waste in the manufacturing supply chain in Africa technologies such as advanced data analytics, and artificial intelligence, specifically in emerging and frontier markets.
Scaling financial inclusion in Africa
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech awarded companies that demonstrate the use of cutting-edge technologies to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets.
Electrifying progress towards the SDGs at scale
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy rewarded innovators who expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity in Africa.
The inaugural Milken-Motsepe Prize challenged innovators from around the world to significantly increase value to small and medium-sized farms in Africa through new technologies and agribusiness innovation.
Connecting innovators from all around the world
Join the prize community on the prize portal to connect with entrepreneurs, access free resources and events, and receive more information about our competitions.
A collaboration between the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program seeks to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Its potential impact is endless.
UK-based and Africa-focused fintech Verto has secured a USD 1 M boost after winning the Milken-Motsepe Prize in fintech, a prestigious award recognising companies advancing financial access
Milken: Where power networks meet It’s been a packed few days at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference 2025 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles — so
Johannesburg – The Milken Institute (https://apo-opa.co/452va1L) and the Motsepe Foundation have announced UK-based Verto as the winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech. The $2 million
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