The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have announced the ten semi-finalist teams advancing in the Milken-Motsepe Prize for Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing. Each team will receive $50,000 in unrestricted funding to scale solutions that drive inclusive growth and sustainable development across Africa. The competition, now in its fourth year, underscores the transformative potential of AI in reimagining manufacturing and economic opportunity on the continent.
A Global Innovation Challenge
The Milken-Motsepe Prize highlights companies that are integrating artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to reshape manufacturing value chains. With AI projected to contribute nearly $3 trillion to Africa’s economy between 2024 and 2033, the prize emphasizes scalable businesses with proven traction, a minimum of two years of operations in Africa, and a clear focus on job creation. According to the organizers, the initiative not only provides financial support but also global visibility, mentorship, and access to investor networks.
Semi-Finalist Showcase in Abu Dhabi
The semi-finalist teams will present their innovations at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi on December 4–5, 2025. At the event, a panel of judges and investors will evaluate the teams based on commercial viability, operational efficiency, technological integration, and scalability in African markets. Five finalists will be selected to advance to the final round, with the grand prize ceremony scheduled for the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles in 2026.
Prize Structure and Evaluation
In total, $2 million in prizes will be awarded, including a $1 million grand prize, a $250,000 runner-up award, and $100,000 for the Most Advanced Use of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies. Emily Musil, managing director at the Milken Institute, emphasized the wider impact of the program, noting that advancing AI-driven manufacturing multiplies opportunities by fostering economic resilience and community development. Beyond the prize itself, participants gain a platform to connect with global industry leaders and expand the reach of their technologies.
The Semi-Finalists
The 2025 semi-finalists represent diverse regions and sectors, bringing a wide array of solutions to pressing industrial challenges. From Cameroon, BleagLee applies AI to waste management, converting plastic, agricultural, and electronic waste into high-value inputs. South Africa’s DataProphet provides AI-powered production intelligence for manufacturers, while GreenBDG Africa delivers climate-smart infrastructure and energy optimization solutions.
Tanzania’s Freshpack Technologies is developing AI-enabled cold storage to reduce food waste in informal markets, and Egypt’s INDOS is digitizing labor-intensive manufacturing floors with real-time data-driven systems. Rwanda’s Toto Safi Limited empowers women-led tailoring cooperatives with an AI-enabled platform to produce reusable textiles. Other global semi-finalists include Digitech Oasis from the United Kingdom, Spiro from the United Arab Emirates, Thola Inc from the United States, and Torchit from India, each applying AI to fields from automation and energy management to assistive technology.
A Growing Global Community
The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program has built a community of over 12,000 innovators from 136 countries since its launch in 2021. Teams in this year’s competition operate across more than 60 countries and five continents, reflecting the truly international scope of the initiative. Organizers believe the participating companies are positioned not only to transform Africa’s industrial base but also to influence manufacturing practices globally.
As the semi-finalists prepare to showcase their work in Abu Dhabi later this year, the competition is set to spotlight the critical role of AI in shaping sustainable manufacturing. By combining financial support, mentorship, and global exposure, the Milken-Motsepe Prize continues to amplify the efforts of entrepreneurs tackling some of the world’s most pressing industrial challenges. The finalists chosen in December will move one step closer to securing the $1 million grand prize and redefining the future of manufacturing in Africa and beyond.