Hult Prize Winners
Each of these amazing teams stood out amongst thousands of their peers to be named Hult Prize Winners. Their work is a testament to the power youth possesses to make the world a better place. We are so proud of them and cannot wait to see the impact they continue to make in the world.
2023 Hult Prize Winner
Banofi Leather, Yale University. Banofi Leather takes banana crop waste and converts it into plant-based leather that is vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free. We are a B2B social enterprise focused on supplying global fashion houses with leather alternatives that result in tremendous climate impacts. Compared to animal leather, our patent-pending process reduces water usage by 95%, carbon emissions by 90%, and completely eliminates toxic waste. Local farmers typically burn or dump banana crop waste. Sourcing our inputs boosts their household income by 30%. Our materials are PETA Vegan-certified and meet non-toxic industry standards: REACH (EU) and CAL PROP (California). Over 30 brands are actively sampling and buying our material. We’ve sold 400+ proof-of-concept Banofi leather notebooks, demonstrating durability and quality, and are the cusp of scaling this novel technology. Banofi is ripe to propel sustainable materials in the fashion industry.
Stella McCartney & Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam
2022 Hult Prize Winner
EcoBana, 2022 Hult Prize Winner from St. Paul's University in Limuru, Kenya. Social enterprise that is getting people back to work, with an aim to stop plastic manufacturing in sanitary towels and to manufacture biodegradable sanitary pads to end period poverty Using the concept of green and circular economy to manufacture biodegradable sanitary pads using banana fibers, to stop plastic manufacturing in sanitary towels and to embrace organic and natural solutions through capacity building and Sanitary pads manufacturing.
Secretary Martin J. Walsh & Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam
2021 Hult Prize Winners
Last year, the Hult Prize challenged students to rethink our broken food systems by transforming food into a vehicle for change. Each of the seven teams below were selected as 2021 Hult Prize Winners.
Chilk
Ecospire
Motherbud
Propel Foods
ReMango
SiembraCo
UpRoot
Previous Winners
Meet the teams who have won the Hult Prize over the past decade.
2020: Hult Prize Winners
2019: Rutopia
2018: Rice Inc.
2017: Roshni Rides
2015: IMPCT
2014: Nano Health
2013: Aspire Food Group
2012: SolarAid [SunnyMoney]
2011: m.Paani
2010: One Laptop Per Child