Takeda’s ORZEYFUL (oveporexton) Launches Simultaneously in Japan and China Giving Physicians First Access to Prescribe Novel Orexin Agonist to Patients with Narcolepsy Type 1

 OSAKA, Japan & CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -

− ORZEYFUL is now available in Japan and China following approvals within a month of each other by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)

− Discovered by Takeda scientists in Japan, ORZEYFUL is the lead medicine in Takeda’s orexin franchise, with multiple programs for sleep-wake disorders and conditions where orexin biology plays a role

− ORZEYFUL set to launch next month in the U.S., following completion of DEA scheduling; Health Authority submissions underway worldwide

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced today that ORZEYFUL (oveporexton) is now available in Japan and China for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), providing first access to clinicians to prescribe treatment with the new class of medicine. ORZEYFUL is a first-in-class orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist, in tablet form, designed to treat the underlying orexin deficiency associated with NT1.

“We’re excited at the potential to fundamentally change how NT1 is managed across Japan and China,” said Giles Platford, president, International, Takeda. “We’ve heard from patients how ORZEYFUL has improved their daily functioning and quality of life, enormously meaningful outcomes for a condition known to impact many aspects of a person’s life, including work, education and social interactions.”1,2,3,4,5

NT1 is a chronic, rare neurological disease driven by orexin deficiency. People experience a range of symptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), disrupted nighttime sleep, sleep paralysis, hallucinations and cognitive symptoms. Many patients experience challenges that may affect their quality of life and limit their independence. People with narcolepsy have approximately twice the rate of healthcare resource utilization compared with controls, including more frequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, outpatient appointments and physician consultations.6,7,8

ORZEYFUL is the first therapy designed to restore orexin signaling and address the biological cause of NT1. This mechanism represents a potential paradigm shift from symptom management to a disease-targeted treatment. Landmark Phase 3 studies in people with NT1 demonstrated ORZEYFUL improved the full range of NT1 symptoms and quality of life compared with placebo9. Results showed consistent, clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements with ORZEYFUL compared to placebo in wakefulness, sleepiness, cataplexy, disease severity and quality of life measures (p-values of <0.001) across doses over 12 weeks. These improvements were observed at the earliest assessed timepoint for each measure and were sustained throughout the duration of the studies. ORZEYFUL was generally well-tolerated with a safety profile consistent across clinical studies to date. The most common side effects include insomnia, urinary urgency, urinary frequency and excessive saliva.

About ORZEYFUL (Oveporexton)

ORZEYFUL (oveporexton) is an oral orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist, which selectively stimulates the OX2R to restore signaling and address the underlying orexin deficiency associated with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). By activating OX2Rs, ORZEYFUL promotes wakefulness and reduces abnormal rapid eye movement (REM)-sleep like phenomena, including cataplexy (sudden and temporary loss of muscle tone), and address a range of daytime and nighttime symptoms as evaluated in clinical studies and consistent with the approved label.

About Takeda's Orexin Franchise

Takeda is the leader in orexin science with a tailored portfolio of investigational orexin agonists in pre-clinical and clinical stages for multiple-sleep wake disorders and other indications where orexin plays a role including respiration, mood and metabolism. Oveporexton is the lead orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist in Takeda’s orexin franchise and has been approved by regulatory bodies in China for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1(NT1) in adolescents aged 16 and older and adults as well as in the United States and Japan for adults with NT1. The company is also investigating other oral orexin agonists, including TAK-360 for the treatment of NT1, narcolepsy type 2 (NT2) and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), as well as TAK-495.

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

Takeda Important Notice

For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

Takeda Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “outlook” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States and with respect to international trade relations; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including drug pricing, tax, tariff and other trade-related rules; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic; the success of our environmental sustainability efforts, in enabling us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or meet our other environmental goals; the extent to which our efforts to increase efficiency, productivity or cost-savings, such as the integration of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, in our business or other initiatives to restructure our operations will lead to the expected benefits; and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at https://www.sec.gov/. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.

Takeda Medical Information

This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.

References

Plazzi G, Dauvilliers Y, Pizza F, et al. Effect of the Oral Orexin Receptor 2 Agonist Oveporexton (TAK-861) on Functional Impacts of Narcolepsy Type 1: Results from Two Phase 3 Studies. Presented at: SLEEP 2026; 14-17 June 2026; Baltimore, MD.

