LIBBLIO Wins AwardX East Africa: How Two Rwandan Teens Are Transforming Access to Books

In an exciting milestone for youth innovation, AwardX—a high school startup pitch competition—launched its very first event in East Africa. Led by LaunchX alumni Salah Osman from Kenya and Rachel K Zhang, this inaugural regional edition brought together some of the most promising young entrepreneurs from across the East African region. With over 200 applications and ten finalists who pitched to live judges at our Demo Day event, LIBBLIO from Rwanda was selected as the top winner. Founded by high schoolers Axel Karambizi and Andy Melvin, LIBBLIO won the top prize with its innovative solution to digitize and streamline library systems.

The Story Behind LIBBLIO

The inspiration for LIBBLIO came from a simple but powerful observation: many librarians in Rwanda still rely on manual systems to track books, manage loans, and organize queues. Axel and Andy saw firsthand how inefficient and frustrating this could be — not just for librarians, but for students and borrowers as well.

“We saw how inefficient and frustrating it was and wanted to create a digital solution that would streamline everything,” Axel explained.

What started as a problem in their own community quickly evolved into a scalable solution with real-world impact. More than just a tech product, LIBBLIO is a shining example of youth-led entrepreneurship that combines social impact with economic opportunity. “We’re not just building a business—we’re helping people, creating jobs, and modernizing systems,” Andy added. 

Pitch Perfect? Not at First.

Despite their clear vision, Axel and Andy’s path to Demo Day was far from smooth. Crafting a compelling pitch proved to be one of their biggest challenges.

“We struggled initially,” they admitted. “We kept brainstorming ways to make it engaging and compelling rather than boring.”

Through lots of trial, error, and late-night practice sessions, they eventually cracked the code — turning their pitch into a story that resonated. “We learned not to underestimate a well-told story,” they said. “AwardX inspired us to practice relentlessly and focus on the why before the what.” 

Big Ideas Need Real Traction

One of their key lessons? Traction trumps theory.

“Many great ideas were presented, but the ones with realistic implementation and proven traction stood out,” they reflected.

AwardX also pushed the duo to dive deeper into their business fundamentals—research, financial planning, and refining their model. “We learned how to communicate complex ideas in simple terms, especially financial ones,” they noted.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Axel and Andy credit their success to a dynamic team spirit—one built on open communication, healthy debates, and a willingness to challenge each other.

“We had lots of intense discussions, but that’s what helped us bring out the best in each other’s ideas,” they said.

And when the pressure was on? They thrived. “We submitted our final video pitch just three minutes before the deadline,” they laughed. “We hadn’t even reviewed the final edits — but it came out perfectly timed at 2 minutes and 59 seconds. Total miracle.”

One unforgettable behind-the-scenes moment? “Andy had to lie down awkwardly in public to get the perfect video shot of Axel in front of the library,” they recalled. “People were watching, laughing—it turned into a bit of a public performance!”

That moment of creative chaos perfectly captures the spirit of their journey: fun, resourceful, and relentlessly driven.

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Advice to Future Founders and AwardX Participants

For aspiring AwardX participants, Axel and Andy have one key piece of advice: come prepared with something real.

“Even if it’s small, bring an idea that has some real-world traction. Validated ideas resonate more and can give you a real edge,” they said.

As for their next steps, the duo is more motivated than ever to refine their entrepreneurial skills. “We’re now more interested in pitching, financial planning, and growing our startup,” they shared. “Even if you don’t win, the feedback, the experience, and the learning are priceless.”

A Bright Future for East Africa

The success of LIBBLIO is just one example of the incredible talent emerging across East Africa. With the right platforms and mentorship, students like Axel and Andy are already solving real problems and shaping a better future.

At LaunchX, we believe the future of entrepreneurship is global — and it’s being built right now by young innovators with big ideas, bold dreams, and the courage to bring them to life. Check out our next high school startup pitch competition: AwardX Social Impact!