Congratulations to the Winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech!
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing is now open for registration!
neon-globe-2100x1023

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.

More News

News clips

Launch Base Africa: Billionaire-Funded Program Offers $2m Equity-Free to African AI & Manufacturing Startups

A new $2m equity-free prize programme, backed by South African billionaire Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the Milken Institute, is putting AI and manufacturing at the centre of Africa’s tech ambitions. Announced at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing is the fourth and most ambitious iteration of a growing innovation challenge series focused on solving Africa’s structural challenges through technology. This time, the focus is squarely on artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing — areas that have so far seen only limited African participation despite their global momentum. Read the full article here.

Read More »
News clips

Engineering News: Milken-Motsepe launches $2m Africa AI, manufacturing challenge

Development think tank the Milken Institute and philanthropy organisation the Motsepe Foundation have announced the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing. The challenge calls on entrepreneurs worldwide to deploy AI, data analytics and smart-factory technologies that can localise production, reinforce supply chain resilience and create high-quality jobs across Africa.   The challenge will award $2-million in total, including a $1-million grand prize, and seeks breakthrough solutions that, in combination, can harness advanced technologies to optimise production, reduce waste and localise value chains. It is also looking for solutions that encourage models that promote equitable access to essential goods, such as healthcare, food processing, affordable construction materials, as well as solutions that unlock job creation and export potential across African economies. Read the full article here.

Read More »