Moonshot Platform has announced ten (10) winners of its second annual global contest, which identifies changemakers aged 15 to 30 who have developed innovative solutions to some of the world’s most intractable societal and environmental problems.
The ten (10) winners including [from Uganda] Ecobed Biotech CEO Jovia Kisaakye shared USD$50,000 (approx. UGX183M) cash prize to support their ventures, with an opportunity to access an additional USD$50,000 in funding through grants and investments. In addition to the cash prize, the winners will begin a two-year personal leadership development journey, which includes the intensive Moonshot Young Leaders Camp, mentorship with world-class business leaders and social innovators, and immediate access to the growing global Moonshot community of changemakers.
Kisaakye won the Moonshot Non-Profit Award for her innovation; Ecobed Biotech Initiative, which transforms spoiled milk and local plant extracts into mosquito-repellent skincare products and produces organic fertilizers and animal feed for farmers.
Dr. Patrick Sseremba, Director at Ecobed Biotech Initiative attended the award ceremony and received/accepted the award on behalf of Kisaakye.
In a LinkedIn post, Kisaakye wrote, “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, resilience, and vision that drives our mission at Ecobed Biotech Initiative to create sustainable solutions for environmental and social challenges.” She added, “A heartfelt thank you to the Moonshot team for creating a platform that highlights changemakers worldwide, and to everyone who has supported us through this journey.”
Kisaakye wasn’t available to give us a comment.
Kisakye, a social entrepreneur with a background in environmental science and business statistics from Makerere University, leads sustainable initiatives through Ecobed Biotech. As CEO, she innovates in waste management and agriculture, creating mosquito-repellent skincare from spoiled milk and plant extracts and using fly larvae to transform food waste into organic fertilizers and animal feed for farmers.
The Moonshot Awards, founded by Yemi Dele Akinyemi, a recognized Czech-Nigerian artist, choreographer, and innovator dedicated to inspiring young people to pursue social change, celebrates innovators who are shaping the future by solving some of our generation’s most pressing challenges.
“Being part of this inspiring community is an incredible honor,” Kisaakye said.
See also: Ecobed Biotech’s CEO Jovia Kisaakye Wins 2024 WAYA Rising Star Award at Africa Food Systems Forum
Akinyemi said, “Moonshot Awards revealed something extraordinary: the next generation isn’t waiting for permission to lead—they’re already reshaping our world with ideas that challenge the status quo and solutions that demand attention.” Adding “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our attendees, we raised USD$474,000 (approx. UGX1.73 billion) to fuel the Moonshot Platform’s mission to elevate these changemakers and their impact.”
Notably, at the awards, Moonshot Platform announced a new partnership with United Founders, a pan-European investment organization led by proven startup leaders from France, Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, to mention but a few, to support Moonshotters. Through this partnership, United Founders will help secure selected Moonshot startups’ early-stage capital and provide the know-how necessary for increasing their chances to disrupt markets while making the world a better place. For four years, selected Moonshot ventures may also be supported by up to USD$5 million in United Founders investments.
“We are not just investing up to USD$5 million over the next four years — we are investing in the future of entrepreneurship,” said Vit Horky, Founder of United Founders. “We look forward to working closely with these promising startups, helping them achieve their full potential and disrupting markets for the better.”
The 2024 Moonshot Awards winners were:
- Moonshot Idea Award: Simon Klinga of the Czech Republic for LASAR.
- Moonshot Non-Profit Award: Jovia Kisaakye of Uganda for Ecobed Biotech Initiative.
- Moonshot Startup Award: Adolfo Martin Vidal Ruiz of Mexico for Celal-Mex.
- Adekoyejo Kuye of Nigeria for KAMIM Technologies Cooling Hubs.
- Moonshot Health Award: Samih Daher of Lebanon for the SAPHe Community.
- Moonshot Art for Peace Award: Korean-Canadian Kevin Jin Kwan Kim for “What Did They Say?”.
- Moonshot Learning Award: Tamara Hofer of Austria for Richtungswechsel.
- Stanley Anigbogu of Nigeria for LightEd Impact.
- Moonshot AI for Good Award: Thomas Terhemba James of Nigeria for TED Innovate Solutions.
- Moonshot Borderless Award: Muhammad Zubair Madni of Pakistan for the Cholistan Center of Excellence.
