And the Winners Are… The Zanzibar Business Plan Competition Awards Ceremony

The Zanzibar Business Plan Competition Awards Ceremony, held on 15th March 2026 at the Park Hyatt Stonetown, was a resounding success—bringing together entrepreneurs, partners, and key stakeholders for a memorable night of celebration, networking, and inspiration.

Hosted in a vibrant and engaging atmosphere, the event combined an elegant awards ceremony with a dinner that fostered meaningful connections among attendees. With over seventy-five participants in attendance—from Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland—the evening highlighted the growing strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Zanzibar and the power of collaboration.

A special highlight of the event was the support and presence of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), whose continued commitment to fostering innovation and inclusive growth played a key role in the success of the competition.

Celebrating the Winners

The Coprosperity Fund received over one hundred and fifty applications for the Zanzibar Business Plan Competition. From these applications, three were awarded the prize of a direct investment and support, and five were awarded a Certificate of Recognition.

And the winners are…

First Place: Godfrey Muganyizi – Fishappy (8,000,000 Tshs fund prize)
Taking the top prize, Godfrey Muganyizi impressed the judges with Fishappy, an innovative application designed to connect local fish buyers, households, hospitality businesses, and institutions. The platform aims to streamline the seafood supply chain in Zanzibar, improving accessibility, efficiency, and market linkages.

Second Place: Haji Moh’d – Clovepay (4,000,000 Tshs fund prize)
Second place was awarded to Haji Moh’d for Clovepay, a fintech-enabled tourism payment infrastructure platform. The solution is designed to modernize how tourists and local service providers transact in Zanzibar, offering seamless, secure, and efficient payment experiences that enhance the tourism ecosystem. 

Third Place: Jacob Lugwisha – Kobo Greens Limited (2,000,000 Tshs Fund prize)
Rounding out the winners, Jacob Lugwisha secured third place with Kobo Greens Limited, a smart agri-tech enterprise focused on vertical hydroponic farming. The business also emphasizes local manufacturing of hydroponic nutrient solutions, contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security in Zanzibar.

And the five awardees are…

Rahman mbahe, AgroCare: AgroCare provides an integrated digital solution combining IoT-based soil sensors, satellite crop monitoring, AI-powered farm advisory systems, seed traceability mechanisms and sustainable chemical-free farming guidance.

Loveness Mbalike, Zahara Design House: A Regenerative Luxury furniture brand based in Bwejuu, Zanzibar. They transform ocean plastic waste into Plastic Clay, a high-durability medium that is hand-carved by local artisans using traditional Swahili motifs. 

Abdulshakur Abdilah, Zanzibar Stays: ZanzibarStays is a specialized digital property listing platform purpose-built to connect Zanzibar’s overlooked small accommodation providers with millions of travelers who are actively seeking authentic, local stays. 

Nisher Scientist, Seamoss Tablets: Transforms sustainably sourced seaweed into standardized, high-quality tablet formulations designed to deliver essential nutrients.

EDUCENTRE: Educentre is a cutting-edge, comprehensive mobile e-learning application precisely designed to revolutionize access to quality education across Tanzania. 

An Evening of Celebration and Iftar

Following the awards ceremony, guests gathered for a special Iftar dinner, marking a meaningful moment of togetherness during the holy month of Ramadan. The shared meal created a warm and inclusive environment, allowing attendees to connect on a deeper level while celebrating the achievements of the finalists and winners.

A Night of Connection and Opportunity

Beyond the awards, the evening served as a valuable networking platform. Attendees included partners, program participants, current clients, and key ecosystem players, all coming together to exchange ideas, explore collaborations, and celebrate entrepreneurial excellence.

The strong turnout and active engagement from both Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland underscored the importance of such initiatives in building a thriving, interconnected business community.

Looking Ahead

The Zanzibar Business Plan Competition continues to demonstrate the immense potential of local entrepreneurs to drive innovation and local economic growth on the island. With the continued support of partners like UNCDF and the broader ecosystem, these ventures are well-positioned to scale their impact.

The success of this year’s awards ceremony is not just a celebration of winners—but a testament to the bright future of entrepreneurship in Zanzibar.