Pizza F, Dauvilliers Y, Del Rio Villegas R, et al. Oveporexton (TAK-861) Improves Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Narcolepsy Type 1: Results from Two Randomized, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Trials. Presented at: SLEEP 2026; 14-17 June 2026; Baltimore, MD.

Barateau L, Gong Y, Dauvilliers Y, et al. Effects of Treatment with Oveporexton, an Orexin Receptor 2 Agonist, on Sleep in People with Narcolepsy Type 1: Phase 3 Results. Presented at: SLEEP 2026; 14-17 June 2026; Baltimore, MD.

Maski K, Steinhart E, Williams D, et al. Listening to the patient voice in narcolepsy: diagnostic delay, disease burden, and treatment efficacy. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017;13(3):419-425.

Flores NM, Villa KF, Black J, et al. The humanistic and economic burden of narcolepsy. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(03):401-407.

Thorpy MJ and Hiller G. The medical and economic burden of narcolepsy: implications for managed care. Am Health Drug Benefits. 2017;10(5):233-241.

Jennum P, Ibsen R, Petersen ER, et al. Health, social, and economic consequences of narcolepsy: a controlled national study evaluating the societal effect on patients and their partners. Sleep Med. 2012;13(8):1086–93.

Black J, Reaven NL, Funk SE, et al. The Burden of Narcolepsy Disease (BOND) study: health-care utilization and cost findings. Sleep Med. 2014 May;15(5):522–9.

Dauvilliers Y, Mignot E, Antczak J, et al. Oveporexton for Narcolepsy Type 1: Results from Two Phase 3 Trials. New England Journal of Medicine 2026.

 

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Contacts

Investor Relations

Christopher O’Reilly

takeda.ir.contact@takeda.com

Japanese Media

Tsuyoshi Tada

toiawase_kouhou@takeda.co.jp

International Media

Hannah Badri

Media_relations@takeda.com

Body of Waves, a New Artwork Only at teamLab Planets TOKYO, Unveiled

 TOKYO - Thursday, 15. October 2026 AETOSWire  

The visitor experiences offered by “Existence in the Flow Creates Vortices” and “Waterfall of Ephemeral Crystals” have also been further expanded.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--teamLab Planets TOKYO (hereinafter referred to as “teamLab Planets”) has unveiled Body of Waves, a new artwork in which visitors enter a soft sculpture with their entire bodies.

In addition, Existence in the Flow Creates Vortices—where vortices are created behind people as they climb against the flow—and Waterfall of Ephemeral Crystals—where shining particles cascade down to create a waterfall of light particles—have also evolved, further expanding the experience at teamLab Planets.

New Artwork

Body of Waves

As you walk, your feet sink.

This force is transmitted to the large, soft and flexible sculpture spreading across the floor, causing the sculpture to physically deform.

The force generated by your body slowly ripples through the whole sculpture. Likewise, the force generated by another person’s body deforms the sculpture, and that force is transmitted to you. Sharing the same sculpture, people influence one another through their presence and the forces they exert.

Countless lights continuously flow down from high to low following the ever-changing shape of the sculpture.

The sculpture here is not an object to be observed from the outside.

The physical properties of the sculpture itself become a medium that connects the bodies of people.

This sculpture generates its shape from the relationships between people's bodies, continuously transforming them.

Your own body and the bodies of others are connected within a single, continuous space through the chain of forces transmitted through the sculpture.

Evolved Artworks

Existence in the Flow Creates Vortices

Vortices are created behind people as they climb against the flow.

Although a vortex is steady, it is constantly moving and swelling like a powerful life-form.

Despite the existence of the vortex being maintained, the water particles that form it change from moment to moment. The vortex that is being seen now is created by completely different water from the same vortex seen a few minutes ago. The vortex, unlike a rock, cannot maintain a stable structure on its own; rather, it is created and sustained by the energy of water that continuously flows inwards and outwards.

A vortex looks like a life-form because life similarly consumes external energy and matter and discharges it, sustaining its ordered structure within that flow. Life is a miraculous vortex that emerges from a flow of energy in a continuous world.

