BleagLee Wins $1 Million Grand Prize in Milken-Motsepe Innovation Program for AI-Powered Waste Recycling Solutions
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have announced BleagLee, a Cameroon-based company specializing in AI-powered waste recycling, as the recipient of the $1 million Grand Prize in the Milken-Motsepe Prize for AI and Manufacturing. This prestigious award, revealed at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, aims to recognize innovative companies in Africa’s manufacturing sector that have the potential to scale, create jobs, and promote the adoption of advanced technologies globally.
Recognition of Innovation in Waste Management
BleagLee earned top honors for its pioneering approach to waste management, utilizing AI technology to collect and convert plastic, agricultural, and electronic waste into high-quality recycled products. The company’s innovative methods are not only addressing environmental challenges but also creating economic opportunities in Cameroon.
In addition to BleagLee, Tanzania-based Freshpack Technologies was awarded the $250,000 Runner-Up prize for its AI-driven cold storage solutions that aim to reduce food waste in Africa. The UK’s Digitech Oasis Limited received $100,000 for demonstrating the Most Advanced Use of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, which are expected to influence competitive manufacturing in the coming decade.
The prize cycle also included interim awards totaling $750,000, distributed among five finalists, each receiving $30,000, and ten semi-finalists, each awarded $50,000. These unrestricted funds allow the winners to invest in their businesses, enhance their operational capabilities, and accelerate real-world pilot projects.
Transforming Waste into Valuable Resources
BleagLee is at the forefront of revolutionizing waste management in Cameroon. The company employs patented AI software to identify and collect waste from communities, transforming it into valuable products such as engineered recycled polymers, 3D printing filaments, and bio-based carbon materials. This innovative approach aims to mitigate an estimated 300 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2030, showcasing the potential for technology to address environmental crises while fostering economic growth.
Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation, emphasized the significance of African innovation in solving global challenges. She noted that investments in locally grounded, globally minded innovations yield limitless returns. Partnerships like the Milken-Motsepe Prize ensure that talented individuals have the necessary resources and networks to scale their initiatives and contribute to a more equitable world.
A Competitive Landscape for Innovation
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing is the fourth award in a series aimed at promoting innovative technological solutions to pressing economic and environmental issues in Africa and beyond. Launched in May 2025, the prize attracted over 2,000 entrepreneurs from 100 countries, with only ten selected as semi-finalists after a rigorous evaluation process.
Each team was assessed based on four key criteria: commercial viability, operational economics, technological integration, and market scalability. In December 2025, the semi-finalists presented their innovations to investors at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi. An expert panel subsequently selected five finalists, including BleagLee, to advance to the final stage of the competition.
Since its inception in 2021, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program has allocated over $8 million in funding to more than 50 innovators globally. Participating teams have collectively raised nearly 31 times the Grand Prize in additional investments, impacting over one million community members worldwide.
Future Initiatives in Circular Economy
The Milken-Motsepe Prize will soon introduce a new category focused on the circular economy. This initiative aims to recognize companies that leverage technology to enhance circular economy practices across various industries. With a total prize pool of $2 million, including a $1 million Grand Prize, the Circular Economy Prize seeks solutions that replace traditional linear systems with regenerative, resource-efficient value chains.
The award will also address the complexities of industrial waste management in Africa. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate measurable environmental and social impacts while providing training and reskilling opportunities to foster safer waste management practices.
Dr. Emily Musil, managing director of Environmental and Social Innovation at the Milken Institute, highlighted the program’s role in discovering and accelerating innovative solutions to urgent global challenges. As the focus shifts to the circular economy, the initiative aims to support entrepreneurs who are redefining material usage and recovery, ultimately driving inclusive growth.
Registration for the Circular Economy Prize is open until August 13, 2026, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Interested companies must meet specific eligibility criteria, including a minimum of two years of continuous operation, over $500,000 in revenue, and evidence of social impact and job creation.
For further details about the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program and its winners, visit www.zawya.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Libby Miller
202.249.6905
Limiller@milkeninstitute.org
About the Milken Institute:
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank dedicated to accelerating measurable progress on critical global issues. For more information, visit MilkenInstitute.org.
About the Motsepe Foundation:
Founded in 1999 by Dr. Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the Motsepe Foundation aims to eradicate poverty and improve living conditions for marginalized communities. For more information, visit MotsepeFoundation.org.
Published on 2026-05-07 20:22:00 • By the Editorial Desk
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