Kenyan agri-tech startup Savanna Circuit Tech is the winner of this year’s Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge.
Now in its fourth year, the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2020 is a worldwide search for early-stage technology-enabled solutions and services that leverage technology for social impact. It was open for student entrepreneurs from around the world.
Savanna Circuit Tech founded by Emmastella Gakuo and Percy Lemtukei in 2017 won the grand prize of $100 000. The company manufactures and distributes last-mile non-refrigerant solar-powered milk chillers that can be placed on any means of transportation – from motorbikes to trucks.
“In Kenya, 70 percent of dairy producers are smallholder dairy farmers, and one million people work on these family-run farms. These smallholder farmers produce 5.3 billion liters of milk each year – 30 percent of which goes to waste.” Says Emmastella Gakuo.
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“The milk goes to waste because it takes a lot of time to get it from the point of production to corporate chains that assist with marketing and selling it. The transportation can take up to five hours using animal transport, bicycles, or people walking from their homes.”
Through the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies, Savanna Circuit Tech’s Dairy Management Systems ensures that dairy businesses – whether farmers or distributers, efficiently cut on post-harvest losses whilst maximising its profits.
Emmastella and Percy state they wish to use their $100 000 Grand Prize money in strengthening their business by acquiring novel talent and equipment for their new manufacturing facility.
Savanna Circuit Tech beat 13 other teams from Indonesia, India, Poland, Cameroon, Mexico and the United States who received a total of US$350,000 cash prize.
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