Water is depicted as a continuum of countless water particles, and the interactions between the particles are calculated to create a three-dimensional simulation of their movement. The vortices create lines from the trails of these particles. The collection of three-dimensional lines are then cut out using what teamLab calls Ultrasubjective Space. In contrast to space that is created through, or cut out by, lenses and perspective, Ultrasubjective Space does not fix the viewer’s viewpoint and in turn frees their body. The floor and walls that the vortices are seen on do not become a boundary between the viewer and the artwork, and the artwork space becomes continuous with the space in which the viewer’s body exists.

Waterfall of Ephemeral Crystals

This artwork is based on an earlier work on a natural waterfall in the mountains of Shikoku, Waterfall of Light Particles - Deep in the Mountains of Shikoku (2016-2017).

Light only reflects off the particles of water that make up the waterfall. The shining particles cascade down creating a waterfall of light particles. The light of the shining waterfall illuminates the surrounding area.

In the darkness, the shining particles leave a light trail afterimage that appears to draw lines in space. From the combination of these afterimage light traces, the waterfall of light is born.

teamLab Planets TOKYO

With Your Entire Body, Immerse, Perceive, Become One with the Art

teamLab Planets is a museum where you walk through water, created by art collective teamLab.

The artworks change depending on the presence of people, and the existence of the artworks is continuous with your body and with others. Immerse yourself physically in the massive artwork spaces, perceive them with your body, and become one with the art.

Visitor Information

teamLab Planets TOKYO

https://www.teamlab.art/e/planets/

Toyosu, Tokyo (6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo)

Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 - 22:00

*Final admission is one hour before closing.

Highlight video of teamLab Planets

https://youtu.be/kf8ZaAqgXow

Press Kit

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ir7d2aui794eo6z/AAChbzX5wPsQm8cgkQ2ViFD4a?dl=0

 

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teamLab Planets PR Department

E-MAIL: pr-info@planets.art

For interview enquiries:

https://forms.gle/fAtnDKLpQKFME6XR9

Venture Global Secures New Agreements to Support Expansion of Existing Grid-Independent Power Network

  ARLINGTON, Va. - Thursday, 15. October 2026 AETOSWire 

Landmark Agreement with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes supports the development of over 10 GW of new Island-Mode power capacity across sites owned or controlled by Venture Global

Leverages existing team and execution capabilities to enable rapid deployment of adjacent, behind-the-wall, large-scale data centers with no reliance on the public electric grid demand or extra cost to consumers

Staged, market-driven expansion advances Venture Global’s critical energy infrastructure strategy in a disciplined manner and positions the Company to facilitate power and compute capacity at gigawatt-scale on an attractive timeline

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE: VG) today announced it has entered into power and grid frame agreements with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes Energy Services for up to 16 new, 720 MW power island units and associated power transformer equipment, supporting the continued expansion of its existing behind-the-meter, Island-Mode industrial power network that is not reliant on the grid.

The agreements will enable continued growth in Venture Global’s LNG business and provide a pathway to make up to 10 GW of new compute capacity available over time – at sites owned or controlled by the Company - for potential adjacent infrastructure and data centers. With Island Mode power generated using this incremental dedicated on-site infrastructure, the expansion would place no additional demand on the public electric grid or public water utilities and, therefore, have no added costs to local consumers. This new capacity would build on the company’s 4.5 gigawatts of Island Mode modular, gas-fired generation that has and will continue to supply power to our facilities.

“Over the last decade, Venture Global has successfully built complex energy infrastructure, including one of the world’s largest private industrial electric grids that supports our core LNG export business. Our power generation platform is not reliant on the grid and reliably runs completely behind-the-meter making this new opportunity a natural extension of what we are experienced and proven to do safely, reliably, and at-scale,” said Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel.

“These new agreements outline a phased, disciplined expansion to make reliable, large-scale power capacity available for new compute as and when we elect. By providing Island-Mode power generation, gas supply, closed-loop water systems, thousands of acres of land, data centers, and other necessary infrastructure, Venture Global is creating a vertically integrated AI utility that could solve for the many chokepoints associated with the AI buildout. This advances Venture Global’s broader strategy of strengthening America’s critical energy infrastructure and addressing one of the most important infrastructure challenges facing our nation today.”

