MASK Awards past entries:

Young Entrepreneurs challenge

2024

Trang Le Linh Pham, 25, Vietnam

‘Perfect House.Tour Guide in the Jungle’ is a 3D map of a house in the jungle, designed to set some types of games to train living skills.

Keerthana Raveendra, 16, India

Introducing clearEST, the customized helmet visor designed for riders with vision problems. Integrating eye-powered technology and advanced anti-fogging, anti-scratch, and anti-glare coatings, clearEST ensures clear vision and safety. Targeting long-distance riders, each unit is priced at SGD 170, providing comfort and reliability for a seamless riding experience.

Akshara Dalan, 14, India -

Social Media Vigilant. To prevent cyberbullying among students, the creation of a Social Media Vigilance Officer in schools would be effective. This job would ensure that the influx of confessions and meme pages in school can be regulated to ensure a healthy school environment and that social media age requirements are being met.

Thanusiya Thanu, 15, Malaysia

Sustainable Urban Farming Architect. My urban farms use vertical farming integrated with hydroponics and renewable energy to provide fresh produce, reduce carbon footprints, and create green spaces in cities, thereby promoting food security and environmental sustainability.

David Odhiambo, 20, Kenya

CAMPUS GLIDE: "Smart Campus Transport". Campus Glide offers electric scooters for university students to travel quickly and efficiently across large campuses, integrated with M-Pesa for easy payments. Students enter their transaction ID to activate a scooter for 20 minutes. This eco-friendly solution enhances mobility, saves time, and supports sustainability goals.

Uijin Lee, 17, South Korea

Virtual Reality Therapy. There is rising demand for therapies globally, so introduction of VR therapy will not only improve the range of options that patients choose to take, but also easier access to higher quality of therapy. Treatments available for: depression, trauma, insomnia, or any other non-genetic mental disorder. Therapists working in the business are neuroscience specialists and have good understanding of VR technologies. Patients must visit office for therapies, but if patients own a VR in their accommodation, the therapy can be done online.

Simon Wandera, 23, Kenya

Agrobiashara. Agrobiashara is a cool website that changes how farmers sell their products by connecting them directly with buyers. It makes buying and selling easier and more transparent. Farmers can show their products online, set prices, and handle orders all in one place. This helps them reach more buyers, from local shops to global markets, and get better prices without middlemen. Buyers get access to a variety of fresh products and clear pricing. The site also offers helpful resources and training for farmers to grow their businesses and stay sustainable. Check it out at https://agrobiashara.netlify.app.

Khyathi Meenan S, 13, Bell & Bennett High School, India

Problem: is the unavailability of personnel to replace saline solutions for patients during night hours, leading to potential health risks and inconvenience. Solution: creating an automated saline replenishment system that operates autonomously during night times, utilizing an ultrasonic sensor, relay, buzzer, pump motor, and Arduino. It ensures the continuous and autonomous replenishment of saline solutions, reducing the dependency on human intervention and enhancing patient safety and care.

Tabassum Shaikh, 20, India

AI integrated map.This map app helps people in India to understand local languages and gives smart travel tips. It works with public transportation and adjusts to different road and weather conditions, like rain. It also helps with emergencies using local services. Overall, it makes getting around in India easier and safer.

Eunice Muriithi, 25, Kenya

Wabunifu Hub. Kids have the most colourful minds that need to shine brighter as they grow and this is where Wabunifu hub comes in. A community of all creatives who teach and mentor kids inclusive of who are abled differently, then annually the kids’ artwork are set up for exhibitions.

FAITH NYERERE, 17, Kakenya Girls High School, Kenya

To improve the durability of fencing posts, one effective and eco-friendly method is to burn them until a layer of charcoal forms. This charcoal layer makes the posts resistant to decay and prevents ants from eating them, while also being cost-effective.

2023

Linda Njoki, 23, Nakuru - 5G Drone Wireless

5G drone connectivity leverages ultra-fast wireless speeds, low latency, and high network capacity. This empowers drones with real-time data transmission, remote piloting, and improved communication, delivery, education, and disaster response.

John Gift, 27, Nairobi - Solar Power

Our solution is using solar energy in agricultural sprayers with the help of solar panels. Farmers face the problem of large area coverage in a short period of time. In this project work, we will manufacture a multiple solar power supply of fertilizer sprayer to cover the maximum area of spraying.

Gloria Muriithi, 24, Nairobi - Vases and Flowers

Abiglow is the name of my business located in Nairobi, Kenya. It produces unique flower vases used for home décor and garden plantations and made using cement, sand and reusable materials. This idea came out of my desire to be independent and since a formal job was not easy to find I decided to create one. In the spirit of empowerment to help fellow youths, I created a you tube channel called ABBY-GLOW DIY which is all about Do It Yourself projects, tutorials, tricks, experiments on how to create flower pots by recycling materials in the simplest ways. If you are reading this kindly consider subscribing to have a learning and enjoyable experience. I entered this competition to push the boundaries of my imagination and showcase my creativity to the world.

Kitui Harrison, 22, Nairobi - Virtual Library

Study Hub, a Red Hub Kenya, is a startup that seeks to foster academic growth. Learners from primary school to higher institutions can beneficit. It is set to change the dynamics of remote learning and teacher/ learner activity in school. The Study Hub iwill contain multiple plugins and resources for learners. The Hub will solve unequal distribution of opportunities in business and academia. Here’s how:
1. Provide employment to the youth in the startup.
2. Prioritize product promotion of small and mid enterprises.
3. Set up virtual learning materials that will give rise to new forms of remote learning to students from all backgrounds.

