The Bulrushes: Winner Of Milken-Motsepe US$1 Million Prize In Fintech Announced And New Prize Launched

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 far the only global conference able to bring both sides of the political spectrum under the same roof (and even at the same dinner, but more on that later). This year’s conference — covering everything from critical minerals and global risk to the evolution of fintech, the future of women’s health, and a new era of opportunity — closed with one of its most well-attended events: the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech. The prize spotlighted entrepreneurs advancing financial inclusion across Africa, disbursing $2 million in awards, including $100,000 to semifinalists and a $1 million grand prize to Verto, a platform simplifying cross-border payments. Finalists showcased cutting-edge solutions: Chumz, an app using behavioral psychology to boost savings rates, and Oze, a platform improving small business lending through machine learning. Notably, this