Two recent Emory Law graduates are semifinalists in an international competition where the ultimate prize is $1 million in investment funding.

Bene Owanga 24L and Chinelo Adi 24L are among the 16 semifinalist teams that will travel to the United Kingdom in August to compete for the 15th Annual Hult Prize. More than 9,400 teams initially entered the global competition, which aims to solve some of the world’s biggest sustainable development challenges as defined by the United Nations.

The semifinalists represent more than 25 countries, and their projects range from water purification to cervical cancer screening. Owanga and Adi started Owanga to provide affordable, on-demand energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, using portable solar battery packs made from locally sourced recycled materials. The packs provide up to 12 hours of power and fully recharge in three hours to ensure reliable energy for homes, businesses and schools. The goal is a sustainable, affordable alternative to candles, kerosene, and expensive gas-powered generators.

Owanga and Adi already have a record of success—they developed a winning pitch for DivInc’s Clean Energy Accelerator through their participation in Emory’s The Hatchery.

"I founded this company with a deep-rooted passion for sustainability and the transition to clean energy. Over time, I realized that while the world is making progress in this direction, it's the people in developing countries who will be most impacted by climate change, and unfortunately, they often lack the resources and solutions needed to adapt,” Owanga said. “In essence, the Western world has access to climate change solutions, but we must work harder to ensure those in the developing world are not left behind."  Read more.

The Global Accelerator phase of the competition starts virtually this month. In August the semifinalist teams will travel to England’s Ashridge House for three weeks to further hone their business plans and pitches with mentors and coaches. From there, six teams will advance to the finals in London on September 6, 2024.

“For fifteen years, the Hult Prize has created opportunities for students to become innovators and problem-solvers working to make measurable improvements within their communities and the world,” said Lori van Dam, the Hult Prize’s chief executive officer. “Through the support of the Hult family, Hult International Business School and EF Education First, we can demonstrate that for-profit, for-good startup companies can change the world for the better, solving some of the most complex challenges in our time.”