Kevin Kipchumba Sang, Kapsabet, Kenya
The Asian Cup finals were viewed by over 2 billion people daily. My idea is to set up a theater in my local town and country wide for watching soccer ⚽. The theatre can also serve as a canteen and a conference facility. By creating such a place where people can come watch soccer together we promote interaction among locals and people will get to know each other and live in harmony.

Danielle Wijenje, 22, Nairobi -COOL COUPLE OF THOUSANDS

Did you know that with a mere 700 shillings, a creative mind, Canva application subscription, a printer and an electronic device you could make tens to hundreds of thousands per month? With Kenya's decreasing job market self employment by use of creative design is the way.

Mike Chiema, 21, Nairobi

Bamboo charcoal fabric made by burning bamboo at very high temperatures to create charcoal. This charcoal is then processed into fine nanoparticles that are embedded into fibers and spun into yarn. The resulting fabric is soft, UV-resistant, and requires fewer synthetic treatments. It is good at traping the bodily smells.

Issa Kamau, 22, Nyandarua, Kenya

Idea 1. HealthTech Telemedicine and Mobile Health Clinic

HealthTech Telemedicine and Mobile Health Clinic: a transformative healthcare solution utilizing telemedicine and mobile clinics to provide equitable access to quality healthcare services, bridging the gap between underserved communities and medical professionals, and reducing healthcare inequalities in Kenya.

Idea 2. AgriTech Farmer Network and Knowledge platform

Smart AgriTech Solutions: an integrated system leveraging technology, IoT, and data analytics to provide small-scale farmers in Kenya with affordable and accessible agricultural solutions, improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Owen Machiro , 19, Nairobi - Tapping into urban

African urban culture is unique and needs to be showcased such that it stimulates economic growth. This can be achieved by modifying into Matatus themes on wildlife conservation, African culture and other. They can be used in African tourism. Urban tourism can stimulate continental tourism uptake.

Antony Odhiambo, 19, Sare-Awendo - Empowering African Youth through Sustainable Agriculture

My idea is to establish a social enterprise that provides skills training and employment opportunities for unemployed African youth in sustainable agriculture, empowering them to create a positive impact on their communities while fostering environmental sustainability.

Timothy Irungu, 21, NAIROBI - SHUKSHA SNACKS

A restaurant where Customers decide what they want and how much they wish to pay for it.

Michael Kamaui, 17, Nairobi - 3_skillz

3_skillz is an innovative platform that looks forward to promote the mind of youth in three areas: Academics, Talent, and Ideas. This platform will also have a foundation of a principle of 1:5. This means that in a person that successed, the person is expected to help the other five.

2022

Lennox Omondi, 20, Nairobi. Eco-Bana is a social enterprise that manufacturers biodegradable sanitary pads from banana fibers. Our products are cheap yet quality and comfortable, we sell it at $0.43 whereas normally a Kenyan girl spends over $2 for pads. Eco-Bana is more than just a product it is a movement of liberations and empowerment for millions of girls and women. Instagram and Facebook page all @ eco_banalimited.

Samwel Nyachuba Muma, 20, Kisii. My idea is Paperstar EcoPencil, pencils made from recycled newspapers. The business has a projection to make sh. 100,000 per month, and a profit of 1.2 million in the first year. I currently work with two very talented people in their fields.

Dulla Shiltone, 21, Limuru. Eco-Bana sanitary pads is a youth led project by students from St. Paul’s University in Limuru Kenya. Who works hand in hand to produce biodegradable, eco-friendly and hygienic sanitary pads made from banana fibers.

Victor Aluda Ngala, 24, a student at Sigalagala Polytechnic. I have a project on Jigger treatment because people suffer of jigger infestation. I target to treat 200 people by the end of the year.

Stanley Sigowo, 27, Machakos. Industrial and domestic waste. The u-bin, a device integrated into the lids of the bins that detects the level of waste in the bin and alerts to a waste management company.

Eric Mwirichia, 25, Nairobi. Our Smart Bins sort waste from source, while giving rewards points. They are afitted with sensors that collects data (such as fill level and weight) that allows governments and companies to make informed policies and resource allocation. We have been supported by the Ford Fund and the Kenya Climate Incubation Center to built 6 prototypes and carried out 2 successful pilots at a Coca Coca Bottling plant in Embakasi and at Multimedia University of Kenya. At both locations and with just over 240 users, we have been able to collect over 1.5 tons of Plastic waste, preventing over 4 tons of CO2 emission.

Denis Otieno, 25, Kisumu - Rhyme and Vocals. Rhyme and Vocals will expose exceptional talents who cannot achieve their aspiration due to financial instabilities and marketing skills, thus helping them gain and create a solid fanbase. The finance from this competition will be resourceful in initiating the first phase of the program because I believe it will be self-regenerating through online subscriptions and advertisements.

2021

Paula Nyandat, 19, Nairobi. Make graphene aerogel building blocks, that are an alternative to concrete blocks and more environmentally friendly.

Danielle Wijenje, 19. Start-up 'Beyond delivery' is an application that connects riders at 5 km radius in a relay style.