Deadline: 15th April, 2024
Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) in partnership with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), is implementing the GreenBiz Programme, running from 2021 to 2025. The programme is supporting 300 climate technologies and related innovative business models to create over 3000 full time job opportunities.The expected outcomes include increased commercialisation and scale up of climate related companies, which create decent jobs, increased access to low carbon energy sources, increased community and household resilience to climate change as well as other environmental and social benefits.
This is a call for applications to all eligible businesses to join the GreenBiz Incubator or Accelerator programme for tailored support including business advisory, mentorship, technical assistance, capacity building, and financing. The GreenBiz Programme will address key challenges that hinder climate technologies and related innovative business models from tapping into the immense potential in the cleantech sector.
This call for applications will onboard 60 climate technologies and enterprises that fall under KCIC’s five thematic areas of renewable energies and energy efficiency, water, agribusiness, commercial forestry and waste management.
Benefits
- Financial Support
Kenya Climate Innovation Center will support successful applicants with various types of financial support once they meet the financing criteria for the GreenBiz programme.
KCIC will also provide transaction advisory services to entrepreneurs to be able to access third party financing such as debts, grants and equity investments
- Technical Support
The following describes the kind of technical support that can be provided by KCIC to successful applicants under the GreenBiz Programme. Support is based on assessment of actual needs on a case-by-case basis.
A) Business Advisory
Successful applicants will be equipped with technical knowledge, tools and skills that will enable them to identify and develop their business. Based on a gap analysis, it will entail the following support:
- Entrepreneurship trainings
- Technical training and value addition
- Business modelling to start and run the business including record keeping, statutory requirements and compliance
- Value Chain and Business Linkages Advisory
- Financial literacy training and investor readiness programmes
- Provide case studies to foster exchange of learning and inspiration among Value Chain groups.
- Virtual learning and advisory support via computer platforms or mobile to support programme beneficiaries during and post COVID -19 scenario
- Onsite learning and advisory support will be provided
- Development of bankable business plans and financial models.
B) Mentorship and Coaching
Successful applicants will be mentored by experienced sector specific mentors, business experts, technical experts and certified business mentors to develop specific skills and knowledge that will enhance their business and personal growth. The specific activities include:
- Counselling and guidance by successful businesspersons, peers, and professionals.
- Sharing of experiences in business forums and associations.
- Teaming and virtual training.
- Technical Coaching and Expertise
- One-on-one coaching
- Conduct value chain mapping and needs assessment
C) Access to Information
Successful applicants will benefit from information sharing and establishing partnerships with Ecosystem players, companies and other stakeholders for effective market access through collaborative agreements. The specific activities include:
- Create online platforms for information sharing and networking
- Providing information on business development within the thematic areas, including policy and regulatory changes.
- Ensure participation or hosting of entrepreneurs to local and international start-up conferences
- Expose entrepreneurs to business expansion opportunities & international investors
- Link entrepreneurs to local and international customers
- Research and identification of markets as well as establishment of Market linkages.
- Linkage and facilitation to attend exhibitions, trade fairs and other events
D) Enabling Environment
Successful applicants will benefit from access to services that will enable them to improve the current market they are operating in, increase number of customers, have access to various sector specific events that directly affect their business through;
- Invitations to Policy dialogues that directly affect the business or the sector in general
- Access to exhibition and expos whereby they can be able to actively showcase their products
- Networking forums for the entrepreneurs to create partnerships that will foster growth of the company.
E) Access to Facilities
Successful applicants will benefit from access to various business specific resources that will enable them to improve the quality of product and the quality of service they offer and have a central location they can be able to use as their offices; this will be through;
- Access to office facilities; co-working spaces to facilitate business meetings and improve company relation with potential business partners and also meet potential clients
- Access to testing and prototyping facilities that will enable the business to improve and develop the current products for better market experience for the entrepreneur.
Eligibility
1. GreenBiz Incubation Programme
This is a 12-month program targeting start-ups and early-stage businesses that have at least developed a prototype. The businesses receive intensive practical training and business coaching to enable them prove their concepts in the market and progress towards commercialization. Clients who successfully complete this program can apply for the KCIC GreenBiz Accelerator Programme.
Incubation programme eligibility metrics
- A legal entity operating and registered in Kenya. If a business is either a Sole proprietorship/Partnership/Self Help Group/Community Based Organization, it should be willing to register as a limited company within the first 3 months in the programme.
- Business is within KCIC’s five thematic areas (renewable energy and energy efficiency, Water management, Agribusiness, Commercial forestry and Waste management)
- Have an innovative product, service or business model.
- Be in the early stages of business development (have a prototype with less than 2 years since business inception).
- Demonstrate a climate change angle: the business must contribute to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster.
- Revenues should be between 0 to Kes 2,000,000 in the last 1 year
- Team of 2+ full time/part time employees
- 2.GreenBiz Accelerator ProgrammeThis is a 12-month program in which clients are provided with highly individualized services aimed at setting the clients on a rapid business growth path, and preparing clients to be investor ready as well as raising investments.
Accelerator Eligibility metrics
- A legal entity operating and registered in Kenya. If a business is either a Sole proprietorship/Partnership/Self Help Group/Community Based Organization, it should be willing to register as a limited company within the first 3 months in the programme.
- The company is within KCIC’s five thematic areas (renewable energy and energy efficiency, Water management, Agribusiness, Commercial forestry and Waste management)
- Have an Innovative product, service or business model
- A proven business model and a well-defined financial model
- Post-revenue stage (Over kes 2,000,000 in the last 1 year)
- Looking to raise capital
- Team of 4+ full time/part time employees
- Demonstrate a climate angle: the business must contribute to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster.
For more information and application
