The Green Pioneer Accelerator program rewards startups for sustainable ventures

Green initiatives are plentiful in a world hellbent on preserving the Earth. After all, we don’t exactly have another planet to live on if we ruin this one. So naturally, accelerator programs rewarding startups aiming to make our activities on the planet more sustainable have been launched, most notably is the Green Pioneer Accelerator program.

Launched a month ago but making waves in the ever advancing industry, the Green Pioneer Initiative aims to reward businesses in the following five fields: alternative energy, energy efficiency, solid waste reuse and effluent treatment, clean water, sustainable agriculture and ecological building. This is great for South Africans and Kenyans who can apply for the program here, but it hasn’t quite touched all the branches on the African continent yet.

Still, the program runs from the 1 December cut-off date to the 30 April and will arm budding entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, documentation and support they need to secure and grow their business.

The program, centered around a peer-to-peer learning system, will cover some of these specifics: financial modelling, business modelling and strategic planning, the theory of change and social/environmental impact, connecting and networking, investment case writing and finally, pitching to investors.

Split between two countries and cities (Cape Town and Nairobi) means that there are two specific companies driving the program. They are Impact Amplifier in South Africa and Growth Africa for Kenya.

VC4Africa and Hivos are also funding the venture, with the latter setting aside €100 000 (US$127 564) for the startups.

Those wanting to apply can do so here (Kenya) and here (South Africa). More information regarding the program can be found in the comprehensive brochure.