The 25th Enactus World Cup, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 25-28, 2025, became a landmark event for African student innovation. Amidst a fiercely competitive field of 28 National Champions, Bindura University of Science and Education (BUSE), representing Zimbabwe, delivered a stunning performance, ultimately achieving the prestigious title of Runner-up in the Final Four. BUSE’s success underscored the ingenuity of Zimbabwean youth in deploying entrepreneurial solutions to address critical national challenges, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with top global universities in a contest
🇿🇼 Main Feature: BUSE’s Impactful Journey to the Final Four
Team Zimbabwe’s presentation focused on two high-impact social enterprises: Biodermagent and VoltStep. These projects impressed the executive judging panel by demonstrating clear, sustainable, and scalable models for community upliftment.
The Projects That Made History
- Biodermagent: This initiative addresses agricultural productivity, a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy. The team developed a groundbreaking seed coating agent designed to enhance crop yields, improve resilience, and empower local farming communities through cutting-edge technology.
- VoltStep: Tackling the critical issue of energy access in underserved areas, VoltStep is an innovative social enterprise that creates technology for power generation. The project is focused on developing and implementing solutions that bring sustainable energy to energy-poor regions.
Recognizing the Team: The BUSE Roster
The historic achievement of reaching the World Cup Final Four is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire BUSE team. The following student innovators from Zimbabwe were instrumental in this success:
🥇 The 2025 World Champion: Canada’s Triumph
While BUSE’s performance was spectacular, the ultimate global title went to Saint Mary’s University (SMU), representing Canada, for their dual projects focusing on environmental and food security.
SMU’s winning model combined innovative technology with community impact:
- Alaagi™: A revolutionary bio-plastic company that is disrupting the global packaging industry with a fully biodegradable film made from seaweed, offering a critical solution to single-use plastic pollution.
- Square Roots: Addresses food waste by purchasing “imperfect” surplus produce from local farmers and distributing it through 25 entrepreneur-run franchises, providing affordable access to fresh food for communities in need.
🌍 Completing the Elite Four
Rounding out the world’s top four teams were strong contenders from Tunisia and Germany, showcasing the global diversity of Enactus solutions:
A Golden Anniversary of Global Impact
The 2025 Enactus World Cup was a momentous occasion, marking the organization’s 50th anniversary. The event brought together over 1,800 students, educators, and staff from 35 countries to exchange ideas and inspire a new wave of youth-led solutions. Hosted in Bangkok, the event celebrated the return of Thailand to the Enactus network and solidified the global commitment to “Generation:Re”—young people reimagining systems, restoring communities, and regenerating the planet through entrepreneurial action.