Winners of the Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards announced

YBI is delighted to announce the winners of our Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2024.

The winners were crowned at an award ceremony at YBI’s bi-annual Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, this year held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Young entrepreneurs entered across three categories; Climate, Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship. The three category winners were announced before revealing which of them was awarded the overall accolade of Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year, receiving a $10,000 prize to help grow their business.

YBI had more than 400 entrants to 2024’s Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year. 30 young people (10 per category) were shortlisted to attend the inaugural Youth Business International Bootcamp, held in London in June 2024. This was further shortlisted to three finalists per category who all secured a place to attend YBI’s Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit. Over 8000 public votes then determined the category winners and a panel of expert judges picked the overall winner based on a range of criteria including business model and growth potential.

Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Climate Entrepreneurship Award winner: Adaeze Akpagbula

Farmspeak Technology Limited, Nigeria

Adaeze, founder of Farmspeak Technology Limited in Nigeria was crowned the overall winner of our Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and winner of our Climate Entrepreneurship Award. 33 year-old Adaeze received 64% of the public votes in her category and was also chosen as the winner by  our expert panel of judges. She has been supported by our member in Nigeria, Fate Foundation.  

“Thank you! I’m standing here reflecting on how this ‘little girl’ and her team got to this point. It mattered to me to build my business in Nigeria, rather than send jobs overseas. It was hard work but the challenges I faced changed my mindset and taught me resilience. I’ve had times where I didn’t believe in myself, thank you Fate Foundation for always believing in me. Thank you to my team at Farmspeak and my co-founder. Thank you YBI”

Adaeze Akpagbula

When founding her business, Adaeze’s idea was to harness technological innovations to address global food challenges, while preserving the climate. Farmspeak, founded in 2020,  provides livestock farmers with IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) Climate-Smart Technologies which enhance productivity, increase profit margins, and improve data-driven agriculture practices.

“I’m always inspired by the determination and creativity of young people supported by the YBI network. Adaeze is the epitome of a leader creating a generation for change – a young woman creating trailblazing technology to drive local solutions to global challenges. Congratulations to Adaeze and all the winners and finalists, I look forward to seeing the impact of their businesses, and the power of the network grow.”

Anita Tiessen, CEO, Youth Business International

Adaeze has secured a $10,000 grant to grow her business, as well as a trophy, business coaching, and a place in the YBI Hall of Fame.

Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award winner: Dareem Jeffrey

With 49% of the public vote in his category, Dareem Jeffrey, founder of Ecowash in Trinidad and Tobago, was awarded as winner of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award. He has been supported by our member Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago.

EcoWash is an ecological, water-conservation carwash system that uses only two litres of water to wash a car. Employing dozens of young people, it is the only legal carwash system in Trinidad and Tobago during periods of water restrictions.

As the winner of our Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award, Dareem has secured a  $5,000 grant, a trophy, business coaching, and a place in the YBI Hall of Fame.

Social Entrepreneurship Award winner: Keerthana Vangapally

Keerthana, the founder of 9NUTZ Millets Private Limited in India, received 60% of the public vote in her category and was announced as the winner of YBI’s Social Entrepreneurship Award. She has been supported by our member in India BYST.

28-year-old  Keerthana’s business was founded when she herself was unwell and turned to a healthier diet to aid her recovery. Wanting to help others, Keerthana’s company produces millet-based snacks and is committed to promoting a healthier lifestyle, especially for young people as the leaders of tomorrow. Her business employees 25 people of which 23 are women, helping create jobs in an area of under-employment.

As the winner of our Social Entrepreneurship Award, Keerthan has secured a  $5,000 grant, a trophy, business coaching, and a place in the YBI Hall of Fame.