Re-Banatex, the startup founded by Jonathan Shauri Kalibatha, has been crowned the overall winner of Hanga Pitchfest 2025, walking away with the top prize of Rwf 50 million on Friday, November 14.
The company, which transforms banana fibers into eco-friendly products such as bags, footwear, mats, and other sustainable items, stood out among this year’s finalists for its creativity, market potential, and environmental impact.
Speaking to EAMGtv, Kalibatha explained that his inspiration for the project came from childhood memories and a desire to innovate around banana by-products.
“When I was young, my siblings and I used to play with banana stems. When we kicked them, they released fibers that looked like hair. Remembering those moments made me think—why not explore how these natural fibers can be repurposed as an alternative to synthetic materials?”
The 2025 finalists showcased solutions across health, agriculture, sustainability, and emergency response. Neem, a health-tech platform that helps users assess their risk of diabetes and promotes early medical checkups, secured second place and received Rwf 20 million.
In third place was Nabsil Grainbank, an agritech startup providing farmers and cooperatives with proper grain storage and value-addition services. It was awarded Rwf 15 million for its contribution to reducing post-harvest losses and improving food security.
Fourth place went to Ambucycle, known for its rapid-response, motorcycle-based ambulance service offering first aid and emergency support in hard-to-reach areas. Fifth place was awarded to Ingoga Technologies, which provides digital tools that streamline healthcare delivery and improve access to medical services. Both startups received Rwf 12.5 million each.
This year, officials challenged the innovators to see the competition as the first step in a much larger journey. The Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, reminded the winners that their work goes far beyond prize medals.
“To the entrepreneurs here, I saw many students and I believe Hanga Pitch competitions are preparing you to use your creativity and knowledge to make your contribution. Remember that your five projects are not just competing for awards—you are competing to transform Africa in the next 10 years,” Ingabire said.
The 2025 edition marks five years since Hanga Pitchfest was launched as Rwanda’s flagship platform for supporting early-stage innovators. Created to nurture homegrown solutions and accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda, the competition has become a major annual event for entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. Over the years, the competition has, up to now, awarded prizes totaling more than Rwf 600 million.
