Startup|Energy News
Application open: Energy Camp 2025 for African Energy Startups
Startup|Energy invites innovative entrepreneur who are looking to transform the energy supply and livelihoods in SubSaharan Africa and are based in West or Central Africa to the Energy Camp 2025.
From 14 to 19 March 2025, the Energy Camp will take place in Lagos, bringing together up to 12 visionary founders. For an entire week, entrepreneurs will engage in an intensive programme that includes interactive training sessions, networking opportunities with other innovators and tailored workshops.
Here’s what awaits participants 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.
After the camp, startups will benefit from becoming a Fellow
The Energy Camp is not the end of the journey together! As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, startups continue to benefit from our support:
Tailored coaching: Thanks to the Energy Camp, we know the needs of each startup better. In tailored coaching sessions, we provide specific support for the further development of the startups.
Exclusive Expert Webinars: Fellows join exclusive webinars with industry experts who can offer invaluable advice.
Network Access: All Fellows gain continuous access to our extensive international network and the collective entrepreneurial knowledge of our coaches.
Check your eligibility – and then apply!
Closing date for applications: 05 January 2025
Five reasons to apply for the Energy Camp 2025:
- Proven Success: 80% of our Fellows generate revenue, and collectively, they have raised nearly USD 3 million in grants, loans, and equity and won 18 Awards. Join a program with a track record of tangible results.
- Practical Focus: Our Energy Camp is practice-oriented, not just theoretical. The training is tailored to the specific needs of African energy startups, ensuring you get relevant and actionable insights.
- Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of our trainers and coaches, who are experienced entrepreneurs with deep knowledge of the African market. Receive hands-on support from those who understand your unique challenges.
- Valuable Connections: While we don’t offer cash rewards, we provide access to investors and the opportunity to present your startup to an international audience. Open doors to funding and global exposure.
- Peer-to-Peer-Learning: As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, you’ll gain excess to exclusive peer-to-peer learning sessions with other startup founders, where you can share insights, collaborate, and inspire each other.
Demo-Day: East African energy startups present their innovative business models
4th Energy Camp of Startup|Energy with nine African energy startups
From 18 to 23 October, nine energy startups from four East African countries met for the 4th Energy Camp. They were selected from a total of almost 100 applications.
Startup|Energy supports young African energy startups, increases their visibility and promotes job creation and innovation in an energy market largely dominated by non-African companies.
An essential part of the work are the Energy Camps, which take place twice a year and last several days. The focus here is not on curriculum-orientated training, but on very specific and individual support in the development of a startup’s business idea. This concept is unique and clearly stands out from other accelerators.
The participants appreciate the approach of the Energy Camps. One participant formulated it this way: “I have participated in very high level accelerators and incubators yet the Energy Camp experience is exciting in a different way. It personalizes the experience and provides specific feedback that each startup in the cohort needs.”
These are the startups of the Energy Camp in Nairobi and their Innovations (in alphabetic order):
- Biha Eco Venture (Uganda) produces solar rooftiles, made from recycled plastic waste for affordable, sustainable living.
- Chaja Africa (Tanzania) provides accessible and sustainable energy solutions through power bank rental services.
- Chanels Innovations (Rwanda) is transforming energy management in Sub-Saharan Africa by developing AI-ready, smart multichannel energy metering systems tailored for micro-utilities.
- Kijani Testing (Kenya) is the first and only laboratory in Sub-Saharan Africa for certified product testing as well as field and market testing for manufacturers.
- Moma Renewable Energy (Kenya) transforms organic waste rich in sugars or starches into bioethanol as an affordable and ecofriendly cooking solution.
- Run Automations (Uganda) builds low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) devices that track, monitor and control PUE appliances and systems for assets dispatched by asset financing institutions and donors, to low-income customers.
- SunWater (Kenya) installs solar-powered water ATMs in underserved communities to provide reliable access to clean, affordable drinking water.
- YNA (Kenya) is a social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainable e-mobility solutions by providing electric motorcycles for last-mile delivery.
- Zeta Hub (Kenya) is a solar-powered internet hotspot connectivity project for rural and off-grid market areas to unlock the e-commerce potential of SMEs at affordable costs.
A particular highlight of the Energy Camp was the reality check during a field day: the visit to four startups in Nairobi and the discussion with the founders. They reported very impressively on the practical and everyday challenges of an African startup – especially those that are not taught in standard training programmes. The following Kenyan startup founders were visited: Tracy Kimathi, Baridi / Norah Magero, Drop Access / Dawson Mwangi, Pyro-degrade Energy / Francis Romano, Drivelectric.
