james wika 
Representatives from the final nine teams selected to participate in the MPP Incubator during the launch of the MPP Incubator.
The Mombasa Plastics Prize (MPP) is excited to announce the start of the MPP Incubator, the second phase of MPP.Implemented by Challenge Works and funded by USAID, the MPP Incubator will support the growth of sustainable businesses led by young entrepreneurs to tackle marine plastic waste in Mombasa County.
Building on the success of the initial phase, the incubator aims to support teams from the initial phase of the project to create sustainable businesses that significantly impact the mitigation of marine plastic waste pollution in Mombasa County’s informal settlements. To achieve this goal, the teams selected to participate will:
- Formalize their businesses and establish their operational structure.
- Refine their business ideas to generate sustainable and viable business plans.
- Increase the capabilities and skill sets of their teams.
- Develop and implement their working prototypes to be market-ready.
- Establish partnerships with the innovation ecosystem.
- 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 the following teams:
- Team Furies
- Rafiki Peps
- Team Boma
- Eco-Print Generations
- Plas-Tech
- 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 give early-stage businesses access to mentorship, investors and support to help them become established and sustainable,” Jonty Slater, Director of International Development at Challenge Worfis on the the importance of incubators for startups
Tackling the widespread issue of marine plastic waste in Mombasa County is at the heart of this initiative.With only 52 percent of waste collected by formal services and 20 percent of daily waste being plastic, informal settlements in the county are severely impacted 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,” Basil Muga, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mombasa County congratulating the innovators who advanced into the MPP Incubator.
Furthermore, Muga highlighted the crucial role 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 Mombasa County residents to reduce plastic waste, whilst also benefiting and creating new jobs.
About Challenge Worfis;
Challenge Works is the new name of Nesta Challenges.We are a social enterprise founded by the UK’s innovation agency Nesta.For a decade, we have established ourselves as a global leader in the design and delivery of high-impact prizes that incentivise cuttingedge -innovation for social good. In the last 10 years, we have run more than 80 prizes, distributed £84 million in funding and engaged with 12,000 innovators.
We believe no challenge is unsolvable.Challenge Works partners with organizations, charities and governments around the globe to unearth the entrepreneurs and their innovations that can solve the greatest challenges of our time.
