GreenCape and Westerwelle Startup Haus Mombasa, in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), have announced the Top 18 finalists for the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge. The finalists were selected from approximately 310 applications submitted by startups from Botswana, eSwatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania.
The selected businesses represent six African countries and reflect the growing role of entrepreneurship in developing market-driven solutions to climate and sustainability challenges.
Kwezi Sogoni, Programme Manager at FNF, said the expansion of the competition marks an important milestone for green entrepreneurship across the continent.
“The expansion of the FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge beyond South Africa marks an exciting new chapter for green innovation on the continent. From Table Mountain to Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, this partnership is helping to build a stronger cross-African ecosystem for entrepreneurs developing practical solutions to Africa’s sustainability challenges. This expanded partnership reflects FNF’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, advancing regional collaboration and supporting market-driven solutions for Africa’s green future.”
Supporting African startups to scale their impact
The Top 18 finalists will now prepare to present their businesses to judges and investors during shark tank-style networking events that will take place in Cape Town on 3 September 2026 and Nairobi on 25 September 2026.
Before the pitch events, the entrepreneurs will take part in a capacity-building workshop hosted by RMB Ventures. The programme will include one-on-one engagements with investors and business experts, giving founders an opportunity to strengthen their investment readiness and refine their growth strategies. They will also participate in a “Let’s Talk Financing” workshop hosted by Viridian, providing practical guidance on accessing funding and scaling their businesses.
The competition offers more than recognition. Winners and finalists will receive cash and in-kind prizes valued at approximately US$20,000, with the Southern African cash prize sponsored by RMB Ventures.
Ewan Gray, Senior Transactor at RMB Ventures, said the quality of this year’s finalists reflects the growing strength of Africa’s green economy.
“The calibre of this year’s finalists reflects the growing maturity of Africa’s green economy. Across a diverse range of sectors, these entrepreneurs are developing practical, scalable solutions to real-world challenges while creating jobs and unlocking new economic opportunities. We are proud to support a platform that helps connect promising founders with the expertise, networks and capital needed to turn innovation into lasting impact.”
The challenge has also highlighted the depth of innovation already taking place across African communities.
Sharon Nekesa, Programme Coordinator at Westerwelle Foundation Kenya, said the range of applications demonstrates the important work entrepreneurs are already doing in their communities.
“It has been great to see the wide range of enterprises interested in The FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge and the valuable work they are doing in their communities. Their applications showed us how much innovation and sustainability are already happening across the continent, often driven by founders solving problems they have lived through themselves. Moving forward, we’re proud and excited to see these founders build and grow to greater heights.”
Building practical climate solutions across Africa
The 2026 finalists demonstrate that innovation is increasingly being driven by businesses focused on solving everyday challenges through commercially viable solutions. Their work ranges from converting waste into valuable products and improving agricultural productivity to developing renewable energy technologies, clean mobility solutions and better water management systems.
GreenCape CEO Mike Mulcahy said the challenge has evolved significantly since it was first launched.
“From its first iteration, as a desperate search for innovation to deal with the Day Zero drought in Cape Town, the GreenPitch challenge has grown into a launchpad for SMME in the green economy. The SMMEs are from broader categories and now from multiple countries, but the desperation to find solutions that create jobs and put our economies on a climate-smart trajectory remains.”
The winners of the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge will be selected by an independent judging panel during the September pitch events.
The 18 finalists are:
East Africa
- Chemichemi Green Organics (Kenya): Produces organic agricultural inputs from recycled organic waste to restore degraded soils, improve crop yields and protect the environment.
- Ecorich Solutions Limited (Kenya): Converts organic waste into organic fertiliser within 24 hours using its Wastebot technology, supporting sustainable agriculture and waste management.
- Eden Recyclers (Kenya): Recycles paper waste, mainly from schools, into affordable and environmentally friendly products for learners, including black shoe polish.
- Imani Collective (Kenya): Manufactures handcrafted home décor and lifestyle products using circular manufacturing while creating sustainable employment opportunities for artisans.
- Mukaia Carbon Hub (Kenya): Uses artificial intelligence, satellite imagery and environmental monitoring technologies to support ecosystem restoration, carbon projects and climate finance access.
- Ngwala Inventions (Tanzania): Develops AI-powered biofertiliser and biopesticide solutions with solar-powered dispensing systems to improve climate-smart farming.
- Plant Natural Feed Limited (Tanzania): Converts waste biomass into activated biochar fertilisers that improve soil health, increase productivity and support sustainable agriculture.
- Pollen Patrollers (Kenya): Combines smart hive technology and artificial intelligence to improve pollination, increase crop yields and boost incomes for beekeepers.
- Seta Farm Limited (Kenya): Transforms agricultural waste into mushroom production, creating additional income opportunities for farmers through circular agriculture.
Southern Africa
- EBIKES4AFRICA (Namibia): Manufactures rugged, solar-ready utility electric bicycles designed for African farms, businesses and communities.
- Flushh (Namibia): Provides a waterless sanitation service that conserves water while converting waste into valuable resources.
- Green Brine Technologies (Namibia): Treats industrial wastewater to manufacture high-purity chemicals locally, reducing reliance on imports through circular economy practices.
- Kaeane Renewable Energy Developers (Lesotho): Installs biogas systems that convert organic waste into clean cooking energy and biofertiliser for communities.
- Mattie’s Success (Pty) Ltd (Botswana): Produces biodegradable hair braiding fibre from banana stem agricultural waste, providing a safer alternative to synthetic fibres.
- Organic Naturals (Pty) Ltd (Botswana): Upcycles indigenous orphan crops into skincare products by combining traditional knowledge with science and technology.
- PeeCycling (South Africa): Converts separated human urine into valuable NPK fertiliser and clean non-potable water using an energy-efficient process.
- Preserve Botanica (South Africa): Manufactures bulk hop oils from fresh hop waste, helping major brewers strengthen sustainability and circular economy initiatives.
- ReSurfify (South Africa): Uses fermentation technology to convert vegetable oil refinery waste into affordable, high-performance biosurfactants for the global formulation industry.
