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MSDUK’s Innovation Challenge is a unique competition designed to showcase and promote under-represented Ethnic Minority-led businesses.

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It provides the opportunity for ethnic minority entrepreneurs to network with some of the UK’s largest corporates and present their innovative solutions. In addition to networking and training, entrants also could win a £20,000 cash prize.

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At Agave, the team are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit coupled with a passion for creating a better planet through waste reduction. 

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Surplus waste is a problem in society worldwide, and whilst working with manufacturers in Mexico, Daniel, together with his brother Emmanuel, cofounders of Agave Networks, noticed that it was a bigger problem on the manufacturing side. The waste generated by manufacturers was adding to waste mountains and costing corporate hundreds and thousands of dollars. 

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One Man’s Waste Is Another Man’s Treasure

The brothers quickly realised that the waste from one giant corporation could be helpful to another company, so the idea for Agave Networks was born. Today, based in the UK, the Agave Networks founding team helps corporate and SME manufacturers to achieve net-zero waste by relocating their excess materials to other businesses that could use them.

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The brothers and cofounders are working to develop a platform that, by using artificial intelligence algorithms, can match and redistribute any industrial waste to the optimal user across the globe. 

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Currently, the team is matching and redistributing materials, including scrap metals, paper, plastic and even surplus construction materials.

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Navigating new markets

Agave Networks came to the UK in 2021 and approaching a new market as a start-up, Daniel looked to find supportive organisations to help them navigate the new business landscape.

“I saw a post about MSDUK on LinkedIn, and I reached out to find out whether they could help us. MSDUK’s mission is powerful, and they are determined to make a difference in minority-led businesses. But so much more than that, they also strive to support minority-led corporates, and the combination of these two is very powerful.” Says Daniel

“Agave was accepted as an MSDUK member, and we haven’t looked back. The support from the MSDUK team and the networking opportunities provided have been invaluable for our business.”

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Showcasing Our Innovation

Agave Networks also took part in the Innovation Challenge, which saw them walk away with a cash prize of £1k, as Daniel says

“The Innovation Challenge 2022 had the theme of Corporate Sustainability. This fits our mission to reduce corporation and manufacturing waste to work towards joint societal and environmental goals rather than at odds with them.

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“We were pleased to win the MSDUK Innovation Challenge environmental category, which in addition to receiving a prestigious award, also saw us walk away with a financial prize.”

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Accelerating to New Heights

Agave participated in MSDUK’s Accelerator Programme and won the ‘Best Pitch’ category. 

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“Our MSDUK mentor has also helped us by creating a focus in our business, things we can easily action and see outcomes. Teaching us how to find the low-hanging fruit got our business so we can become sustainable quickly.”

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“Both the Accelerator Programme and the Innovation Challenge by MSDUK have given us great benefits. The Accelerator Programme taught us how to approach corporates as a start-up. Valuable lessons included understanding the procurement process of large corporates, which helped us work on our value proposition. The programme culminated in an opportunity to deliver our business pitch, and Agave walked away with the ‘best pitch’ prize, which was brilliant.” 

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Next Steps

“We are now working in parallel with corporates and recycling companies both in the UK and worldwide; we also work domestically in the UK and export abroad. Thanks to introductions made through MSDUK, we are having great conversations with large corporates about working together in the future. We always look for new partners and hope to grow in the coming year.”

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So Much More Than Membership

“You can see from our story that MSDUK is much more than membership. I would say that if you are thinking of joining, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. MSDUK helps you evaluate your proposition quickly and easily and to help you focus on what you can deliver quickly. You will benefit from their industry insight, and the support is excellent.

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The next Innovation Challenge opens for applications in February 2023. You can register your interest here