At the AfricArena Nairobi Summit held this week, the urgent issue of climate change dominated discussions, driving the agenda as the continent’s leading green-tech startups showcased their innovative solutions.
Over two days, the event brought together investors and innovators at Shamba Events in Loresho Ridge, Nairobi, where the focus was on how technology can be leveraged to combat the continent’s environmental challenges.
The summit, part of the AfricArena Tour, was organised in partnership with AWS Startups, Silicon Overdrive, GIZ SAIS, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, and Kenya Airways. Startups in sectors such as clean tech, climate tech, agritech, and the circular economy took to the stage to pitch their ventures.
These companies, which included cohorts from the Korea-Africa Foundation, SAIS powered by GIZ, and Digital Africa, are leading the charge in harnessing technology and green finance to address Africa’s most pressing environmental issues.
Africa’s green economy on the rise
The pitches followed an intensive pre-summit AfricArise Founder’s Bootcamp, where startups honed their skills in storytelling and strategy, preparing to make their case to potential investors. The entrepreneurs showcased a wide array of solutions designed to drive Africa’s green economy forward, from renewable energy innovations to sustainable agricultural practices and waste management technologies.
AfricArena founder and CEO Christophe Viarnaud underscored the significance of the event, stating, “The AfricArena Climatech Summit in Nairobi highlighted the pivotal role of Africa’s tech entrepreneurs in leading the continent’s green economy. More than 20 top startups, driven by visionary African founders, pitched innovative and scalable solutions that attracted significant interest from investors.
“Thanks to the support of our partners, the summit showcased how African tech innovators are not just participating but leading in climate tech and green finance. We are proud to support these entrepreneurs as they shape a sustainable and prosperous future for Africa.”
Throughout the summit, panel discussions delved into critical topics such as the impact of AI and carbon credits on sustainability, the role of fintech in driving green finance, and the integration of climate-resilient crops with smart technology in agriculture.
These conversations emphasised the importance of innovative funding mechanisms and policy support in scaling green tech solutions across the continent.
Summit celebrates Africa’s top green tech innovators
At the AfricArena Nairobi Summit, top innovators in Africa’s green tech sector were celebrated for their ground-breaking work. MonSapo, a startup from Tunisia led by co-founder and CEO Sabrine Chennaoui, took home the Best Clean Tech Startup Award, showcasing their leadership in digital innovation for environmental sustainability.
Kenya’s Rhea, co-founded by Soinato Leboo, was awarded Best Climate Tech Startup, underscoring the country’s growing influence in climate-focused technology solutions. In the agritech category, GenePlus Global Limited, led by Dr Chris Silali, was honoured with the Best Agri Tech Startup Award for their efforts to revolutionize agricultural practices in Africa.
The Best Circular Economy Startup Award went to Gjenge Makers, founded by Nzambi Matee, a Kenyan innovator making strides in sustainable materials and waste management.
In the investment space, the Best Investor Pitch Award was claimed by Flat6Labs Africa Seed Fund, with Christine Namara representing the fund’s commitment to fostering early-stage startups across the continent.
Finally, the Most Promising Entrepreneur Award was given to Tichaa Johnson Penn of Ecolinks, a standout startup with roots in both Korea and Cameroon, recognised for their innovative approach to linking technology with environmental solutions.
These startups will now proceed to the final round of pitches at the AfricArena Grand Summit in Cape Town this December and have each won $25 000 in AWS Activate credits.
Gerishom Manyengo, business analyst at the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, praised the achievements of Kenyan startups, noting, “We are seeing the cumulative effects of our investment in Kenya’s tech infrastructure and ecosystem pay rich dividends in how Kenyan-bred startups are leading Africa forward in capturing a large portion of investment streaming into the continent and sharing best practices.”
This sentiment was echoed by Henri Zietsman, senior startup business development manager at AWS Startups, who highlighted the evolution of Africa’s tech ecosystem. Zietsman pointed to the emergence of resilient startups that are effectively utilising blended finance strategies to unlock significant funding for the continent’s green tech sector.
Celebrating innovation
Dr Chris Silali, founder and CEO of GenePlus Global Limited, expressed his gratitude, stating, “It was a great honour to interact with the teams and learn how to create a good pitch through storytelling skills at the bootcamp. These skills are what has really contributed to a chance to win this prize. I am so grateful, and I look forward to working with you and to participating in the Grand Summit.”
As the AfricArena Nairobi Summit concluded, it became clear that Africa’s green tech sector is poised for significant growth, driven by innovative entrepreneurs and supported by a growing ecosystem of investors and partners.
With the upcoming AfricArena Grand Summit in Cape Town, these startups will have another opportunity to showcase their solutions on a global stage, further solidifying Africa’s leadership in the fight against climate change.
AfricArena, launched in 2017, facilitates market access and investment opportunities for founders, investors, and corporates through a series of events and an open-source platform focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. The brand has quickly gained credibility, with its alumni startups raising over $500 million to date.
READ NEXT: Regenerative agriculture key to Africa’s food security, say experts
