Congratulations to the Semifinalists of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech!

Milken-Motsepe
Innovation Prize Program

harnessing Fourth Industrial Revolution
technologies for good

The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program is a series of multi-year, multimillion-dollar innovation competitions and programs to advance technological solutions that accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a spotlight on Africa.

Scalable, tech-based solutions

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. 

A global community of entrepreneurs

The program’s inclusive ethos  provides an equal opportunity for success—irrespective of age, status, education, location, or past achievements.

Global data-driven insights

There will be significant new data captured and ideas generated from the range of innovations and field tests. Innovation competitions are useful tools to accelerate data capture for evidence-based research.

Milken-Motsepe
Prize in FinTech

Scaling financial inclusion in Africa

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech will award 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. 

Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy

Electrifying progress towards the SDGs at scale


The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy will reward innovators who expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity in Africa.

Milken-Motsepe
Prize in Agritech

Propelling innovation and entrepreneurship 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.

Milken-Motsepe Prize Community

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.

Our Vision

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.

"The purpose of the prize is to find anyone on this planet who has a good idea - who has an entrepreneurial way to solve a problem - and reward them."
Mike Milken
Chairman, Milken Institute
"The Milken-Motsepe Prize is a powerful tool for solving some of Africa’s problems, particularly when it comes to hunger and poverty."
Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Co-Founder, Motsepe Foundation
"Technology provides a unique opportunity to leapfrog – allowing Africa to join the fastest growing economies of the world."
Dr. Patrice Motsepe
Founder and Chairman, Motsepe Foundation

News

Program Underwriters

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities. 

The Motsepe Foundation was founded in 1999 by Dr Patrice Motsepe and his wife, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe. The goal of the Motsepe Foundation is to contribute towards eradicating poverty and to sustainably improve the living conditions and standards of living of poor, unemployed and marginalised people in South Africa, Africa and the world. In January 2013 Dr Patrice Motsepe and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge which was started by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. The Motsepes committed to give half of their wealth to the poor and for philanthropic purposes during their lifetime and beyond.