Kubik Triumphs at Global Startup Awards with Innovative Plastic Waste-to-Building Solution

Kubik, an environmental technology startup based in Kenya and Ethiopia, has been awarded Startup of the Year at the Global Startup Awards in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The company, which converts plastic waste into low-carbon, durable, and affordable building materials, emerged victorious among eight other finalists in its category, in a grand final event held yesterday, March 29, 2023.

Co-founded by Kidus Asfaw and Penda Marre, Kubik aims to remove millions of tons of plastic from the environment by transforming it into low-carbon buildings. These structures are not only more durable and affordable than conventional buildings, but they also generate less pollution.

In 2022, Kubik signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) to rent space and construct a waste plastic recycling plant within the Adama industrial park. The recycling facility is expected to produce low-cost, low-carbon building materials by processing 10,000 tons of waste plastics annually.

The Global Startup Awards is an international competition that recognizes and connects future shapers of the digital age from various countries. Headquartered in Copenhagen, it’s one of the largest independent startup ecosystem competitions.

The organization utilizes its competition framework and events to run programs across the globe. Presently, the awards are active in over 120 countries, which are divided into 12 regions on three continents, and continue to expand rapidly.

Kubik secured the prestigious award on the global stage after successfully competing and winning at both national and regional levels.