Energy Camp Africa

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Application

Individuals and teams whose mature idea is in the (pre-)start-up phase or whose company was founded no more than ten years ago can apply for Energy Camp Africa. If you only have a vague business idea, you should still work on it and apply later.

Your business idea:

  • is a development of a new product or service with MVP (not just an idea), or
  • a significant improvement of an existing product / service, or
  • you introduce with your startup a known product / service into new markets.

Your startup must operate in one of these areas of decentralized renewable energy supply:

  • Energy production or distribution
  • Storage systems
  • Energy solutions or services for example for health, education, water, sanitation, consumption, mobility, agriculture
  • Energy-efficient products and services
  • Financing solutions
  • Energy management
  • Recycling / Repurposing 
  • Digital solutions for decentralized energy
  • Smart Grid


Your startup must be registered in West or Central Africa (in a member country of ECOWAS or ECCAS) or be in the pre-incorporation phase.
(Startups in East Africa: please apply in August 2025 for the Energy Camp in Nairobi, Oct 2025)

You must have already completed a pilot project or won first pilot customers.

If you have already received more than 500k Euros from non-African investors, you will not be able to apply for the Energy Camp.

To check your eligibility you also can use our Eligibility check.

For an entire week, you will engage in an intensive programme that includes interactive training sessions, networking opportunities with other innovators and tailored workshops.

Here’s what awaits you at the Energy Camp:

  • Customer-Focused Product Development: Discover how to refine your product to meet customer needs effectively.
  • Exploring Sales Channels: Identify and leverage the best sales channels for your business.
  • Building a Dynamic Team: Learn the best ways to put together and manage a powerful team.
  • Financial Planning Essentials: Get crucial insights into financial planning and management.
  • Pitching to Investors/Partners: Master the art of presenting your startup to investors and potential partners.
  • Funding Applications: Understand what funders look for in applications and proposals to increase your chances of success.

The Energy Camp will culminate in an international Demo Day (online), where you get the chance to pitch your solution to a global audience of investors, organisations, corporatives.

But that’s not the end of our journey together! As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, you’ll continue to benefit from our support:

  • Tailored coaching
  • Global Exposure
  • Exclusive Expert Webinars
  • Network Access
  • Media Exposure

Thats very easy! Simply use our online eligibility check.

To apply, simply fill out the application form and submit by January 05, 2025 at 23:59 GMT.

Startup|Energy encompasses the full range of decentralized renewable energy supply and use:

  • Energy production or distribution
  • Storage systems
  • Energy solutions or services for example for health, education, water, sanitation, consumption, mobility, agriculture
  • Energy-efficient products and services
  • Financing solutions
  • Energy management
  • Recycling / Repurposing 
  • Digital solutions for decentralized energy
  • Smart Grid

You can apply, if your business idea

  • is a development of a new product or service with MVP (not just an idea), or
  • a significant improvement of an existing product / service, or
  • you introduce with your startup a known product / service into new markets.

No, individuals can also apply.

One person from each selected startup will attend the Energy Camp.

Unfortunately, no. You must have already completed a pilot project and/or won first pilot customers. If you only have a vague business idea, you should still work on it and apply later.

No, but you should be ready to prepare for a business start-up.

Yes, but the startup must not be more than ten years ago.

A maximum of twelve startups will be selected to participate in Energy Camp.

Deadline for applications is January 05, 2025, 23:59 GMT.

You can see the full terms and conditions here.

2. Energy Camp

The Energy Camp will take place in Lagos from March 14th to 19th 2025.

For an entire week, you will engage in an intensive programme that includes interactive training sessions, networking opportunities with other innovators and tailored workshops.

Here’s what awaits you at the Energy Camp:

  • Customer-Focused Product Development: Discover how to refine your product to meet customer needs effectively.
  • Exploring Sales Channels: Identify and leverage the best sales channels for your business.
  • Building a Dynamic Team: Learn the best ways to put together and manage a powerful team.
  • Financial Planning Essentials: Get crucial insights into financial planning and management.
  • Pitching to Investors/Partners: Master the art of presenting your startup to investors and potential partners.
  • Funding Applications: Understand what funders look for in applications and proposals to increase your chances of success.

The Energy Camp comprises several working days with workshops and discussions with local startups (subject to modifications):

  • March 14: Introduction and presentation of all participants
  • March 15: Training and workshops 
  • March 16: Training and workshops 
  • March 17: Field Day: Meeting with local startups in Nairobi
  • March 18: Training and Workshops
  • March 19: Closing and departure

One person can participate from each selected startup.

There are no costs for the participants: Startup|Energy covers the costs for travel, accommodation and meals.

The Energy Camp will be held in English. If you don’t speak English, unfortunately you can’t participate.

We have carefully selected trainers who also have experience as entrepreneurs or investors in the energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa. You can find the trainers and coaches usually working for Startup|Energy here.

We will also visit several startup founders in Lagos on the “Field Day” to learn directly from their experiences.

3. After the Energy Camp

Our work together does not end with the Energy Camp. As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, you will have the opportunity to present your startup and continue working on your business idea at the following opportunities:

  • International Demo Day
  • Individual Coachings
  • Fellowship advantages

On one or two dates, the best business ideas will be given the opportunity to present themselves to a global audience. The International Demo Day will take place online shortly after the Energy Camp. Invited are investors, organisations, startup supporters and companies from all over the world. The exact day will be announced at the Energy Camp.

After the Energy Camp, we know you and your business idea better and can therefore work with you specifically on these topics during three coaching sessions:

  1. Customer segments and customer needs. Target: Clear description of min. 3 customer segments and their needs
  2. Offer: What does the saleable product look like? Which offer at what conditions and what price to which customer segment? Does the offer really covert he need?
  3. Financials: Check and improvement of P&L
    The content might be modified according to the specific requirements of the startup.

The coaching sessions take place online.

As a Fellow of Startup|Energy you will become a permanent part of our startup community. As a Fellow, you will enjoy the following benefits in particular:

  • Exclusive Expert Webinars: Participate in exclusive webinars with industry experts who can offer invaluable advice.
  • Network Access: Gain permanent access to our extensive international network and the collective entrepreneurial knowledge of our coaches.
  • Media Exposure: Share your progress and milestones through Sun-Connect News, reaching over 10,000 readers worldwide every week.