The company remains fully committed to our growing, robust LNG business, customers and our existing contractual commitments. Any potential third-party development for Island Mode power capacity would be separate from and complementary to Venture Global’s existing LNG operations and would not impact the Company’s LNG sales agreements or other existing commercial commitments. The production and delivery of low cost, clean American LNG for the next several decades remains our key strategic objective.

Creating a Flexible Framework for Future Behind-the-Meter Expansion

The agreements provide that the Company may enter into certain definitive reservation agreements, which contain agreed pricing and delivery terms, to reserve manufacturing capability over time. This framework preserves Venture Global’s flexibility on the timing and scope of future deployments. Venture Global currently expects to place its first power island purchase order by the end of 2026.

Venture Global expects to build additional capacity in stages as customer commitments and other commercial arrangements are established, and the Company determines that additional deployment is warranted. Additional power islands and related electrical equipment would be ordered through future definitive reservation agreements or purchase orders based on the Company’s operational and commercial needs. The 720 MW power island units would consist of combined cycle gas turbines and certain related equipment, utilizing configurations consistent with Venture Global’s existing power infrastructure.

Building on its Existing Differentiated Power Platform

Over the past 15 years, Venture Global has grown into one of the world’s largest LNG producers and exporters. As part of that development, the Company has built one of the largest private and self-sufficient industrial power grids in the world with 6 power islands ordered, in construction, or operating across its LNG facilities. This equates to approximately 4.5 gigawatts of modular, gas-fired generation that has and will supply power to its own facilities entirely behind the meter and off the grid.

With the up to 16 additional power island units contemplated by the new agreements, the Company expects to have the potential to continue supporting its growing LNG business and separately creating a substantial foundation for its AI utility. Subject to customer commitments, market demand, and other commercial considerations, the Company anticipates that it will be able to develop up to 10 GW of compute capacity by the end of 2034.

Venture Global will work with federal, state, and local regulators on any additional permitting requirements. This week, the company will file its first permit applications to begin this process.

About Venture Global

Venture Global is an American producer and exporter of low-cost U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) with over 100 MTPA of capacity in production, construction, or development. Venture Global began producing LNG from its first facility in 2022 and is now one of the largest LNG exporters in the United States. The company’s vertically integrated business includes assets across the LNG supply chain including LNG production, natural gas transport, shipping and regasification. The company’s first three projects, Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines LNG, and CP2 LNG, are located in Louisiana along the Gulf of America. Venture Global is developing carbon capture and sequestration projects at each of its LNG facilities.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein are “forward-looking statements.” Included among “forward-looking statements” are, among other things, statements regarding Venture Global’s business strategy, plans and objectives. Venture Global believes that the expectations reflected in these “forward-looking statements” are reasonable, however they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties beyond Venture Global’s control. In addition, assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in “forward-looking statements” as a result of a variety of factors. These “forward-looking statements” speak only as of the date made, and other than as required by law, Venture Global undertakes no obligation to update or revise any “forward-looking statement” or provide reasons why actual results may differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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Investors:

Ben Nolan

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Media:

Shaylyn Hynes

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Pretium Expands Middle East Presence with Abu Dhabi Office

 Office will enable Pretium to engage more directly with institutional partners across the Middle East

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pretium, a specialized investment firm with approximately $70 billion in assets under management1, today announced the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi. The office will operate within Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”), the international financial center of Abu Dhabi, providing proximity to some of the world’s leading institutional investors.

The Abu Dhabi office marks an important step in the continued evolution of Pretium’s business. From its roots in U.S. residential real estate, Pretium has built a scaled investment platform spanning real estate equity and credit. A dedicated presence in Abu Dhabi will enhance the Firm’s connections to clients in the region as it continues to develop new investment solutions.

“Abu Dhabi is home to some of the world’s most sophisticated and forward-looking institutional investors,” said Don Mullen, Founder and CEO of Pretium. “An on-the-ground presence here will enable us to spend more time alongside our partners in the region and help expand their investment opportunities through Pretium’s vertically integrated residential real estate ecosystem.”

“Pretium’s decision to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi reflects the continued growth and global appeal of the capital’s financial ecosystem. As leading investment firms expand closer to regional institutional partners, ADGM provides a trusted, internationally recognised platform from which they can build meaningful relationships, unlock new opportunities and contribute to Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global financial centre,” said Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM.

