The Empower Africa Business Platform is Now Live !!!
Sixteen African startups focused on climate and agriculture solutions have been selected for Halcyon’s Climate Resilience and Food Security program.
The new cohort includes 16 entrepreneurs representing 10 startups from seven African countries: Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
The initiative focuses on climate resilience and food security, two issues that are becoming increasingly urgent across the continent as extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns disrupt livelihoods.
The program is designed to support early-stage ventures tackling challenges such as water scarcity, agricultural productivity and access to clean energy.
It brings founders together for a structured four-month experience that combines technical training, mentorship and market exposure.
Participants will also attend in-person residencies in Accra and Nairobi, two of Africa’s key innovation hubs, alongside virtual learning sessions.
Halcyon’s broader fellowship model aims to equip entrepreneurs with tools to refine their business models, attract investment and scale their impact.
The organization’s climate-focused programmes specifically target sectors like climate-smart agriculture, water technology and renewable energy, which are critical to building long-term resilience across African economies.
According to Mercy Erhiawarien, Senior Manager of Programs at Halcyon, many African founders are building solutions in environments where startup ecosystems are still developing.
She noted that the program is structured not only to accelerate business growth but also to create a support network for entrepreneurs navigating these challenges.
The selected startups reflect a wide range of approaches to climate and food system challenges.
In Kenya, Agriflex is working to improve access to quality farm inputs while offering precision agriculture tools and advisory services to smallholder farmers.
Another Kenyan venture, Tawi Fresh, is building a digital marketplace that connects farmers to buyers, financing and logistics through artificial intelligence.
In Uganda, Drought Guard Africa is deploying solar-powered irrigation systems and water infrastructure in regions facing severe water shortages, including refugee settlements.
South Africa’s eSusFarm is combining financial technology with satellite data to expand access to insurance and credit for farmers exposed to climate risks.
Other startups in the cohort are addressing inefficiencies across agricultural value chains.
Nigeria’s Green Eden Farms is promoting climate-smart farming practices, while KAMIM Technologies is developing solar-powered cold storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses, an issue that costs sub-Saharan Africa billions each year.
In Zambia, Green Giraffe is digitising supply chains to help farmers meet export standards and access international markets.
Tanzania is represented by two ventures: Rada 360, which uses satellite data and artificial intelligence to provide real-time crop monitoring and early warning systems, and SafeSip, which delivers clean water through solar-powered distribution infrastructure.
In Ghana, Sesi Technologies is equipping farmers with tools to assess soil health and improve productivity.
The program is backed by Amazon Web Services, reflecting a broader shift toward supporting technology-driven solutions rather than relying solely on traditional development models.
This approach aligns with a growing recognition that scalable, entrepreneur-led innovations are critical to addressing systemic challenges in Africa.
Despite contributing less than 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa remains one of the regions most exposed to climate change impacts.
At the same time, agriculture continues to employ more than 60 percent of the workforce in many countries, making food security and climate adaptation central to economic stability.
Since launching its Africa-focused initiatives in 2022, Halcyon has supported more than 110 founders on the continent as part of a global network of over 650 entrepreneurs.
The latest cohort joins a growing pipeline of ventures tackling immediate environmental and food challenges and building businesses with the potential to scale across markets.
Swedfund, the Swedish development finance institution, and the Danish Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) have joined forces with Sturdee Energy to drive renewable energy expansion in Southern Africa.
Tech giant Microsoft has unveiled plans to invest approximately USD 285 million (ZAR 5.4 billion) by the end of 2027 to enhance its hyperscale cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in South Africa.
Pretoria-based electric vehicle (EV) startup Everlectric has secured venture debt funding from FNB South Africa’s Vumela Fund, managed by Edge Growth.
