Cameroon has once again been placed on the global innovation map as Seka Jean Blaise, a young Cameroonian entrepreneur and founder of DeWise Energy, emerged winner of the Raise Africa Young Talent of the Year Award 2025 in Milan, Italy. The award recognises outstanding young African innovators using sustainable energy solutions to address pressing social and economic challenges.
Seka received the honour for WiseCool, a groundbreaking energy-powered cooling solution designed to transform healthcare delivery in off-grid and underserved communities by preserving temperature-sensitive medicines for extended periods.
A Life-Saving Innovation for Off-Grid Healthcare
WiseCool addresses one of the most critical challenges facing healthcare systems in rural and conflict-affected areas: the lack of reliable cold-chain storage for essential medicines such as vaccines, insulin and other temperature-sensitive drugs.
“WiseCool aims to bridge a critical healthcare gap in Cameroon by extending the shelf life of temperature-sensitive medications from just one day to over 365 days,” Seka explained. “This ensures continuous access to vital drugs for off-grid communities.”
In many parts of Cameroon and across Africa, unstable electricity supply means life-saving medicines often spoil before they can be used, putting countless lives at risk. WiseCool leverages clean and renewable energy to provide a sustainable, long-term solution, significantly improving healthcare outcomes in remote settings.
A Highly Competitive Continental Achievement
The Raise Africa Young Talent of the Year Award is one of the continent’s most competitive innovation recognitions. Seka’s victory came after a rigorous selection process involving 372 startups from across Africa. From this pool, only eight finalists were selected, representing Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, DR Congo, Ghana and Cameroon.
Winning against such strong competition underscores the relevance, scalability and impact potential of WiseCool.
“This was a highly competitive journey,” Seka said. “To emerge winner among such brilliant innovators from across the continent is both humbling and motivating.”
About the Raise Africa Award
The award is jointly presented by the RES4Africa Foundation, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Enel Green Power, institutions committed to promoting renewable energy, sustainable development and youth-led innovation in Africa.
The initiative seeks to empower young entrepreneurs who are using clean energy solutions to tackle challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture and community development.
By awarding WiseCool, the organisers recognised not only technological innovation, but also strong social impact and sustainability.
From Displacement to Global Recognition
Beyond the innovation itself, Seka Jean Blaise’s personal story adds a powerful human dimension to the achievement. He grew up in Yaoundé as an internally displaced person (IDP), an experience that shaped his determination to create solutions for vulnerable communities.
“Having grown up as an internally displaced person, I dedicate this award to all internally displaced persons and refugees who have chosen to rise above their circumstances,” he said.
His journey from displacement to international recognition highlights the transformative power of resilience, education and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
Inspiring a New Generation of Cameroonian Innovators
Seka hopes that his success will inspire young Cameroonians to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship as tools for social change.
“I believe this achievement can serve as a powerful source of inspiration for young Cameroonians to take action and pursue entrepreneurial ventures that solve local problems,” he noted.
At a time when youth unemployment and economic uncertainty remain major challenges in Cameroon, stories like Seka’s demonstrate the potential of homegrown solutions driven by young innovators.
Positioning Cameroon in Africa’s Clean Energy Future
Seka’s award places Cameroon among Africa’s rising innovation hubs in renewable energy and health-tech solutions. As the continent continues to invest in sustainable development, initiatives like WiseCool show how clean energy can directly strengthen healthcare systems and save lives.
With global recognition now secured, DeWise Energy and WiseCool are expected to attract increased interest from partners, investors and development organisations seeking scalable solutions for off-grid healthcare.
Looking Ahead
As WiseCool moves from recognition to wider deployment, its impact could extend far beyond Cameroon, benefiting millions across Africa and other developing regions facing similar challenges.
For Seka Jean Blaise, the award is both a milestone and a call to action.
“This recognition strengthens my resolve to keep building solutions that matter,” he said. “Innovation should always serve people.”