The office will be located in ADGM and led by Basim Habib, Director in Business Development, and Dietrich Heidtmann, Managing Director in Business Development, who will work closely with Pretium teams across the Firm.

About Pretium

Pretium is a specialized investment firm focused on U.S. residential real estate equity and credit. Pretium was founded in 2012 and has built an integrated analytical and operational ecosystem within the U.S. housing and credit markets and believes that its insight and experience within these markets create a strategic advantage. Pretium’s platform has approximately $70 billion in assets and employs 7,000 people across 45+ offices, including its New York headquarters, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, Bangalore, Seoul and Sydney. Please visit www.pretium.com for additional information.

_________________________

1 As of June 30, 2026

 

 

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Media Contact

Brenna Karp

Pretium

Media@pretium.com

 

10 Companies Named Semifinalists of the $2 Million Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy

 Milken Institute to award $500,000 in unrestricted funding to companies scaling technology to enhance circular economy practices

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation announced the 10 teams advancing to the Semifinalist Round of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy, with $500,000 in unrestricted funding to innovative companies driving inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Africa.

A total of $2 million in non-dilutive capital will be distributed for this prize, along with opportunities for global visibility, mentorship, and investor connections.

“Globally, the circular economy represents a $4.5 trillion opportunity. Africa is uniquely positioned to lead in this transition, leapfrogging legacy systems in favor of technology-enabled, regenerative models,” said Emily Musil, managing director at the Milken Institute. "Through the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy, we are supporting entrepreneurs who are turning resource efficiency into market competitiveness, scalable growth, and good jobs. We are honored to help bring these solutions to the forefront.”

As worldwide demand for compute power and natural resources grows and supply chains face ongoing disruption, circular models are becoming central to industrial competitiveness and stable employment. They secure the critical minerals, electronics, and water that power AI, and they help businesses meet new EU circularity requirements to stay competitive in European markets and beyond. This year's prize celebrates companies that are using next-gen technologies to scale commercially viable solutions that advance these practices while creating jobs and delivering measurable environmental and social impact across Africa.

Judges, representing expertise across circularity, industry, and social entrepreneurship will winnow the 10 semifinalist teams down to five finalists based on their commercial viability, market scalability, workforce and social impact, and circularity and environmental impact. Once the final round of judging is complete, a $1 million Grand Prize will be awarded at the 2027 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, alongside a $250,000 Runner-Up prize.

The 10 Semifinalists for the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program in Circular Economy:

Bottle Logistics East Africa

Team Lead: Louisa Gathecha

Based in Kenya, Bottle Logistics East Africa is a technology-enabled circular economy company that combines digital reverse logistics with advanced industrial glass recovery infrastructure to collect, recover, recycle, reuse, and upcycle discarded glass into returnable packaging, high-quality glass cullet, and value-added circular products.

Cold Hubs

Team Lead: Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu

Based in Nigeria, Cold Hubs designs, builds and operates 100 percent solar-powered walk-in cold rooms, refrigerated trucks, and reusable crates for outdoor food markets, fresh produce collection centers, and farm clusters to store and preserve perishable foods 24/7, extending their shelf life from 2 days to 21 days.

Country Materials Ltd.

Team Lead: Avith Philip

Based in Tanzania, Country Materials is a tech-enabled circular steel company using AI and digital systems to identify, trace, and recover legitimate scrap metal and return it to productive use as raw material for Africa’s steel industry.

EKT Trade and Investment

Team Lead: Kiros Teklu Berhe

Based in Ethiopia, EKT is a circular manufacturing company that transforms plastic waste into high-value products, creating jobs, reducing pollution, and building a scalable circular economy in Africa.

Papyrus Egypt

Team Leads: Ramy Azer and Heba Nayil

Based in Egypt and Australia, this engineering company has proven technology to convert banana plantation waste into environmentally sustainable and friendly biodegradable packaging and organic liquid fertilizers products.

Regen Organics DBA Sanergy

Team Leads: Ani Vallabhaneni and David Auerbach

Based in Kenya, Regen Organics is building strong, resilient food systems for African farmers through a circular-economy model that converts polluting urban sanitation and organic waste into regenerative agricultural inputs, organic fertilizers, and biochar that restore soil, increase farmers' incomes, and mitigate climate change.

