Thirty-four entrepreneurs and innovators from Africa have been selected to join the AGYLE Leadership Programme 2026, a development that is expected to strengthen climate innovation, sustainable business growth and cross-continental collaboration at a time when African economies are increasingly seeking solutions to climate and resource challenges.
The AGYLE programme, which now connects more than 230 young leaders from Africa and Europe, has selected its latest cohort under the theme, “GreenTech for Impact – Young Leaders Shaping Climate-Smart Economies.” Participants come from sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, circular economy, water management, mobility, logistics, climate finance, healthcare and environmental technology.
As Africa continues to face challenges linked to climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity, rising energy demand and fragile supply chains, the programme aims to equip emerging leaders with the networks, knowledge and partnerships needed to scale innovative solutions. By bringing together entrepreneurs from Africa and Europe, AGYLE is creating opportunities for collaboration that can accelerate sustainable economic development while supporting climate resilience.
Entrepreneurs Building Solutions for Africa’s Future
Among the selected leaders is Abdelilah Hammada, founder and CEO of Morocco-based ALGUNO. For more than five years, he has been developing solutions that transform marine biomass and invasive algae into biodegradable alternatives to plastic. His company has evolved into an internationally recognized venture operating at the intersection of environmental innovation, social impact and the circular economy. His work has earned recognition including the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development for contributions to marine ecosystem protection. Through partnerships with institutions such as the World Bank and Morocco’s Ministry of Fisheries, he is working to scale sustainable ocean-based solutions globally.
Afomia Andualem Bogale, founder and CEO of Ethiopia’s Agelgil Eco Packaging Solutions, is helping redefine sustainable manufacturing by turning agricultural waste into biodegradable packaging products. Her company produces industrial boxes, shopping bags, takeaway packaging, notebooks and other eco-friendly alternatives while creating additional income opportunities for thousands of smallholder farmers, particularly women. Beyond reducing plastic pollution and emissions, Afomia has emerged as a leading advocate for inclusive industrial development and has supported more than 1,700 young entrepreneurs across 11 countries.
Alfred Afutu, founder and CEO of DriveJini, is focused on expanding access to electric mobility across Africa. After helping scale e-mobility solutions across major European cities while working at FreeNow, he launched DriveJini to address financing barriers preventing wider adoption of electric vehicles on the continent. The company has already developed a credit assessment system, attracted early users and established multiple partnerships as it prepares to launch leasing solutions for mobility entrepreneurs.
Alice Ayuma, founder and CEO of Kenya’s Arbarne Agriculture Group, is working to transform African food systems through technology. Her company develops agricultural solutions aimed at reducing inefficiencies that lead to food losses and lower farmer incomes. Through the Future Farms initiative, she collaborates with farmers, researchers, governments and innovators to create sustainable approaches that improve productivity and food security across the region.
Arnold Sylvian Kimkpe from Ghana is developing advanced environmental monitoring technologies through Crafted Climate. His smart sensing systems collect critical data on soil health, air quality and water resources, enabling more reliable climate monitoring and agricultural decision-making. He is also pioneering satellite and IoT technologies to close environmental data gaps in remote areas while mentoring emerging innovators through Ghana’s growing technology ecosystem.
Benson Abila, co-founder and CEO of Kenya’s M-taka Solutions, is using technology to formalize and strengthen Africa’s waste management systems. Through a digital platform connecting collectors, recyclers, governments and businesses, M-taka has recovered more than 2,200 tonnes of recyclable materials while helping prevent thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions. His company has expanded beyond Kenya into Uganda and Zimbabwe, demonstrating the growing demand for scalable circular economy solutions.
Billy Mwangi, chief operating officer of E-moti, is helping modernize urban transportation through electric mobility. With a background in geospatial engineering and experience applying technology to sectors ranging from fisheries to agriculture, he is now focused on supporting the transition of Nairobi’s public transport system toward cleaner and more efficient electric buses.
Chantal Kamashazi, founder and managing director of Rwanda’s Green Agribusiness Network in Africa and HEZA Ltd, has built a successful business that converts agricultural waste into organic fertilizer, animal feed and eco-friendly charcoal. What began as a university research project has grown into an enterprise producing more than 500 tonnes of fertilizer annually while creating jobs for thousands of rural workers. Her work demonstrates how circular economy principles can generate both environmental and economic benefits.
