Top innovators win millions at the GES 2015

Top innovators from across the world, among them a Kenyan, walked home with awards and investment funds at the end of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2015.

The techprenuers were among the finalists in the Tech-I Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) picked from a list of 792 applicants.

After expert review, the Tech-I semi-finalists received a record amount of votes globally to determine the 30 finalists who pitched in the Innovation Village over two days of the GES.

The finalists, mostly young men and women, pitched ideas that incorporate science and technology to solve local and global problems through creating startups.

The presentations were made after extensive training that the finalists were taken through the whole week.

Mexican Carlos Francisco Bernal of Eido Innova with GlucosAlarm took the first place in the Start Up category wining $25,000 in venture fund while Kenya’s Taita Ngetich of Illuminium Greenhouse came second winning $15,000.

Blessing Mene (Nigeria) of UNFIRE was positioned third winning $8,500 while Gabriel Gurovish (Chile) of Snapp won the Honourable Mention Start Up that comes with a $2,500 cash prize.

In the Idea category, Water Bro’s Rudi Cooke (South Africa) took the first place winning $25,000 cash prize, Mojisola Ojebode (Nigeria) of Bioresourcescame second taking home $15,000 while Charles Batte of Tree Adoption Uganda with Tree Capital was ranked third winning $8,500.

Sabira Mehrin Saba (Bangladesh) of Bhitti won the Honorable Mention Idea winning $2,500.

Other winners were;

Best in Health – $5,000
Iffat Zafar Aga – Pakistan
Company – DoctHers

Best in ICT – $5,000
Ibrahim Bernado – Philippines 
Company – Sari Software Solutions

Best in Energy – $5,000
Rudi Cooke – South Africa 
Company – Water Bros

Best in Agriculture – MasterCard Award – $5,000
Mojisola Ojebode – Nigeria
Company – Bioresources

Best Female Entrepreneur – $5,000

Mojisola Ojebode – Nigeria 
Company – Bioresources

Spirit of Tech-I – $2,500
Samson Fiado – Malawi

Company – EasyBooks Accounting Package

S&T Excellence – $3,500

Patricio Avila – Chile 
Company – Platech

Potential for Societal Impact – $5,000
Tendekayi Katsiga – Botswana
Company – Deaftronics