Three Kenyan companies have advanced to the semifinalist stage of a $2 million circular economy prize launched by the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation, competing for funding to scale technologies that turn waste into valuable resources.
Bottle Logistics East Africa, Regen Organics and Safi Organics are among 10 semifinalists selected for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy. Each team will have an opportunity to compete for a share of the prize funding, including $500,000 in unrestricted funding for semifinalists across the programme.
The prize aims to support commercially viable technologies that advance resource efficiency, create jobs and deliver environmental and social benefits across Africa.
Bottle Logistics East Africa uses digital reverse logistics and glass recovery infrastructure to collect, recycle and reuse discarded glass. Its products include returnable packaging, glass cullet for manufacturing and other value-added materials.
Regen Organics, which trades as Sanergy, converts urban sanitation and organic waste into agricultural inputs, including organic fertilisers and biochar. Its model seeks to reduce pollution, restore soil health, improve farmers’ incomes and mitigate climate change.
Safi Organics transforms agricultural residues, including rice husks and sugarcane bagasse, into organic fertiliser. The company says its Safi Sarvi product can increase crop yields by up to 30 per cent and farmers’ incomes by up to 50 per cent.
The three Kenyan companies are competing alongside innovators from Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Egypt, working across areas including food preservation, recycled steel, plastic recovery, sustainable packaging and electrical equipment refurbishment.
Judges will assess the 10 semifinalists on commercial viability, scalability, workforce and social impact, and environmental performance before selecting five finalists.
The final round will award a $1 million Grand Prize and a $250,000 runner-up prize at the 2027 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.
The competition comes as circular economy models gain attention as a way to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and create new business opportunities while addressing environmental challenges.
