Four Kepler University students are in line to win $1 million Hult Prize in start-up funding after qualifying for the regional contest finals to be held in Nairobi, Kenya. Regional winners participate in global finals at UN headquarters, in New York, USA next June.

Aretha Ntwari, Audrien Iradukunda, Aime Valentie Nishimwe and Gilbert Ishimwe’s K-Gas Stove project, which seeks to address energy waste challenge by restoring heat with improved system of gas stoves, emerged top. The team, working under Spark Company, was followed by Empower Group made up of Rosette Muhooza, David Kinzuzi, Arsene Pole Niyitunga with their ‘Huza’, a platform that connects farmers with buyers online.

Golden Reformers, Gloria Kantengwa and Vincent Uwimana and Patience Ngabo, with their solar battery project that seeks to take heat energy in the refugee camps, came in third.

Hult prize was started by former president of the United States of America Bill Clinton to empower business minds to pursue purpose from the world universities. Ten universities from Rwanda are expected to participate in the regional competition.

Speaking at the event, Misbah Gashegu, a research advisor at University of Rwanda’s College of Health Sciences (School of Public Health), encouraged young entrepreneurs to embrace research and design projects that impact society.

The competition at Kepler University campus was held under the theme, ‘The next wave of social entrepreneurs” on Sunday.