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A special element of Startup|Energy’s accelerator programme is the permanent support over a longer period of time. This also includes the peer-to-peer exchange between the startups, which is unique in this form and has already led to the first economic cooperations between them. As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, the startups continue to receive support from experienced entrepreneurs in building up their company and in the search for customers, partners and investors.
All nine startups will present themselves online at the International Demo Day on 27 November 2024, which is open to interested organisations, project partners, manufacturers, funders and investors. Registrations are possible from 01 November 2024 on the Startup|Energy website.
Startup|Energy is an initiative of the Stiftung Solarenergie and the University of Freiburg to promote startups in the field of decentralised energy technology in Sub-Saharan Africa and Germany. Our activities are supported by GET.invest, a European programme that mobilises investment in renewable energy, co-funded by the European Union, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria.
Two fellows of Startup|Energy to receive funding from PREO
Meet the Winners of the Digital Energy Solutions Award
Access to clean energy remains a considerable challenge and a top govement priority in Kenya. Digital innovations become essential for optimization, monitoring, regulation and financing.
Startup|Energy has called on innovators and spin-offs from Kenyan universities to take part in the Award for Digital Innovations in Clean Energy. Applications were received from a total of nine Kenyan universities. The four finalists presented their ideas to an international jury in a pitch on 11 September 2024.
The jury:
- Kenyatta University: Gathu Kirubi PhD
- Mount Kenya University: Donatus Njoroge
- University of Freiburg: Prof. Dr. Dirk Neumann
- University of Nairobi: Prof. Mary Kinoti
- Startup|Energy: Dr. Harald Schützeichel
After intensive discussion, the jury agreed on the three winners.
The winners:
- 1st prize
Taka Points (KCA University): Making technology for waste management by gamifying the waste management process - 2nd prize
The Optimizer (Kenyatta University): Educational toolkit that employs a gamification approach using board games and a mobile application to create awareness about energy optimization techniques - 3rd prize
Hydrobuddy (Kenyatta University): Smartphone application designed to bridge the gap between the potential of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and the city’s current market apprehension.
All prize winners together received prize money of a total of 450,000 KSH.
Congratulations to the three winners – and all the best for the further development of their innovative ideas!
With financial support from the State Parliament and the State Ministry Baden-Württemberg via the Foundation Development Co-operation Baden-Württemberg and the Stiftung Solarenergie.
Only 10 days left: Application open for Energy Camp 2024 of Startup|Energy
Startup|Energy invites innovative entrepreneur who are looking to transform the energy supply and livelihoods in SubSaharan Africa to the Energy Camp 2024.
From 18 to 23 October 2024, the Energy Camp will take place in Nairobi, bringing together up to 12 visionary founders. For an entire week, entrepreneurs will engage in an intensive programme that includes interactive training sessions, networking opportunities with other innovators and tailored workshops.
Here’s what awaits participants 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.
After the camp, startups will benefit from becoming a Fellow
The Energy Camp is not the end of the journey together! As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, startups continue to benefit from our support:
Tailored coaching: Thanks to the Energy Camp, we know the needs of each startup better. In tailored coaching sessions, we provide specific support for the further development of the startups.
Exclusive Expert Webinars: Fellows join exclusive webinars with industry experts who can offer invaluable advice.
Network Access: All Fellows gain continuous access to our extensive international network and the collective entrepreneurial knowledge of our coaches.
Check your eligibility – and then apply!
Closing date for applications: 28 August 2024
Five reasons to apply for the Energy Camp 2024:
- Proven Success: 80% of our Fellows generate revenue, and collectively, they have raised nearly USD 3 million in grants, loans, and equity and won 18 Awards. Join a program with a track record of tangible results.
- Practical Focus: Our Energy Camp is practice-oriented, not just theoretical. The training is tailored to the specific needs of African energy startups, ensuring you get relevant and actionable insights.
- Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of our trainers and coaches, who are experienced entrepreneurs with deep knowledge of the African market. Receive hands-on support from those who understand your unique challenges.
- Valuable Connections: While we don’t offer cash rewards, we provide access to investors and the opportunity to present your startup to an international audience. Open doors to funding and global exposure.
- Peer-to-Peer-Learning: As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, you’ll gain excess to exclusive peer-to-peer learning sessions with other startup founders, where you can share insights, collaborate, and inspire each other.
