Two students, Bettina Maruti and Esbon Ogetto were last week named the overall winners of Zindigi Prize, sponsored by Zindigi JS Bank in Pakistan, after beating 38 start-ups from six institutions. In a colourful event at St pauls University, Limuru the duo pitched their start-up Nanaheal Enterprises which is repurposing pineapple waste into a bio fertilizer that sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, increasing farm productivity while creating jobs especially for women and youth.
The event brought together innovative minds from JKUAT, University of Nairobi, African Nazarene University, MKU, KCA, and St. Paul University who pitched their innovations to a panel of judges and industry players.
After rounds of pitch presentations, NanaHeal Enterprise, currently under the university’s innovation and incubation centre emerged victorious, securing the top spot in the competition. As the winners, they received a cheque for 100,000 Pakistan Rupees and an opportunity to present their innovation at a global stage in Pakistan in late December for chance to win a grand prize of 1,000,000 Pakistan Rupees.
As finalists in three more pending international innovation contests, we are now more energised to put our best foot forward,” says Esbon Ogetto.
