$250k up for grabs to energise African start-ups

The Energy Investment Village’s highly anticipated pitching event, known as the “lion’s den” of the energy sector, has announced an extension of the submission deadline to Monday, 12 June 2023.

Start-ups across South Africa and Africa are invited to participate in this electrifying contest, set to take place at the Green Energy Africa Summit on Wednesday, 11 October 2023. With a chance to win up to R 5 million (about $250 000) in venture capital funding, this event aims to revolutionise the continent’s energy landscape and drive sustainable progress.

The Energy Investment Village is a remarkable initiative brought together by the Green Energy Africa Summit, the Innovation Campus, and the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability. It is further supported by prominent organisations such as Anza Capital and Afida, who are committed to fostering innovation and sustainability in the energy sector.

To facilitate the submission process, the Energy Investment Village has provided an online application form accessible through their website. In order to ensure a smooth application, interested parties are encouraged to review the information requirements beforehand. While the form must be completed in one sitting, a downloadable PDF is available for reference purposes only. The estimated time to complete the form is approximately 25 minutes.

The final deadline for submissions is set for Monday, 12 June 2023 at midnight Central African Time (CAT). Following the submission period, shortlisted applicants will be notified via email, and pitch training for these selected participants will commence on Tuesday, 18 July 2023. The final pitch event will be held on Wednesday, 11 October 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa.

To qualify for the Energy Investment Village’s pitching event, projects must meet certain criteria. They must be within the energy sector, founded, based, and operated in Africa, and ready for the market, with a prototype that has already been demonstrated. Ideally, the projects should contribute to the goals of a cleaner and decarbonised energy landscape.

The Energy Investment Village has also outlined specific terms and conditions that applicants must adhere to. These include the requirement that the project be a clean energy initiative and located within Africa. Shortlisted project teams must be able to attend the Energy Investment Village event in Cape Town. Moreover, the shortlisted teams are expected to complete a two-and-a-half month online pitch training programme, free of charge.

It is important to note that while the pitching event provides an opportunity for exposure to potential investors, it does not guarantee project investment. All project information submitted will be treated as private and confidential by the organiser and its partners.

With the extended submission deadline, aspiring entrepreneurs and innovative minds in Africa’s energy sector have more time to showcase their ground-breaking solutions. The Energy Investment Village’s pitching event promises to be a game-changer, injecting fresh capital and talent into the continent’s sustainable energy revolution.

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