WATCH ON-DEMAND: Young African Changemakers

Watch this dialogue on-demand now!

Our Young African Changemakers Shaping the Green Economy dialogue, hosted by the Green Economy Hub at Vuka Group, brought together young founders, investors and development finance practitioners to explore what it really takes to turn a promising green idea into a viable, scalable business. Through the journeys of founders working across climate-smart agriculture, water, renewable energy and low-carbon construction, the discussion moved beyond success stories to examine the practical challenges of securing capital, finding customers, refining business models and building businesses that can scale across African markets. The session also provided practical investor perspectives on funding pathways, founder readiness and the importance of matching the right type of capital to the right stage of growth. You can now watch the full conversation on demand below.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The webinar explored how young African entrepreneurs can move from innovative green solutions to commercially sustainable and investment-ready businesses. Founders from ACOFresh, SWIFT Limited and Zen Carbon shared firsthand experiences building solutions around food loss, water and energy resilience, and low-carbon concrete. The discussion highlighted that a great idea alone is not enough. Founders need evidence of customer demand, a commercially credible business model, a capable founding team and a clear understanding of exactly how investment will accelerate growth. From the financing perspective, speakers stressed the importance of understanding the funding pathway and matching debt, equity, grants or patient capital to the needs and maturity of the business. Ultimately, scaling Africa’s green startups will require not only more capital, but stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems that combine financing with venture-building support, networks and market access.

“Execute now and do it very fast. Whatever fails, fails fast, so you understand what to double down on.”

MODERATOR:

• Tracy Dusabimana, Venture Growth & Investment Associate, African Impact Initiative

FEATURED FOUNDERS

• Ulaya Mwale, Group Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Water Irrigation and Farming Technologies (SWIFT), Malawi
• Andy Onyango, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Zen Carbon, Kenya
• Mathias Charles, Yabe, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, AkoFresh, Ghana

PANEL:

• Rest Kanju, Executive Director, Indalo Inclusive
• Aaron Sotunde-Adesina, Associate, Antler
• Fadekunayo Adeniyi, Climate Investment Specialist, AfDB

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Customer Demand Comes Before Scale – Before approaching investors, founders need evidence that they understand their customers, the problem being solved and why their solution is positioned to address it. Traction and validated demand make the investment case considerably stronger.
• Match the Capital to the Business – Not every startup needs the same financing. Founders should understand whether they require grants, equity, debt or patient capital, how much they need and precisely what milestone that funding will unlock.
• Investors Are Investing in Founders Too – At the earliest stages, investors assess the people behind the venture as much as the product. Execution ability, adaptability and the ability to test assumptions and pivot quickly are critical indicators of future potential.
• Capital Alone Is Not Enough – Young businesses also need venture-building support, market access, mentorship and networks. The African Development Bank discussion highlighted an evolution toward strengthening capital providers and the wider ecosystem supporting climate entrepreneurs.
• Build Strong Foundations Early – Corporate governance, documented processes and operational discipline should not be postponed until a startup becomes larger. As Matthias Charles Yabe reflected, getting these foundations right while developing the product can become a significant advantage when the business begins to scale.

Watch this dialogue on-demand now!

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