Marc Koska

Marc Koska is a pioneering social entrepreneur and inventor whose groundbreaking non-reusable syringe has revolutionised global health. Awarded an OBE for his contribution to global healthcare, Marc designed the K1 Auto-Disable syringe at 23 and spent 17 years overcoming industry resistance to bring it to market. Since 2001, over 2.5 billion of his syringes have been distributed worldwide, preventing an estimated 10 million infections and saving more than 8 million lives. Through his compelling presentations, Marc equips audiences with powerful insights on perseverance, purpose-driven innovation, and creating meaningful change against formidable odds, inspiring organisations to tackle complex challenges with determination and vision.

At the age of 23, Marc Koska read a newspaper article that would define the rest of his life. The piece detailed how the reuse of syringes was accelerating the spread of AIDS across Africa, killing millions. Within three minutes, he had sketched a design for a syringe that would physically break after a single use. What followed was a seventeen-year battle against scepticism, bureaucracy, and resistance from investors, manufacturers, and politicians who refused to believe that such a simple solution could address a crisis of this magnitude. Marc's determination to see the K1 Auto-Disable syringe reach those who needed it most became a masterclass in purpose-driven perseverance, culminating in endorsement by the World Health Organisation in 2015 and recognition with an OBE for his contribution to global healthcare.

Marc co-founded Star Syringe in 1996 to licence his technology to manufacturers worldwide, transforming his invention into a global public health tool. Since 2001, more than 2.5 billion K1 syringes have been distributed, preventing an estimated 10 million infections and saving over 8 million lives. His work has earned him the International Business Award for Best Multi-National Company, The Economist's Social & Economic Innovation Award, the Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade, and selection as a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015, one of only two UK recipients among 33 global awardees. Marc has addressed audiences at TED Global, the Zeitgeist Conference, the British Medical Association, and the European Union Innovations Summit, sharing insights forged through decades of navigating resistance and driving systemic change. His latest innovation, ApiJect, a pre-filled soft syringe using Blow Fill Seal technology, continues his mission to expand access to safe injection practices in underserved communities.

Marc equips audiences with practical strategies for overcoming institutional inertia, sustaining long-term vision in the face of rejection, and aligning innovation with human need. His presentations move beyond inspiration to offer actionable lessons on resilience, stakeholder engagement, and the mechanics of turning ideas into policy change. Whether speaking to healthcare leaders, corporate innovators, or social entrepreneurs, Marc demonstrates how persistence, clarity of purpose, and a willingness to challenge established systems can drive measurable impact. Audiences leave with renewed confidence to tackle complex problems, a framework for navigating resistance, and a deeper understanding of how meaningful change is built over time through relentless commitment to a cause greater than oneself.