Dany Vassyli Mugisha, CEO of Cradle Ltd in Rwanda, is tackling one of agriculture’s biggest challenges by making mechanized farming more accessible to smallholder farmers. Through compact machinery designed for Rwanda’s terrain and a simple mobile booking system, Cradle allows farmers to access equipment without large upfront investments. The company is already serving more than 1,200 farmers and helping improve agricultural productivity.
Devis Musiu, co-founder of Kenya’s Rudi Corporation, is improving logistics efficiency across African trade corridors. His technology platform connects cargo owners with transport providers, reducing empty truck journeys and lowering transportation costs. By improving visibility and efficiency within regional supply chains, Rudi is supporting stronger trade connectivity and reducing carbon emissions.
Elizabeth Wokabi is one of the leading engineering professionals working on utility-scale energy infrastructure across Africa. As Principal Project Lead at Linden Hof Limited, she advises lenders and project owners on large energy investments, specializing in battery storage systems and grid technologies. Her work helps ensure that major energy projects remain technically sound and financially sustainable over the long term.
Elpidio Tossou, co-founder of Ghana’s FeatheryCare, is using artificial intelligence to improve poultry farming. Through the Cluck Intelligence Poultry Platform, farmers can monitor operations, reduce losses and make better decisions using real-time data. His work reflects the growing role of digital technologies in strengthening food systems across Africa.
Esther Kimani, CEO of Farmer Lifeline Technologies in Kenya, is leveraging artificial intelligence and solar-powered solutions to help farmers detect pests and diseases early, reduce crop losses and improve yields. Her company focuses on empowering marginalized farmers while building climate resilience. She has set a goal of positively impacting one million smallholder farmers by 2030.
Frank Owusu, founder of Ghana’s Aquamet Technologies, is addressing water quality challenges in fish farming through smart monitoring technologies. His innovations are helping fish farmers improve productivity and sustainability while contributing to the growth of Africa’s blue economy.
Gabriel Bonsu, founder of CropCapital Investment Limited in Ghana, is building an investment platform that enables individuals and institutions to invest directly in agriculture. By attracting private capital into farming and strengthening agricultural value chains, he is helping improve productivity, food security and rural incomes.
Gloria Niiquaye, CEO and co-founder of COMESO, is addressing healthcare financing challenges through secure digital payment solutions. Born in Ghana and raised in Germany, she combines expertise in e-commerce, finance and payment systems to build resilient cross-border solutions between Europe and West Africa. Her company helps healthcare institutions receive guaranteed payments while improving trust and transparency in healthcare financing systems.
Grace Kamau, co-founder and CEO of Kenya-based Ardena Consulting, helps businesses navigate sustainability and ESG requirements. Through consulting services and a proprietary ESG reporting platform, she supports organizations seeking to strengthen environmental and social governance while improving business resilience.
Driving Green Innovation Through African Leadership
Hana Rago, co-founder of Ethiopia’s Guaro Farms, is creating opportunities for farmers to process agricultural products closer to where they are grown. Through containerized processing facilities, her company enables farmers to produce high-value essential oils and processed agricultural products while connecting them to global markets.
Hervé Girihirwe, founder and CEO of Rwanda’s Murika Farms, is addressing market inefficiencies that often reduce farmer earnings. Through digital marketplaces and aggregation hubs, he has connected thousands of farmers with buyers while increasing participating farmers’ incomes and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Hope Mwanake, co-founder of Kenya’s InspCorp, combines scientific research with entrepreneurship to develop water and energy solutions for underserved communities. Her FreshRain initiative provides safe drinking water through solar-powered harvesting and treatment systems while supporting local economic opportunities.
Jaouher Ben Ali, founder and CEO of Tunisia’s BeanBack, is creating value from waste by developing technologies that transform spent coffee grounds into usable raw materials. His business model helps reduce waste while opening new revenue opportunities for local businesses.
Jean Claude Akarikumutima, founder and CEO of Rwanda’s Faminga Ltd, is helping farmers adopt precision agriculture through artificial intelligence, IoT sensors and digital marketplaces. His platform has already reached thousands of farmers and contributed to higher yields and reduced water use.
Joram Okwaro, founder of Eleorun Energy Solutions in Kenya, is building digital systems that improve transparency and accountability in climate finance and renewable energy investments. His work supports governments, development institutions and energy companies seeking to expand clean energy access.
