AACOSE Youth Innovation Challenge
Young Africans solving problems in their own communities
The challenge finds, recognises and rewards young innovators whose solutions tackle social problems in a lasting way.
2025 edition
African Youth: Innovating for Inclusive and Sustainable Social Impact
The first challenge ran alongside AACOSE 8 and drew more than 80 entries from young innovators across Africa. Entries covered waste management, mental health, renewable energy, inclusive technology and digital access.
Judges scored every entry on innovation, impact, feasibility and inclusivity over several rounds. Ten finalists pitched live at the conference.
2025 winners
The top three
Winner
Uweledi Arts
Tangaza University. Turns plastic, paper and electronic waste into art, uses eco-art therapy for mental health, and trains marginalised young people to earn from their work.
First runner-up
Super App Africa
A digital platform that serves several user groups at once. The judges noted its scale potential and asked the team to sharpen pricing and cost models.
Second runner-up
Na Malkia
A community solution built for underserved groups. The judges praised its fit with local needs and asked for a firmer market strategy.
Other finalists in the top ten
- Albright Alitsi
- Bosibori Omwenga
- Firomsa Germu Duke
- James Barnard, Matthew Cornelius and Zibusiso Shongwe
- Yvonne Grace Wangari Irungu and Zipporah N. Muendo
- Brian Gillo, Okpamen Obasogie and Gill Technologies
More entries worth watching
- Glass and Deco: candles from recycled glass and wax
- Student Support Network: peer-led mental wellness in schools
- Zimflow: a chatbot for small businesses
- Smart Poultry House (Ethiopia): IoT monitoring for poultry farms
- Faitto: blockchain checks against counterfeit medicines
- Signvrse: a 3D sign language AI translator
- EthioBike: Ethiopia’s first smart bike-share
- Farm2Door: a marketplace linking farmers and consumers
Next edition
The second challenge runs at AACOSE 9
AACOSE 9 adds a Youth Innovation Village and awards. The call for entries will be posted on this page.
DYNAMIC TEAM OF VISIONARIES
AACOSE Conveners
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