Prize program awards Verto the $1 million Grand Prize to advance FinTech innovations; the program also launches a new $2 million prize in manufacturing
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 8, 2025/APO Group/ --
The Milken Institute (https://apo-opa.co/452va1L) and the Motsepe Foundation are proud to announce the winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech, a $2 million innovation award designed to reward companies working to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. The winner was announced at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.

Milken Institute and Motsepe Foundation Announce Winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Fintech and Launch New Prize
Verto (https://apo-opa.co/4d7WePf), based in the United Kingdom, won the $1 million Grand Prize for its business-to-business cross-border payments platform, which enables businesses in emerging markets to send and receive payments, eliminating intermediary fees, supporting 49 currencies, and settling transactions quickly.
FinTech is the third prize awarded as part of the Milken–Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, a series of competitive multimillion-dollar global competitions and awards designed to incentivize and reward bold, innovative solutions to address pressing economic and environmental challenges in Africa.
A Rigorous Award Cycle: From Application to Award
Launched in May 2024, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech attracted more than 3,000 entrepreneurs from 126 countries across six continents. A total of 400 teams applied, with just 10 being selected as semifinalists.
Each team underwent a comprehensive judging process that evaluated five key criteria: affordability and accessibility, ethical and responsible practices, scalability in other markets, the use of cutting-edge technology, and the potential to promote equitable access to financial services.
In December 2024, 10 semifinalists pitched their innovations to investors at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi. From this group, an expert panel of judges selected three finalists—Chumz, Oze, and Verto—to advance to the final stage of the innovation award at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference.
“Across the African continent, technology and innovation are disrupting traditional finance and banking approaches. Investment in this space is profitable and, more importantly, necessary for financial inclusion," said Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation. "My heartfelt congratulations to the winners and all the finalists for demonstrating feasible and impactful solutions that will drive economic activity and shared prosperity in the global South, while influencing the financial sector all over the world."
Since its launch in 2021, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program has awarded over $6 million in funding to more than 50 innovators worldwide. Participating teams have raised nearly 10 times the Grand Prize in additional outside investments, reaching and impacting over 530,000 community members.
The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program offers free, curated resources and online events not only to award winners but also to nearly 9,000 global entrepreneurs.
New Prize in AI and Manufacturing
The fourth Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize, which focuses on AI and manufacturing, launched at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference. The new $2 million award is designed to recognize established companies driving innovation in Africa’s manufacturing sector. Focused on advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence, the prize rewards technological breakthroughs that create long-term economic resilience in the supply chain in Africa.
Registration is open until July 31, 2025.
With $2 million in total prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize, “AI and Manufacturing” seeks companies that accelerate technological advancements, create jobs, and improve access to essential goods and services for communities across Africa. The award represents an opportunity to support companies leading the next wave of transformative change in manufacturing.
“We have witnessed our prize programs bring forward some of the most visionary thinkers across sectors, from agriculture to financial technology. Now we’re excited to see what bold entrepreneurs are doing for the manufacturing sector to harness the power of AI and other advanced technologies to improve the supply chain in Africa,” said Emily Musil, PhD, managing director of environmental and social innovation at the Milken Institute. “Prizes like this have the power to reveal new and better ways to operate in the digital age and shape how we can do better for people and the planet in the new future we are building.”
For more information about the winners and the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, visit https://MilkenMotsepePrize.org/.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program.
Keep young ppl busy with education and sports and away from politics and guns.
It's a shame that view self interest people are misguiding and misleading young Somali girls/boys, who have the potential to become the future leaders. I urge you (young north-westerners) to abandon the lies and tricks of the self centred separatists, who are mainly created to give you a falls hope and to misguide you. They've told you hoax lies for 20+ years, and they are willing to continue with these lies for another 20+ years. All those separatists so called leaders have profited from you guys, while you are still poor. Can't you see the reality that lies in front of you? They don't care about you guys, walaahi they don't. They all have millions stacked somewhere. And guess what, those millions are millions stolen from your pocket. The day you guys realize that, is the day that you guys will prosper.
How about you stop talking about young kids who are trying to better themselves in somaliland and start focusing on helpng darood youth not to be like the parasites their parents and grandparents were.
Kaboon, how many times do I have to tell you that I'm not darood nor Hawiye, I'm sheikhaal. And I don't hate my Is@@q brothers, is just I have problems with separatists liars who brainwashed you and many Is@@q brothers and sister.
Whether you like it or not, we are here to stay for ever. What can you do? Cry false? Fight us ?
Sir/madam, I can't say more, Somaliland came about with peoples wishes and no one but the people themselves have power to change that. Not, your hate, envy or crying false, will bring Somaliland people to its knees any more.
Son of Somaliland, when you say ''people wishes'', at least have the balls to say ''some Is@@q wishes''. If you think you can call the so called referendum, a referendum, then its obvious to me that you are even willing to lie to make a point.
KKKKK
This is a Kabaddi an Indian sports played on the dirt fields in rural India lol.
loooool what kinda game is this, Wallahi its the first time i see this game.
It's either Kabaddi or Govinda two sports very popular in Indian more popular than the cricket.
check the pictures below which is very similar to what these somaliland folks are doing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dahi_Handi_Jay_…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dahi_Handi_Jai_…
MORE!!
check this indian movie below stars salman khan look at 3:16
Gus yar baad leedahay
Why are daroods bringing their hate to young children who are trying to better themselves. I think the D-day is coming for darood when everyone will not tolerate these scum. Ever hateful comment about somalis comes from a darood person. We need few more General M. Farrah Aideed to bring back the order.
They hate we GRIND! When was the last time you saw a Lander constantly posting on p c u ntal andia websites or kh aart tumo websites? We just dont give a fu g but they are constantly on our websites lol talk about desperate for attention!
Like 50 said like the fire needs the air, I dont burn unless your there, I need you to hate me because it only makes us stronger! Keep hating, while we rise.
Kaboon they need to be reminded that Aideed wanted to drive them into the sea while we offered and extended friendship and forgiveness even after what they did, but evil minds dont recognize fairness or kindness bc its not in their nature to understand. what are you gonna do?
Well, if you didn't care then why are you constantly complaining about ''HATERS'' ? start acting like a grown up man and just because the name include the words ''LAND and PRESS'' don't automatically assume the website belongs to you and if you have serious issues with posters you do have choice to ignore them, make an argument and put your point across or simply take your Jesus Stick and crawl back into your dark corner, I'll bet no one will notice you're gone not even your partner Kaboon.
MashAllah good to see the youth involved with sports in Somaliland but we need to introduce more and variety of other interesting and challenging sport because I've seen enough of the one shown above.
oh look we have monkey teaching monkeys on how to climb trees.lol
It's great to see such life skills being taught.
Gerald Graff PDF