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Sandra Namboozo, 26, and Samuel Muyita, 27, were at Makerere University when they conceived the idea to start Karpolax, a plant-based sachet that extends the shelf life of fresh fruit by up to 30 days.
The tea bag-sized biodegradable sachets inhibit enzymes that cause fruit aging.
They used nanotechnology to develop the product, releasing a blend of plant-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to slow ripening, prevent spoilage, and protect against mold, fungi, and bacteria.
Muyita is a civil engineer, while Namboozo is an industrial chemist.
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Their cutting-edge product earned them a spot among the top 10 nominees for the prestigious Young Inventors Prize 2025, also known as Tomorrow Shapers. They are the only African nominees in a competition featuring innovators from China, France, the U.S., Sweden, Austria, and others.
“For us, it’s more than just an award. It’s a turning point because we are a Ugandan startup gaining global recognition, which means a lot to us and our farmers who push every day to keep dreaming bigger,” Muyita told this reporter.
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The winners of the 2025 Young Inventors Prize will be announced during a livestreamed ceremony from Iceland on June 18, 2025.
Karpolax serves everyone in the food supply chain, from farmers to exporters, according to Muyita. The sachet retails at $0.67 and can be purchased through their website.
They control distribution to prevent counterfeits, which could harm their reputation as a young company, and to educate users on proper use.
Starting and challenges
Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita began developing Karpolax in 2020, initially using their limited savings.
“At the beginning, it was mostly grit and sacrifice,” Muyita said.
Two years later, they secured support through grants from programs like MIT Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech, and the Stanford Center on Longevity.
Muyita said winning such competitions requires thorough groundwork. “If you don’t showcase what you’ve done, it’s hard to tell a convincing story that can sweep someone off their feet,” he advised innovators.
They haven’t brought in equity investors yet but are in the final stages of doing so.
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According to Muyita, one of their biggest challenges is explaining their science to skeptical farmers.
“We have a lot of trouble explaining our science to skeptical farmers,” he said.
Other challenges include unreliable electricity and limited access to support and funding.
However, he noted that these challenges have shaped them into better entrepreneurs, teaching them the value of building trust, adaptability, and perseverance.
Muyita advised aspiring entrepreneurs to listen to people to solve real problems.
"Because if you are solving real problems then you have a real story that can appeal to the conscience of many," he said, adding that entrepreneurs shouldn’t chase trends. “Chasing trends means you can’t stay focused on one thing for years.”
Muyita is optimistic about creativity in Uganda’s startup sector but says funding and supportive policies are still lacking to build a strong ecosystem.
Expansion plans
Karpolax plans to expand to markets like South Africa, Rwanda, and Kenya, which have better-paying farmers and more favorable innovation policies, according to Muyita.
They are also developing new products, including an AI-powered produce quality scanner that uses a smartphone camera to assess fruit quality in real-time, a preservative coating, and an ethylene sensor for tracking freshness during transportation.
“All these are part of our vision for smarter, greener, and better produce handling for our farmers and customers,” he said.
Their dream is an Africa “where no farmers lose what they grow, where food is preserved, incomes are stable, and dignity is restored.”
“We want to be at the heart of that movement and empower prosperity one sachet at a time,” he said, noting they are also eyeing markets beyond Africa, including the U.S.
The World Wildlife Fund reports that nearly 40% of food produced globally does not reach the market, contributing to food insecurity and environmental degradation. Karpolax helps advance United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as reducing food waste and promoting responsible consumption and production.