SafeSip

Team Lead: Faith Kuya

SafeSip operates a dual-revenue circular economy model in Tanzania, converting post-consumer and agricultural plastic waste into ISO 4427 pressure-rated recycled resin and drip irrigation hardware, delivered to smallholder farmers as pay-per-liter Irrigation-as-a-Service with zero upfront capital outlay.

Safi Organics

Team Lead: Samuel Rigu

Safi Organics is a Kenyan climate-tech company converting rice husks and sugarcane bagasse into Safi Sarvi®, a carbon-negative organic fertilizer that increases crop yields by up to 30 percent and farmer incomes by up to 50 percent.

Triple M Electrical and Electronic Contracting

Team Lead: Mahmoud Montash

Triple M is an Egyptian engineering company that uses diagnostic testing to extend the working life of electrical power infrastructure—purifying transformer oil and rehabilitating transformers, switchgear, and panels so that mineral oil, copper, and steel stay in service instead of becoming waste.

Zafree

Team Lead: Bethelhem Dejene

Based in Ethiopia, Zafree Papers manufactures tree-free pulp and paper from agricultural residues, starting with banana farm waste, for the packaging industry.

Since awarding its first Grand Prize in 2023, the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program has supported visionary innovators and entrepreneurs across sectors, providing the capital, resources, mentorship, and networks needed to turn bold ideas into investment-worthy solutions. Now entering its fifth year, the prize community has grown to over 16,000 people across 162 countries, with more than 85 percent of the entrepreneurs based in Africa. To date, the program has catalyzed more than 31x in the value of its prize awards in follow-on funding, reached more than one million stakeholders, and delivered over 1,800 hours of capacity-building, mentorship, and media training.

For more information about the semifinalists and the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program, visit https://milkenmotsepeprize.org/.

FAQ

What is the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy?

The winning team will demonstrate the ability to reduce waste, keep materials in circulation, and deliver measurable environmental and social benefits through stronger, more resource-efficient value chains. The business model must be commercially viable, technology-enabled, and tailored to operate in Africa with a clear path to scale and support the creation of safe employment opportunities around the world. Teams will be evaluated based on commercial viability, market scalability, workforce and social impact, and circularity and environmental impact.

What can teams win?

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy offers $2 million in prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize.

Semifinalists: Ten Semi-Finalists will receive $50,000 each.

Finalists: Five Finalists will receive $50,000 each.

Final awards: One company will receive a $1 million Grand Prize; One company will receive a $250,000 Runner-Up Prize

Who is eligible to participate?

Registration is free and open to everyone from around the world who meets the screening criteria, with certain exceptions defined below. The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy rewards established companies with a proven track record of reaching underserved communities with accessible and sustainable circular waste management solutions. Participants can be a single individual or a team.

Companies must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Over two years of continuous operation on the African continent

Over $500,000 in revenue and raised capital (cumulative)

Clear evidence of social impact and job creation

Demonstrated operational readiness to deploy $1 million+ in funding

ABOUT THE MILKEN INSTITUTE

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next. For more information, visit milkeninstitute.org.

ABOUT THE MOTSEPE FOUNDATION

The Motsepe Foundation was founded in 1999 by Dr. Patrice Motsepe and his wife, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe. The goal of the Motsepe Foundation is to contribute toward eradicating poverty and to sustainably improve the living conditions and standards of living of poor, unemployed, and marginalized people in South Africa, Africa, and the world. In January 2013, Dr. Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge, which was started by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. Dr. Patrice Motsepe and his wife committed to give half of their wealth to the poor and for philanthropic purposes during their lifetime and beyond. For more information, visit https://www.motsepefoundation.org/.

 

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Contacts

Libby Miller

Email: limiller@milkeninstitute.org

Phone: 202-249-6905

Imbono and University of Cape Town Partner to Advance Future-Ready Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa

 Partnership combines academic research with real-world experience to develop practical tool to improve infrastructure resilience across emerging markets.

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Imbono, an operational platform focused on infrastructure and critical logistics across emerging markets, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Abu Dhabi University (ADU), have signed a three-year academic partnership to develop a framework for assessing and improving the resilience of infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Infrastructure development is essential to long-term economic growth in Africa with an estimated US$181bn to US$221bn required annually just to meet current demand. Existing infrastructure requires operational expenditure and local capacity to ensure it remains fully operational, as reports state that only about 27% of African roads are paved, and more that 600 million people lack access to electricity.

