Four Africans Named to MIT Technology Review’s 2026 Innovators Under 35

The MIT Technology Review has announced its 2026 class of Innovators Under 35, featuring four outstanding individuals from Africa: Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya), Diana Orembe and Paschal Kija (Tanzania), and Loza Tadesse (Ethiopia/USA).

This annual list recognizes young scientists and entrepreneurs who are developing groundbreaking technologies across various fields. This year’s cohort was selected from a pool of 550 nominations by a panel of 44 expert judges.

The four African honourees represent diverse applications of innovation:

• Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya) co-founded HyaPak to transform invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging materials, creating both environmental and economic benefits for local communities.
• Diana Orembe (Tanzania) developed NovFeed, a startup that converts food waste into affordable fish feed, addressing a critical challenge for aquaculture farmers in the region.
• Paschal Kija (Tanzania) designed the Mkanda Salama—a portable compression belt that helps prevent postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality in Africa.
• Loza Tadesse (Ethiopia/USA), an MIT professor, is creating compact diagnostic tools that can bring advanced medical capabilities to underserved areas.

The list has previously recognized notable figures like Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, underscoring its ability to identify emerging talent early on. This year’s class highlights advancements in artificial intelligence, computing, biotechnology, and climate solutions.

While no Nigerian made this year’s cut—a point of note given Nigeria’s frequent presence on similar global indexes—the four African honourees demonstrate both the power of homegrown startups addressing local challenges and the impact of diaspora researchers leveraging their expertise from international institutions. Their work promises to extend beyond national borders, creating wider benefits across the continent.