MKU students shine in Global Innovation Contest in Germany

Two Mount Kenya University (MKU) students have emerged top in an international innovation contest held in Leipzig, Germany, placing their start-up EcoBlu as the most investment-worthy project.

The competition was part of the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) programme, hosted at Leipzig University’s SEPT Competence Centre. Students from five African universities underwent two weeks of intensive entrepreneurship training in business planning, market potential, financial modelling, and pitching.

Esbon Ogeto and Bettinah Maruti impressed judges with EcoBlu, a start-up focused on sustainability, clinching first place during the final pitch presentations.

Dr. Henry Yatich, ACCESS Project Coordinator at MKU, hailed the achievement as proof of the university’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent. 

“Through ACCESS Kenya, MKU continues to build the next generation of innovators by offering mentorship, training, and global exposure,” he said.

The EcoBlu team will now receive support from MKU’s Incubation and Innovation Centre, including prototype development, patent guidance through the Kenya Industrial Property Institute, and strategic support to access international markets.

The Leipzig programme, part of the EU-funded ACCESS 2.0 project, brought together 12 young innovators from Kenya, Ghana, Benin and Rwanda. Seven start-ups participated, including EcoBlu (Kenya), Harcourt Agri-Eco Farm (JKUAT, Kenya), ObstaMed (Ghana), WaxFarm (Ghana), BIOS Benin, Tak-Avipack (Benin), and DailyPlus (Rwanda).

Beyond training, participants engaged with Leipzig’s SMILE start-up community, attended the iN4iN International Conference and visited Berlin for the IFA fair, the world’s leading showcase of technology and innovation.

Back home, MKU is preparing to launch a national business innovation challenge themed “Innovate for Impact: Scaling Kenyan MSMEs through SDG 9.” 

The competition, slated for next month, invites students to present solutions that empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“Let’s continue to celebrate and support the brilliance of our students as they transform ideas into impactful ventures,” said Dr. Yatich.