Okay, let’s be honest, batteries are the unsung heroes of our modern lives. They power our phones, laptops, electric cars—essentially everything that defines the 21st century.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your old, spoilt batteries? I mean, we all know they can’t just be tossed in the trash, right? Well, five super-smart students; Andy Onyango, Gabriel Musyoki, Morris Murigi, Jeremy Kering, and Calvin Kinyanjui from the Strathmore School of Computing and Engineering Sciences have come up with a solution that’s not only eco-friendly but also creates jobs for people who really need them.

They saw not waste, but opportunity.  They saw ‘Afterlife’.

Afterlife is doing something incredible. When you send them your dead batteries, they work their magic and extract all the valuable stuff inside, like copper and aluminum. Then, they shred up the rest and sell it to companies that make new batteries or even everyday items like pens, pots, and spoons. 

Their combined expertise and collaborative spirit have driven Afterlife’s success, as evidenced by their recent achievements. Afterlife recently clinched the top spot at the Enactus Battery Challenge, sponsored by the Schneider Foundation. This inter-university competition brought together engineering and computing minds to craft innovative solutions for battery efficiency. Competing against teams from Strathmore University, Technical University of Kenya, Dedan Kimathi University, among other institutions, Afterlife emerged victorious.

The brilliance of Afterlife lies not just in its innovative recycling process, but in its social impact. By partnering with underprivileged communities for the sourcing of discarded batteries, the startup is creating a sustainable income stream for those often left behind in the economic race.  Imagine families empowered by the very waste that others discard. This is the transformative power of Afterlife.

“We were struck by the sheer volume of e-waste, particularly batteries, that ended up in landfills, leaching harmful chemicals into the environment,” explains Calvin Kinyanjui, one of the founding members of Afterlife. “We saw an opportunity to not only address this pressing environmental issue, but also to create a positive social impact,” he adds.

The potential for Afterlife’s work is immense. Phone batteries contain approximately 30g of copper, while laptop batteries have double that amount. These extracted materials can also be sold to electric vehicle battery manufacturers, contributing to the growth of the sustainable transportation industry.

Moreover, the startup’s vision aligns seamlessly with the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs). As the E-mobility market expands, so does the need for lithium-ion batteries, which are rich in the same rare earth minerals that Afterlife extracts. By positioning themselves as a reliable supplier of these critical materials, these Strathmore students are not only addressing today’s e-waste challenge but also preparing for a future powered by sustainable energy.

The journey ahead for Afterlife is one of continuous improvement and expansion.  They aim to establish a network of recycling facilities, empowering communities and promoting a circular economy that benefits both the environment and society. 

After all, as the quintet are proving, there’s gold to be found in the most unexpected places.  And sometimes, that gold can pave the way to a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone.

Article written by Keith Albert