Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy 2026 ($2 million in prizes)

Overview

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy 2026 is seeking scalable companies that utilize technology to enhance circular economy practices across various industries in Africa. This prize aims to support businesses that reduce waste, keep materials in circulation, and deliver measurable environmental and social impact through more resource-efficient value chains. The challenge focuses on identifying and supporting commercially viable, technology-enabled circular economy businesses currently operating in Africa, which demonstrate a clear path to scale. The initiative is designed to foster innovation in sustainability and promote economic development on the continent. Participating companies will not only compete for significant prize money but also gain access to exclusive networking opportunities and the chance to present their solutions to influential industry leaders and key decision-makers. This provides a platform for growth and collaboration within the circular economy sector. Evaluation criteria include commercial viability, market scalability, workforce and social impact, and overall circularity and environmental impact. The prize encourages applications from businesses across diverse sectors such as Agriculture & Food Systems, Plastics & Packaging, Electronics, Textiles, and Construction & The Built Environment.

What to build

Participants must demonstrate a commercially viable, technology-enabled circular economy business operating in Africa with a clear path to scale. The business should effectively reduce waste, keep materials in circulation, and deliver measurable environmental and social impact through stronger, more resource-efficient value chains. Solutions are encouraged from industries including Agriculture & Food Systems, Plastics & Packaging, Electronics, Textiles, and Construction & The Built Environment.

Prizes

Key dates

• Application DeadlineAugust 13, 2026

Eligibility

Companies must have over 2 years of continuous operation and over $500k in revenue and raised capital. They should have institutional, corporate, and/or public-sector partnerships. The solution must currently be deployed on the African continent, with clear evidence of social impact and job creation. Applicants must also demonstrate operational readiness to deploy $1M+ in funding.

How to enter

1. Click the provided application link.
2. Complete the registration and submission process on the portal.

Judging criteria

• Commercial viability
• Market scalability
• Workforce and social impact
• Circularity and environmental impact

Resources

• FAQ
• Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy Official Page
• Application Portal