Call for Applications: GreenBiz Program 2021 for Enterprises in Kenya

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danish MoFA) and Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) have partnered to implement the GreenBiz Program for the next five years, from January 2021 to December 2025.

The support to KCIC (and KCV) under this engagement totals DKK 54,750,00, approximately Kes. 1 billion with a focus on climate technologies and related innovative business models. The program will support 300 businesses to create over 3,000 full time job opportunities.

The expected outcome will be increased commercialisation and scale up of climate related companies, which create decent jobs, increased access to low carbon energy sources, increased community and household resilience to climate change as well as other environmental and social benefits. Through strategic partnerships, KCIC will work to influence the creation of enabling legal and regulatory frameworks for clean tech businesses as well as the mainstreaming of the green growth and climate change agenda into the Kenyan economy.

KCIC Programs

Applicants can apply to join either the incubation or the acceleration Program:

• GreenBiz Incubation Program: This is a 12-month program targeting start-ups and early-stage businesses that have at least developed a prototype. The businesses receive intensive practical training and business coaching to enable them prove their concepts in the market and progress towards commercialization. Clients who successfully complete this program can apply for the KCIC GreenBiz Accelerator Program.
• GreenBiz Accelerator Program: This is an 8-month program in which clients are provided with highly individualized services aimed at setting the clients on a rapid business growth path and preparing clients to be investor ready as well as raising investments.

Financial Support

Successful applicants can receive financial support through either Proof-of-Concept grant financing (POC) or Early-Stage Financing (ESF) to support the innovative businesses.

POC

• The purpose of Proof-of-Concept grant financing is to prove a concept of an idea, test prototype in the market, product development support before market testing, refine the business model and progress towards commercialization.
• It is a non-repayable matching grant subject to agreed drawdown milestones.
• The size of POC support must fall within the following ranges:
  • Minimum amount: Kes. 1,000,000
  • Maximum amount: Kes. 5,000,000

ESF

• The purpose of the Early-Stage Financing (ESF) is to support businesses at the growth stage and can scale their business.
• It’s a repayable debt
• Interest rates ranging from 8% – 10% per annum
• The size of ESF support must fall within the following ranges:
  • Minimum amount: Kes. 5,000,000
  • Maximum amount: Kes.10,000,000

Eligibility

• The applicant should be registered under the laws of Kenya.
  • Limited Liability company.
  • Sole Proprietorship but willing to register the business as limited company within the first 3 months once a business is selected.
• The business must be located and legally registered in Kenya.
• The company should be within the below mentioned thematic   areas:
  • Agribusiness
  • Water management
  • Renewable energy and energy efficiency
  • Waste Management
  • Commercial forestry

Agribusiness: Businesses focusing in any of the following areas will be considered but are not limited to;

• Resilient crops/seeds.
• Climate smart/energy efficient agricultural machinery
• Efficient irrigation mechanisms/Technologies.
• Efficient/value addition and food processing
• Climate friendly inputs/alternatives for example pesticides, fertilizers, and other field operations.
• Post-harvest management technologies

Water Management: KCIC is focusing on businesses that are developing sustainable and innovative water management interventions associated with, but are not limited to:

• Solar filtration
• Desalination
• Innovative technologies in rainwater harvesting and storage
• Efficient irrigation technologies
• Biotechnology for water treatment.
• Smart Water Metering
• Supply and distribution of clean water

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: KCIC is looking to support innovative businesses that innovatively offers climate change mitigation or adaptation solutions through any or all of the following, but are not limited to:

• Off-grid technologies – solar PV, biogas, biomass and wind
• Micro-hydro – domestic and rural mini-grid use
• Bio-energy – bio-gasification, bio-diesel, biomass power and heating
• Energy Efficient Technologies; Cook stoves, Solar Lanterns,
• Energy metering and Energy Storage technologies.

Waste Management: KCIC is interested to incubate innovative businesses falling within any of the following areas, but are not limited to:

• Efficient waste aggregation and processing
• Reduction of waste toxicity
• Upcycling waste materials
• Recycling waste materials
• Conversion of waste to energy
• Economic ways of composting waste
• Reduction of waste generation

Commercial Forestry: KCIC is looking to incubate innovative businesses across all commercial forestry value chains that encourage growth of commercial forests, innovative processing technologies and manufacturing of value added as, this will focus on but not limited to;

• Planting Trees for commercial purposes on at least 3 acres of land
• Demonstrating sustainable practices in forest management and tree harvesting to build resilient forests
• Use of technologies to grow and monitor forest coverage that reduce deforestation and degradation
• Innovative best practices in agroforestry that enhance agricultural landscape resiliency, facilitate species movement to more favorable conditions, sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Commercial tree nurseries and seeds production facilities
• Efficient production, processing and use of wood raw material

How To Apply

• All applications must be submitted online through the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website Application portal.
• The Applicants must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions.
• The applicants must indicate which program they are applying to join into i.e. The Incubation program or Green- Tech Accelerator Program
• Personal information supplied in the application form such as names, addresses and date of birth should be verifiable and the applicant is solely responsible for informing KCIC of changes in current contact methods indicated in their application.
• The Applicant must provide current correspondence address, email and telephone numbers and inform of any changes during the review and onboarding process.
• Upon submission of the application form, an email will be sent to the Applicant or via the preferred contact method indicated in their application.
• Once submitted, applications cannot be altered or amended.
• Review of applications will commence immediately after client applications have been received in their system. Shortlisting of applicants will take place following the close of the Application Window.

Click Here To Apply

For more information, visit KCIC

Application Deadline: July 6, 2021

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