Dear contestants and supporters,
BE OPEN thanks everyone who submitted their initiatives and thus contributed to this programme in an array of meaningful, innovative and passionate ways. We also thank everyone who has taken time and effort to review the submissions and cast their votes in the public vote section.
Thanks to hard and elaborate work by our amazing jury panel, and to the precious votes of the public, we are now able to announce the winners of the First, Second and Third prizes, as well as the Public Vote prize.
First Prize Winner
The 5000 euro grant goes to Norah Kimathi, a 2026 graduate from Strathmore University, Kenya. Norah is BA of Science in Informatics, Computer Science and Robotics Engineering. Her project Zerobionic is an AI-powered robotic exoskeleton designed to improve access to STEM education for deaf and hard-of-hearing girls.
Second Prize Winner
The Second Prize of 3,000 euro goes to Victress Igboanusim from the Imo State University, Nigeria for her Calyx-Probe, a handheld AI-powered diagnostic device designed to improve access to non-invasive reproductive healthcare.
Third Prize Winner
The Third Prize of 2,000 euro to Lennox Omondi and his team members Dullah Shiltone, Keylie Muthoni and Brian Ndung’u, 2024 graduates from St. Paul’s University, Kenya. Their submission Ecobana is a circular manufacturing project that transforms banana agricultural waste into biodegradable sanitary pads for women and girls in underserved communities
Public Vote Winner
The Prize of 2,000 euro goes to Akshat Shah, Harshavi Patel, and Aryaa Bhagwat, graduates from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University, India for their project Samvaad Saathi: Service Enabling Financial Inclusion for Women Daily-Wage Construction Workers.
Samvaad Saathi provides guided, step-by-step facilitation to managing women’s financial autonomy: helping gather necessary documents, open bank accounts, register for pension and welfare schemes, and understand their earnings and savings options.
Founder’s Choice Winner will be announced shortly.