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) ist 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.
Tracy Kimathi (Baridi) explains her business model to the participants of the Energy Camp at a market in Nairobi (© Stiftung Solarenergie)
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.