Deadline Extended: Apply to the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing by August 21st!
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Engineering News: How an AgriTech Prize Helped Me Realise My Life’s Work

By: Diana Orembe – Founder and CEO of NovFeed

When I was a child, I witnessed firsthand my uncle’s struggles as a fish farmer. Growing up on his farm, I saw the immense effort he put into his work, only to be met with financial challenges due to the high cost and inconsistent quality of the feed stock. I later learnt my uncle was not alone, and that African farmers across the spectrum faced similar productivity challenges. This inspired me to find a way to create meaningful change in the African agricultural sector. During my second year at university, while conducting research on the application of microbes as feed, I revisited fish farms and found that the same issues my uncle faced were still around, even ten to fifteen years later. Farmers were investing heavily in feed, often imported and expensive, which cut deeply into their profits. Seeing that these issues were still so present encouraged me to do something about it.

 

Read the full op-ed here.

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Africa Business Communities: Milken-Motsepe Prize Program launches $2 million AI & Manufacturing Challenge

Building on a track record of innovation in AgriTech, FinTech, and Sustainability, the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have unveiled their boldest challenge yet: the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing. With $2 million in total prize money, including a $1 million Grand Prize, the global competition aims to catalyze cutting-edge solutions that harness artificial intelligence, data analytics, and smart manufacturing to transform Africa’s industrial landscape. The announcement was made during the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference, where the prize was positioned as a game-changer for local production, supply chain resilience, and inclusive job creation across the continent. Read the full article here.

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$2 Million Milken-Motsepe Prize Launched to Spur AI-Driven Manufacturing in Africa

A new $2 million equity-free prize program, backed by South African billionaire Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the Milken Institute, is placing artificial intelligence and manufacturing at the heart of Africa’s technology ambitions. Unveiled at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing marks the fourth—and most ambitious—edition in a growing series of innovation challenges designed to tackle Africa’s structural issues through technology. This round turns a sharp focus to artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing—two sectors where African participation has remained limited despite strong global momentum. Read the full article here.

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