At the Tate Modern in London last week, against the backdrop of one of the world’s most prestigious stages for social entrepreneurship, a South African startup captured the attention of global investors, innovators and policymakers.
Urobo Biotech, a venture born at Stellenbosch University, became the first South African team to reach the finals of the Hult Prize Foundation’s Global Startup Competition, an achievement that has cemented its reputation as one of Africa’s most promising young companies.
Urobo Biotech specializes in transforming bioplastic-rich waste into valuable products through enzymes and microbes. The company’s model is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing waste management infrastructure, addressing one of the most persistent environmental challenges, the accumulation of non-recyclable bioplastics in organic waste streams.
The journey to the global stage was anything but straightforward. After failing to advance beyond the national rounds, the founders continued to refine their solution, eventually securing an unexpected invitation to re-enter the competition.
“For Urobo Biotech, this has been a rollercoaster. After not making it past Nationals, we kept building anyway, until one unexpected call changed everything,” Urobo Biotech said in a LinkedIn statement.
What followed was a year-long trajectory from incubator waitlists to accelerator programs, culminating in being named one of only eight global finalists drawn from 15,000 teams and 188,000 applications worldwide.
Though the $1 million top prize was ultimately awarded to Singaporean education startup Stick ’Em, Urobo Biotech walked away with outcomes that arguably carry greater long-term weight:
- Two letters of intent for enzyme off-take.
- Two LOIs from waste management companies.
- Two paid pilots with Italian waste management firms.
- A $23 million term sheet to finance the development of two full-scale waste-to-value facilities.
More importantly, Urobo secured global recognition and validation for its approach, proving that African biotech startups can compete and succeed on the world stage.
Hamdi Ben El Elmi, one of the competition’s organizers, described the team’s resilience vividly: “We called them Wednesday. Told them to pitch Thursday. No time to prep. No time to panic. They said yes. And that’s what they’ve done ever since—turning no’s into yes’s.”
The story has resonated deeply in South Africa. For a country where waste management remains both a challenge and an untapped economic opportunity, Urobo Biotech signals the possibility of a new generation of entrepreneurs who combine scientific expertise with commercial acumen.
The achievement also speaks to a broader shift in Africa’s startup ecosystem. While fintech and e-commerce have dominated funding headlines, biotech and climate-tech ventures are now gaining investor interest, particularly those addressing sustainability and circular economy models. Urobo’s success at the Hult Prize, paired with its financing prospects, suggests that African innovation is expanding into critical new frontiers.
The Hult Prize Foundation, often described as the “Nobel Prize for students,” has been a launchpad for youth-led startups across the globe. Yet Urobo’s presence at the finals marks a milestone, the first time a South African team has stood among the world’s top eight. As the founders reminded their supporters, they may be the first but they will not be the last.
For now, Urobo Biotech returns to Cape Town with fresh momentum, hard-won credibility and a mission larger than any competition. Their ambition is clear, to turn bioplastics once viewed as an intractable problem into a sustainable opportunity that reshapes waste management not only in Africa but globally.
“To our mentors, peers, partners, and the entire Hult Prize Foundation community: thank you for late nights, tough questions, and unwavering support. To our fellow South Africans: you were with us every step of the way. Urobo may be the first South African team on the Hult Prize Finals stage, but we won’t be the last,” Urobo concluded.
