2026 Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy supports African companies that use technology to advance circular economy practices across industries.

What it offers

• Total prize pool of $2 million, including:
  • $1 million Grand Prize
  • $250,000 runner-up prize
  • $50,000 each for 10 semifinalists
  • $50,000 each for 5 finalists
• Access to exclusive networking and opportunities to pitch to industry leaders and decision-makers.

Who can apply

Companies must meet these eligibility requirements:

• Over 2 years of continuous operation
• Over $500k in revenue and raised capital
• Institutional, corporate, and/or public-sector partnerships
• Solution currently deployed on the African continent
• Clear evidence of social impact and job creation
• Demonstrated operational readiness to deploy $1M+ in funding

What you'll do

• Submit designs and business models.
• Advance as a semifinalist to pitch innovations to industry leaders.
• Finalists submit additional materials for the grand prize.
• Winning team demonstrates a commercially viable, technology-enabled circular economy business operating in Africa with a clear path to scale.

How to apply

• Sign in and apply via the Prize Portal.
• Teams will be required to submit category-specific metrics from industries such as:
  • Agriculture & Food Systems
  • Plastics & Packaging
  • Electronics
  • Textiles
  • Construction & The Built Environment