Congratulations to the Winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech!
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing is now open for registration!
Milken-Motsepe Green Energy Prize

Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy Semi-Finalists Announced

20 teams to share $400,000 in funding to develop and test innovative green energy technologies around the world

LOS ANGELES & JOHANNESBURG – The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation today announced the 20 teams receiving Design Round prizes for the Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy and advancing to the Semifinalist Round. At this stage, each semifinalist team will receive $20,000 to further develop and test their designs anywhere in the world. The semifinalist teams will also have complimentary access to a Stanford Online course to help build their businesses.

The competition will ultimately award US$2 million in total prizes and additional benefits for entrepreneurs who expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity in Africa.

More than 3,800 people from over 120 countries have registered their interest in the competition, which launched in November 2022. Over 160 of these registrants, representing 36 countries across six continents, submitted technological design and business model proposals. From these proposals, the judges selected the 20 most transformative ideas.

“Access to electricity is vital to transforming societies—from health care to education to economic growth. We are excited to see these semifinalists bringing new ideas to the forefront to light the way to a sustainable future,” said Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation. “As recently proven by the winners of the Milken–Motsepe Prize in AgriTech, innovators have the power to create transformative solutions to challenges once thought to be impossible. We have no doubt these semifinalists will do the same.”

An independent panel of expert judges determined the 20 teams receiving funding. The teams have four months to demonstrate the effectiveness of their ideas in field tests, which will be evaluated for their ability to:

  • generate off-grid electricity using green energy sources;
  • provide affordable and reliable electricity to energy-poor communities, including in rural areas, using innovative technologies; and
  • develop a technological and business approach that is scalable across Africa.

These teams represent 12 countries across three continents. Their innovations include potential breakthroughs in wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal electricity generation, as well as energy storage and distribution. After the Semifinalist Round, five finalist teams will be selected to conduct another round of field tests in Africa.

“The innovation competition encourages entrepreneurs to be creative and expansive,” said Dr. Emily Musil Church, senior director at the Milken Institute’s Center for Strategic Philanthropy. “By allowing field tests anywhere in the world in the first round, the competition allows flexibility for teams to take strategic risks. This is the heart of the innovation competition model: to reward innovators who take bold action.”

In May 2024, the judges will award a $1 million Grand Prize. A Runner-Up Prize of $250,000 will also be awarded.

View the names of the semifinalist teams.

About the Milken Institute:

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next. For more information visit https://milkeninstitute.org.

About the Motsepe Foundation:

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 Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates. Dr Patrice Motsepe and his wife committed to give half of their wealth to the poor and for philanthropic purposes during their lifetime and beyond.

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 »
News clips

ICTWorks: Apply Now: $2 Million for African AI Ideas for 4th Industrial Revolution

In 2025, global spending on goods and services is expected to surpass $5 trillion, making manufacturing one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. Manufacturing also generates up to 20 additional jobs per role, absorbs large labor pools, and attracts long-term investment. Subscribe Now for More Funding Opportunities! As digital advancements continue to reshape our world, manufacturing is entering a new era of innovation – powered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. AI, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and other emerging technologies are transforming business as usual. Strategic investments in manufacturing have never been more critical. Emerging technologies and AI can unlock transformative growth, fuel technological breakthroughs, and build long-term economic resilience. $2 Million: African AI Ideas for 4th Industrial Revolution The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program is calling on bold innovators revolutionizing manufacturing value chains in African markets. Read the full article here.

Read More »