Africa ClimAccelerator has launched a call to local entrepreneurs to apply for funding, expertise, and mentorship via the first pan-African accelerator focused on scaling the most promising climate-focused innovations.
The programme aims to enhance the development and deployment of innovative technology to accelerate climate-positive business solutions for a net-zero Africa. Partner organisations GrowthAfrica and Carbon Trust are seeking fifteen start-ups to participate in the Africa ClimAccelerator which is supported by the Climate-KIC International Foundation and funded by GIZ exclusively on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (‘BMZ’). “Climate change is among Africa’s greatest challenges that can be solved through innovation and building market appropriate solutions towards realising the continent’s climate goals.
The collaborative [ClimAccelerator] programme shares in our mission to grow the scope of business success in Africa, and we are energised to be working with climate-focused ventures,” said Ian Lorenzen, Executive Director and Partner at GrowthAfrica.
Africa ClimAccelerator will run from November 2021 to April 2022, targeting early-stage businesses from across the continent, and that prioritise enhancing sustainability as part of their mission and growth. “The Carbon Trust is excited to be working with promising entrepreneurs from across Africa, seeking to overcome market barriers and accelerate clean technologies. We look forward to working closely with Climate-KIC and GrowthAfrica, bringing together decades of experience in climate innovation and business scaling for this programme,” said David Aitken, Director of Innovation at Carbon Trust.
The call is open to a variety of sectors such as land use, circular economy, blue economy, energy efficiency, and more, to support the continent in catalysing systemic change. The six-month programme offers specialised business knowledge and expertise, bespoke tools to measure climate and social impact, and up to EUR 12,000 of grant funding. Applications will be accepted from now until 7th November 2021 on the website www.africaclimaccelerator.com
