KENYA – The Mombasa Plastics Prize (MPP) has announced the launch of the second phase of its Incubator program to help tackle marine pollution.
Implemented by Challenge Works and funded by USAID, the MPP Incubator will support the growth of sustainable businesses led by young entrepreneurs to address the issue of marine plastic waste in Mombasa County.
Building on the success of the initial phase, the incubator aims to support teams from the project’s inception to create sustainable businesses that have a significant impact on mitigating marine plastic waste pollution in the informal settlements of Mombasa County.
To achieve this goal, the teams selected to participate will formalize their businesses and establish their operational structure and refine their business ideas to generate sustainable and viable business plans.
In addition, they will also enhance the capabilities and skill sets of their teams, develop and implement working prototypes that are market-ready, establish partnerships with the innovation ecosystem, and monitor and evaluate the impact of their solution on marine plastic waste pollution.
The three winning teams from the initial phase of MPP, Twende Green Ecocycle, Plastic Taka Creatives, and Oceania Pacesetters, will join Team Furies, Rafiki Peps, Team Boma, Eco-Print Generations, Plas-Tech, and Eco-Building Solutions.
These teams will benefit from financial support and training, including mentoring, coaching, and training provided by expert partners from across Mombasa County.
“Incubator programs provide early-stage businesses with access to mentorship, investors, and support to help them establish and sustain their operations,” stated Jonty Slater, Director of International Development at Challenge Worfis, emphasizing the significance of incubators for startups.
Tackling the widespread issue of marine plastic waste in Mombasa County is the main focus of this initiative.
With only 52 percent of waste being collected by formal services and 20 percent of daily waste being plastic, informal settlements in the county are severely affected by inadequate waste management services.
“I am proud of the journey each business represented today has taken to contribute to the urgent issue of plastic pollution affecting Mombasa County’s informal settlements,” added Basil Muga, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mombasa County, congratulating the innovators who advanced into the MPP Incubator.
Furthermore, Muga highlighted the crucial role that Challenge Works and USAID have played in nurturing the innovators’ ideas with necessary mentorship and funding, bringing these transformative solutions to reality.
Beyond reducing plastic waste, the MPP Incubator aims to inspire residents of Mombasa County to reduce plastic waste, while also providing benefits and creating new job opportunities.