Joseph Nguthiru, founder and CEO of HyaPak Ecotech, has gained international recognition for transforming invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging products. His environmental innovations have earned global attention, including recognition at COP28 and the UN Young Champion of the Earth award. Joseph is also an Obama Foundation Africa Leader, part of 40 under 40 Africa and recipient of Kenya’s Presidential Award for Innovation.
Lynette Gonga-Penkner, Director of Climate Innovation and Partnerships for the Afroepa Project at Radio Afrika Austria, works to connect entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and innovators across Africa and Europe. Her efforts help strengthen collaboration around climate innovation and sustainable development. At Radio Afrika, she contributes to GreenTech research and knowledge-sharing initiatives exploring climate innovation, renewable energy, circular economy solutions, sustainable entrepreneurship, and regenerative development. Her work supports collaboration and dialogue between African and European stakeholders committed to building a more sustainable future.
Marie-Claire Bartmann, Chief Operating Officer of Impacc, is helping reshape development finance by supporting businesses that create sustainable jobs across East Africa. Her work focuses on scaling high-impact companies operating in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and climate technology. Based in Nairobi, she leads operations, strategy and expansion, as well as investor relations, supporting the growth of high-impact companies across Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania in sectors including climate tech, healthcare and manufacturing.
Nabeela Abubakari, founder of Ghana’s goTo Initiative, is building data infrastructure that helps formalize Africa’s informal waste economies. By making waste collection systems more visible and measurable, her work helps attract investment and strengthen circular economy ecosystems. As Founder and Director of goTo Initiative, she works at the frontier where informal markets meet formal capital. Her focus is; translating ground-level intelligence into systems that cities, investors and policymakers can actually use.
Norah Kimathi, founder and CEO of CLITEDS, is pioneering Africa’s first autonomous humanoid robots built from recycled plastic. Her work combines robotics, artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability while creating new possibilities for advanced manufacturing on the continent. To date, she has led initiatives that diverted over 10,000 kilograms of plastic from landfills, repurposing discarded materials into robotics hardware. Today, 60% of her robotics hardware is made from recycled plastic, with an ambitious goal to repurpose over 2,000 tonnes by 2030 while creating green jobs across more than 10 African countries.
Prince Kweku Asante, Business Development Officer at AkoFresh in Ghana, is helping reduce post-harvest losses through solar-powered cold storage solutions. His work includes training thousands of farmers in climate-smart agriculture and helping improve food security.
Righi Rasoa, founder of LightUpMada, is expanding access to electricity in rural Madagascar through community-owned solar mini-grids. Born in Madagascar and raised in Germany, he combines deep local roots with European entrepreneurial training. His model combines renewable energy infrastructure with local ownership and entrepreneurship.
Rozalia Wangui Karanja, founder of Square One Eco Africa, is supporting climate resilience across Kenya through community-focused initiatives that integrate digital technologies, clean energy, climate-smart agriculture and local innovation hubs. A key focus of her work is establishing Eco-Tech Innovation Hubs that connect communities with climate data, digital tools, and early warning systems. These hubs aim to bridge the gap between technical climate information and community understanding by equipping local champions with the skills to interpret and act on climate data.
Saidou Gaye, founder and CEO of HYGROSPEC SAS in Senegal, is developing water treatment, solar pumping, irrigation and monitoring systems that improve access to essential resources while supporting sustainable development.
Sara Usman Gobe, founder and CEO of Kine Modu in Ethiopia, is helping reduce emissions in the construction sector through a platform that provides access to carbon data, sustainable material information and climate-focused procurement tools. With over 1,500 EPDs in its database and 4 projects delivered, the platform targets 10,000 tCO₂e avoided annually and visibility for 1000+ locally produced materials within five years. She is a Jasiri Talent Investor alumna and has won the Kijani Innovation Sprint in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction category.
Dr. Zikiru Shaibu, co-founder of AgroCold Ghana Limited, is developing decentralized cold storage solutions that help farmers reduce losses, improve market access and strengthen climate-smart food systems. He currently serves as an Associate Programme Officer for a Mastercard Foundation supported agri-food systems initiative in partnership with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), and lectures part-time at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
The selection of these 34 innovators highlights the growing influence of African entrepreneurs in shaping climate-smart economies. Their work spans some of the continent’s most critical sectors and demonstrates how innovation, technology and entrepreneurship can help address environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities.
Through AGYLE 2026, these leaders will gain access to international networks, knowledge-sharing opportunities, mentorship and partnerships that can help accelerate the growth of their businesses and increase their impact.
