GSA African Winners Victorious on Global Stage, in Copenhagen.

Kubik, Inc. and Emata , two African startups, secured the "Startup of the Year" and "Best Newcomer" titles at the recent Global Startup Awards (GSA).

Kubik, Inc. , an environmental technology company based in Ethiopia, impressed the judges with its innovative approach to converting plastic waste into low-carbon, low-cost building materials that interlock. Kubik's mission is to provide clean and affordable living for all by turning 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste into 5000 homes for families. Their solution, which is 40% lower in cost than traditional building materials, also reduces carbon emissions by five times compared to cement. This model can be replicated worldwide, thereby reducing carbon emissions and empowering waste pickers, particularly women, to work in dignified structures.

Emata , a Ugandan fintech firm, caught the judges' attention by providing affordable digital loans to smallholder farmers, automating the entire loan process, and catering to small and remote farmers. Despite agriculture contributing 29% to the continent's GDP, only 3% of bank loans are given to farmers, leaving a significant finance-finding gap of $240bn. Emata plans to finance 100m farmers and unlock the potential of agriculture on the continent, ultimately solving food security and transforming Africa from a food importer to a food exporter.

Their victories at the GSA event in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday, 29 March, not only demonstrate the continent's growing influence in the international tech and innovation space but also challenge old misconceptions about Africa's potential.

According to Jo Griffiths , co-founder of Global Startup Awards Africa and Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), the awards are a way to recognize and celebrate future-shapers while building a network of innovation organizations worldwide. She believes that Africa is the tech continent of the future and can offer a world of opportunities by empowering and supporting African innovators to impact this generation and the next.

The GSA awards ceremony was the culmination of extensive and rigorous research, networking, and collaborations worldwide to discover the most promising innovators. Its Investor Delegation and African Meet-ups prior to the gala provided additional opportunities to connect startups with like-minded individuals, potential investors, and the general public. The fully-booked African Meet-up was the first of its kind and spoke directly to their long-term goal, aligning with solutions that associate with the United Nations' sustainable development objectives.

Through their triumphs at the GSA, Africa's game changers in technology and innovation have proven themselves on the global stage, and they look forward to discovering and supporting the next wave of innovators at the GSA Africa 2023. If you missed the live-streamed awards ceremony, you can watch it here.