This partnership aims to tackle the US$10.2 to US$11.4 billion needed annually to recover infrastructure losses in Africa, working over three years to advance understanding of infrastructure resilience and support more informed, long-term investment decisions across sub-Saharan Africa.

By bringing together UCT and ADU’s academic expertise with Imbono’s experience in delivering and operating infrastructure across emerging markets, the work will focus on developing a Unified Resilience Index and decision-support platform. These tools will help assess performance, identify risks and opportunities, and evaluate potential interventions.

The research will cover infrastructure across energy, water, food and social sectors, with the methodology designed to reflect the different economic, environmental and operating conditions found across Sub-Saharan Africa. It will provide a consistent, data-driven approach to assessing factors that influence the long-term performance and resilience of infrastructure projects.

Imbono CEO Marcus Weyll said, “This research partnership will be at the cutting edge of infrastructure monitoring and design and will advance the conversation to ensure projects are future ready. Durability is fundamental to long-term performance, particularly in markets where operating conditions can vary significantly. It brings together UCT’s academic expertise and Imbono’s experience on the ground to develop a practical, evidence-based approach to measuring and improving resilience.”

The partnership will also support knowledge development and capacity building in Africa, including the sponsorship of two PhD students whose research will contribute to the broader objectives of the initiative.

UCT research director Kathy Michell noted, “Infrastructure development and reliability have been a chronic challenge across Africa. This joint research project will allow for the development of a tool that can highlight key infrastructure challenges, potentially resulting in the formulation of long-term solutions”.

By combining academic research with real-world infrastructure experience, the partnership aims to contribute to a more data-driven approach to decision-making and long-term value creation across the region.

Data Sources: African Development Bank Group, 2024; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2025

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About Imbono

Launched in February 2026, Imbono is an emerging markets operational platform delivering essential infrastructure, goods, and services. Imbono brings together local expertise and a strong track record of execution, with a commitment to project completion and durable, long-term impact.

Part of Gemcorp and headquartered in the UAE, supported by regional hubs across Africa and the Middle East, Imbono builds, operates, and maintains national strategic projects while also sourcing essential goods and services for communities in emerging markets. Its ambition is to transform the lives of more than one hundred million people by 2040.

About the University of Cape Town

The vision and strategy of the Sustainability ⊕riented Cyber research Unit for the Built Environment (S⊕CUBE) is to undertake research that aids in the transformation of the built environment by integrating sustainable development with cutting-edge cyber technologies, empowers future professionals and fosters global collaboration for smart, resilient infrastructure through interdisciplinary research, education and industry partnerships.

The Urban Real Estate Research Unit (URERU) is a unique interdisciplinary research platform for academia and industry that promotes the identification of issues and seeks solutions to urban real estate investment, finance, economics, management, and sustainability problems in Africa.

About Abu Dhabi University

Abu Dhabi University (ADU) is one of the region’s leading academic institutions, translating the UAE Government’s National Agenda to deliver internationally accredited academic programs and world-class research. Established in 2003, with campuses across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai, the University serves over 10,000 students from over 100 nationalities. The University is home to five colleges across different disciplines including arts, education, social sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and law, while offering a diverse range of over 65 undergraduate and graduate programs.

 

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Contacts

Imbono

For any media inquiries, please contact:

Chris Marais

Head of Communications, Middle East & Asia

cmarais@imbono.com

Iury Rodrigues

Head of Communications, Africa & Latin America

irodrigues@imbono.com

University of Cape Town

Professor Kathy Michell

Director

kathy.michell@uct.ac.za

Dr Saul Nurick

Director

sd.nurick@uct.ac.za

Abu Dhabi University

Professor Rahaf Ajaj

rahaf.ajaj@adu.ac.ae

From AI to Autonomous Networks: Mobileum Spark Highlights the Next Frontier of Telecom Intelligence

 

CUPERTINO, Calif. -

Industry leaders get together to explore how trusted AI, Agentic Intelligence and automation are transforming risk management, accelerating autonomous network operations and unlocking new opportunities for value creation

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mobileum Inc. ("Mobileum"), a leading global provider of telecom analytics and network solutions, brought together telecom operators and industry leaders during its Mobileum Spark events series in Lisbon (Portugal) and Frankfurt (Germany), to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Agentic AI and automation are transforming network operations and accelerating the evolution toward autonomous networks.

