This final event completed this Innovation Challenge by combining the closing of the crowdfunding campaigns and a pitching competition. In this competition, the participating innovations presented their ideas to a jury.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be able raise funds for my business through crowdfunding, I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone to come up with the funds. It was not easy but I managed." Nancy founder of Nywele Chapaa.

We are proud to announce that 7 out of 9 innovation reached their crowdfunding target and will be awarded with matching funding in order to further develop their idea or solution. 

"Besides raising money through crowdfunding, I met a lot of people who gave me good advice on how I can improve my innovation and transform it into a viable business. Thank you LEAP²." Salsa founder of Flexi-port.

This edition of the Leap² Innovation Challenge focuses on Innovative Light & Circular Economy solutions. During the pitching event, the innovators did their best to convince a professional jury of their idea and the implementation in their communities. The jury consisted of Sam Gichuru from Nailab, an incubator in Nairobi, Ngosa Mupela from Close the Gap, Agenes Tsuma from the Technical University of Mombasa and Paul Akwabi from Tech Kids Africa. 

"I had to be smart in my crowdfunding, I reached out to my close friends and relatives and asked to crowdfund for me within their circles. My dad really came through." Comfort, founder of Tena pads initiatives.

There were 3 big winners at the end of this Challenge: 

The first place went to Call-main hatchery, a company that uses solar powered egg incubators to produce chics in bulk.

The second place went to Ethahusk Energy which collects coconut husks to generate an alternative, cleaner, renewable and most importantly affordable Bioethanol fuel gel that can be used for cooking.

The third place went to Trash To Cash, a company that collects and sorts waste and sells to industries for recycling.

Congratulations to all the winners and the participants that reached their crowdfunding goals!

For more information about Leap², click here or visit the website.