A new generation of African climate-tech and circular economy entrepreneurs has emerged from the inaugural Challenger Digital & Green Accelerator, with startups from Kenya, Uganda, Botswana and Zimbabwe securing top honors in a competition designed to scale digital and green innovation across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The programme, funded by the European Commission and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), culminated in a high-profile Demo Day held alongside the Latitude59 Conference in Tallinn, Estonia, where finalists pitched investment-ready solutions tackling some of Africa’s most pressing environmental and economic challenges.
The accelerator awarded a total of €50,000 in prize funding to six startups whose innovations span e-waste recycling, nanotechnology, digital agriculture, sustainability solutions and circular economy business models.
“Bold, purpose-driven and impactful, that is how Cohort 1 of the Challenger Digital & Green Accelerator will be remembered,” GrowthAfrica said while announcing the winners.
The programme brought together startups from Southern and Eastern Africa that spent several months refining their business models through mentorship, expert-led workshops, investor engagement sessions and international networking opportunities.
For many participants, the final showcase represented the culmination of a journey from early-stage concepts to investor-ready ventures capable of attracting global attention.
“Last week, we met offline during the Latitude59 Conference in Tallinn. It was a truly emotional milestone,” GrowthAfrica said.
“Our team had been following the entrepreneurs journey closely from early-stage ideas to investment-ready solutions and seeing the pitches live made it even more meaningful.”
Kenya emerged as one of the strongest performers in the competition, claiming two of the top three positions in the Eastern Africa cohort.
The first-place award of €12,500 went to ROCK ELECTRONIC WASTE SOLUTIONS LTD (REWS), led by Kenyan entrepreneur Wacera Kabinyu. The company is tackling Africa’s growing electronic waste crisis, one of the continent’s fastest-rising environmental challenges as smartphone adoption, digital infrastructure and electronic consumption continue to accelerate.
According to the United Nations, the world generated more than 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022, with Africa facing increasing pressure to develop sustainable recycling and resource recovery systems.
Ugandan startup Freza Nanotech, founded by Mugisha Giftarnold, secured second place and €7,500, while Kenyan entrepreneur George Chege’s Arinifu Technologies claimed third place and €5,000.
In Southern Africa, Botswana-based startup The Explore Coalition, led by Kemoneiloe Kim Phatoli, emerged as the regional champion, securing the top prize of €12,500.
The company outperformed a competitive field of sustainability-focused innovators from across the region, reflecting Botswana’s growing reputation as an emerging hub for entrepreneurship and green innovation.
Second place in the Southern Africa cohort went to GreenALOT, founded by Gontse Molelekeng-Adeniran, which received €7,500, while Zimbabwean entrepreneur Morell Ndhlovu’s CIFTEX secured third place and €5,000.
The results underscore the growing momentum behind Africa’s green entrepreneurship ecosystem as investors increasingly seek climate-smart solutions capable of generating both environmental and economic returns.
Africa currently contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions yet faces some of the world’s most severe climate impacts. This imbalance has fueled increasing investment into technologies focused on climate adaptation, waste management, renewable energy, circular economy systems and sustainable resource use.
The Challenger Digital & Green Accelerator was specifically designed to address that opportunity by helping founders commercialize innovations at the intersection of sustainability and digital transformation.
The programme forms part of the broader Digital and Green Innovation Action (DGI Action), an initiative led by the European Union and supported by Germany, France, Belgium, Estonia and the Netherlands.
Implementation partners include innovation ecosystem builders Civitta, GrowthAfrica, mLab Southern Africa, Latitude59 and Startup Wise Guys, organizations that collectively have supported hundreds of startups across Europe, Africa and emerging markets.
GrowthAfrica praised all participating startups for their contribution to sustainable development and innovation across the continent.
“A special shoutout to all participating teams for your dedication, resilience, and the meaningful solutions you are building to drive sustainable development across the region.”
The organization also acknowledged the role played by the international jury, which included Dag Ainsoo, Zane Bojāre, Vicky Brock, Peter K. and Priit Uustulnd, whose expertise helped evaluate and select the winning ventures.
The success of the inaugural cohort arrives amid growing global interest in Africa’s innovation economy. While fintech has historically dominated venture capital flows into Africa, climate-tech and sustainability-focused startups are increasingly attracting investor attention as governments, corporations and development institutions search for scalable solutions to environmental challenges.
For the six winning startups, the recognition provides more than prize money. It offers access to investors, international networks and credibility that could accelerate growth far beyond their domestic markets.
As Africa’s green economy gains momentum, the entrepreneurs emerging from programmes such as the Challenger Digital & Green Accelerator are positioning themselves at the forefront of a rapidly expanding market where profitability and sustainability are becoming increasingly intertwined.