Focused on Risk Management & Fraud Prevention and Network Testing & Assurance, the events featured customer-led discussions, expert insights, and real-world use cases demonstrating how AI and advanced automation are helping operators address increasing network complexity, strengthen fraud prevention, improve service assurance, and drive operational efficiency.

A central theme across both events was the shift from reactive operations toward more predictive, proactive, and increasingly autonomous operations. Discussions highlighted the importance of trusted data, domain-specific intelligence, and AI-driven automation in turning network insights into faster decisions and actions.

"We want to use AI to find the problems we haven't already thought about. That's where it can have a bigger impact, freeing up our people to focus on delivering more valuable insights to the business," said a Tier 1 European MNO customer participating in Mobileum Spark event in Lisbon, Portugal.

"We are looking to AI to expand our automation capabilities, particularly in continuous testing, test configuration, and root cause analysis. These initiatives support our broader autonomous network strategy," shared a Tier 1 MNO customer that attended the Mobileum Spark event in Frankfurt, Germany.

The events also highlighted the expanding role of telecom operators in protecting the broader digital ecosystem. As AI-powered systems become increasingly sophisticated and autonomous, telecom networks provide a critical vantage point for detecting emerging agentic threats, identifying anomalous behaviors and combating AI-enabled fraud and scams. This creates an opportunity for telecom risk management to evolve into a critical line of defense in the age of super intelligence.

At the same time, applying AI to mission-critical telecom environments requires more than generic Large Language Models. Trusted AI must combine domain-specific intelligence with predictable controls, security by design, explainability and auditable decision-making, ensuring that increasingly autonomous systems operate within clear governance frameworks.

Mobileum is advancing this vision by combining deep telecom expertise with AI-powered analytics, Agentic Intelligence and advanced automation. Through solutions such as RAID for risk intelligence, SITE for automated testing and GlobalRoamer® for global connectivity testing and service assurance, together with its Active Intelligence Platform, Mobileum is helping operators identify emerging risks, automate complex workflows and translate insights into intelligent action.

Beyond operational efficiency, discussions also explored how telecom operators can leverage their wealth of network, identity, transactional and behavioral intelligence to create new services and revenue streams. With appropriate privacy and governance frameworks, trusted telecom intelligence can help banks, fintechs and other enterprises address growing challenges such as fraud prevention, customer intelligence and operational efficiency.

"The journey toward autonomous networks is about moving from insights to intelligent action, but doing so in a responsible way that operators can trust," said Bernardo Lucas, BU Head & Chief Marketing Officer, Mobileum. "At Mobileum, we believe AI's greatest potential goes beyond automating existing processes. It is about discovering risks we could not previously identify, making operations more intelligent and creating new sources of value. By combining domain-specific AI, Agentic Intelligence and trusted controls, we are helping operators make this transformation practical, secure and measurable."

Mobileum Spark reflects the company's commitment to collaborative innovation, bringing operators, technology providers and industry stakeholders together to exchange ideas, share experiences and jointly shape the future of telecom intelligence.

Through initiatives such as Mobileum Spark, Mobileum continues to help operators accelerate AI adoption, strengthen digital trust and advance toward more intelligent, secure, and autonomous operations.

For more information about Mobileum's AI-driven solutions, visit www.mobileum.com.

About Mobileum Inc.

Mobileum is a leading provider of Telecom analytics solutions for roaming, core network, security, risk management, domestic and international connectivity testing, and customer intelligence. More than 1,000 customers rely on its Active Intelligence platform, which provides advanced analytics solutions, allowing customers to connect deep network and operational intelligence with real-time actions that increase revenue, improve customer experience, and reduce costs. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Mobileum has global offices in Australia, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Portugal, Singapore, UK, and United Arab Emirates. Learn more at www.mobileum.com.

 

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Contacts

Media Contacts:

QUEXOR GROUP INC.

Cheryl Fritz | cfritz@quexor.com | Mob.: +1 (703) 856-5932

Media and Corporate Communications – Mobileum

Sandra Almeida | sandra.almeida@mobileum.com | Mob. +351 939650229