Dr Nakalembe triumphed over 100 innovators whose work cut across 14 lifestyle sectors – from fashion and beauty to finance, retail, luxury and biotech – and introduced as many game-changing technologies, ideas and innovations to consumers in the US, the EU and Africa.
Nakalembe’s work – which focuses on using satellites and machine learning to future-proof African farming against the impact of drought and climate change – was described by judges from the worlds of design, tech, branding, retail and social media as ‘an idea that delivers long-term generational impact’, the ‘big idea that links technology with the provision of food’, and from Platform13’s founder Leila Fataar, an innovation that is ‘game-changing, societal, environmental, impactful and innovative’.
Second place in our Futures 100 Innovators Awards went to entrepreneur Harsha L’Acqua, for founding Saira Hospitality, her non-profit platform and academy that partners with leading hospitality brands globally to give marginalised people access to skills and knowledge as a gateway to new careers development, while our special merit runners-up award went to sisters Alexia and Margot de Broglie for developing Your Juno, a one-stop shop for women’s financial education.
Discover the full Futures 100 Innovator list