Application open: Energy Camp 2024 for African Energy Startups
Startup|Energy invites innovative entrepreneur who are looking to transform the energy supply and livelihoods in SubSaharan Africa to the Energy Camp 2024.
From 18 to 23 October 2024, the Energy Camp will take place in Nairobi, bringing together up to 12 visionary founders. For an entire week, entrepreneurs will engage in an intensive programme that includes interactive training sessions, networking opportunities with other innovators and tailored workshops.
Here’s what awaits participants 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.
After the camp, startups will benefit from becoming a Fellow
The Energy Camp is not the end of the journey together! As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, startups continue to benefit from our support:
Tailored coaching: Thanks to the Energy Camp, we know the needs of each startup better. In tailored coaching sessions, we provide specific support for the further development of the startups.
Exclusive Expert Webinars: Fellows join exclusive webinars with industry experts who can offer invaluable advice.
Network Access: All Fellows gain continuous access to our extensive international network and the collective entrepreneurial knowledge of our coaches.
Check your eligibility – and then apply!
Closing date for applications: 28 August 2024
Five reasons to apply for the Energy Camp 2024:
- Proven Success: 80% of our Fellows generate revenue, and collectively, they have raised nearly USD 3 million in grants, loans, and equity and won 18 Awards. Join a program with a track record of tangible results.
- Practical Focus: Our Energy Camp is practice-oriented, not just theoretical. The training is tailored to the specific needs of African energy startups, ensuring you get relevant and actionable insights.
- Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of our trainers and coaches, who are experienced entrepreneurs with deep knowledge of the African market. Receive hands-on support from those who understand your unique challenges.
- Valuable Connections: While we don’t offer cash rewards, we provide access to investors and the opportunity to present your startup to an international audience. Open doors to funding and global exposure.
- Peer-to-Peer-Learning: As a Fellow of Startup|Energy, you’ll gain excess to exclusive peer-to-peer learning sessions with other startup founders, where you can share insights, collaborate, and inspire each other.
Six Prototypes from the Clean Energy Bootcamp in Nairobi
GET.invest and Stiftung Solarenergie continue cooperation to promote African startups
Completion of the 1st cohort of the incubator programme to support Kenyan small businesses
Two Fellows of Startup|Energy shortlisted for African Engineering Innovation Prize
In a celebration of engineering innovation in Africa, two Fellows of Startup|Energy – Christopher Maara and Léandre Berwa – are among 16 African engineering innovators shortlisted for the $60,000 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. The prize will be shared among four finalists to emerge from the longlist. Read more…
Clean Energy Bootcamp in Nairobi (2024)
The Startup|Energy initiative is offering a unique boot camp for clean energy innovators from selected universities in Uganda, Kenya and Germany: In April 2024, up to 12 innovators will meet in Nairobi to spend a week developing their CleanTech innovations in workshops.
These three universities are involved in the boot camp:
- Germany: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg
- Kenya: Kenyatta University, Nairobi, and Mount Kenya University, Thika
- Uganda: Makerere University Business School, Kampala
SME-Incubator Uganda: Two-day bootcamp for young company founders
The two-day bootcamp is part of the Freelance Incubator Program in Uganda with the aim of taking the practical experiences of freelancers, discussing them with each other and developing solutions. In addition, there is a targeted transfer of information that expands the knowledge of the participants.
The bootcamp consists of interactive sessions and discussions on business planning, successful business principles, marketing, financial planning, credit management, leadership and product demonstration. Solar microenterprise owners and their business coaches attended the event. Of the 9 participants, three were women.
The bootcamp was organised by our partner Sendea Academy Uganda.
Kenyan Solar Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Program (SEEP) launched
The program aims to train and provide ongoing support to small and micro enterprises specializing in solar clean energy products and services.
Led by Gathu Kirubi, director of the Kenyan Solar Energy Foundation and an experienced solar entrepreneur, 43 participants (17 of whom are women) receive basic entrepreneurial training at two training sites. They then receive hands-on support in running their solar microenterprise over a few weeks.
Pre-Announcement: Co-Creation Lab in 2024
The Co-Creation Lab brings together (post-)docs and master’s students from four universities in Uganda, Kenya and Germany to collaborate in workshops to further develop their CleanTech innovations.
The aim is not a one-sided transfer of knowledge, but an equal exchange of ideas and solutions for the respective region. The goal: to learn from other local contexts for one’s own startup idea.Three innovative ideas from each university will participate in the Co-Creation Lab in April 2024 in Nairobi.Start of application period: December 2023