“We develop practical solutions using resources that are already available and believe that every community can build a cleaner future by using what is around them,” says Vincent Ubeling, CEO and Founder of Green at Mind. The company began with a loan from a savings group, eventually earning the trust of larger financial institutions. Today, Vincent is a prominent voice in the conversation about clean cooking solutions for marginalised communities, believing that waste holds value and that every household deserves access to safe and affordable energy. The company produces modern cook stoves from reclaimed materials and briquettes made from food and other solid waste that would otherwise contribute to land degradation. Its approach begins with the communities it serves, where families in semi-arid counties rely on smoky fuels that fill homes and harm health, particularly for women and children. Green at Mind addresses these challenges by designing clean cooking solutions that align with the purchasing power of low-income households.
“Rather than creating technologies that feel distant or expensive, we transform upcycled drums and plain metal sheets into efficient cookstoves that use clean fuel and cook food in half the time of traditional open fires,” he says. He explains that they collect waste from scrap metal dealers and mechanics, then proceed to design, shape, weld, and assemble the stoves. These stoves have quickly gained recognition among households and commercial users. Their durability and fuel-saving qualities offer an affordable alternative to unsafe cooking methods. The company also produces smokeless briquettes made from food and agricultural waste, creating a full clean cooking cycle where waste from homes and markets becomes the energy that powers kitchens. This approach strengthens environmental protection while also opening up new opportunities for young people to participate in the collection and processing of waste materials.
“We have employed 23 staff members across production, sales, and administration, all of whom believe in our mission of transforming cooking into an exciting and accessible experience for rural households across Kenya,” he adds. They have extended their impact further by offering online training programs focused on climate change and energy access.
“These sessions guide young researchers and entrepreneurs through the realities faced by marginalised communities, especially in regions with prolonged drought and limited infrastructure,” he explains. Participants learn about climate adaptation challenges and the urgent need to create businesses that help communities transition to clean energy. He says that the company is creating a generation of environmentally conscious entrepreneurs equipped with both knowledge and practical skills. Since its founding, Green at Mind has continued to grow its production and distribution networks. They now supply a wide range of clean cooking products, including the Relief Double Stove, which is used by clients across several counties such as Turkana, Kiambu and West Pokot. This stove has become one of the most requested models because of its stability, fuel efficiency, and suitability for both home use and small-scale commercial kitchens. Focusing on affordability, the enterprise has widened access to modern energy. Each stove represents more than metal and design and marks a step toward better health.
“Families report cleaner air in their homes, less time spent collecting wood, and savings on fuel costs. For women who carry the responsibility of cooking, the change is profound,” he says, adding that long hours surrounded by smoke are replaced with time that can be invested in income-generating activities or education. To date, the business has produced more than 5,800 clean and modern stoves. Through these efforts the enterprise has reached over 2,000 households in Turkana County alone.
“Many of these families live in areas where development programs take years to reach. The introduction of clean energy solutions has brought better cooking methods and renewed hope that sustainable development is possible even in places long overlooked,” he notes. Partnerships have played a central role in the success of the enterprise. The company has worked with Global Innovation Valley, Social Innovation Academy and the Netherlands Development Organisation to strengthen its operations and amplify its reach. One of the most transformative partnerships has come through the SWIFT Program. This initiative is led by the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre in collaboration with the IKEA Foundation. The program supports enterprises engaged in waste management by offering technical guidance, business support and a platform for national policy dialogue.
“Through the SWIFT program at KCIC, we have gained access to mentorship and training that has helped us refine our products and scale our impact,” he explains. Vincent notes that the partnership with KCIC has been instrumental in giving them recognition and support, and shows the crucial role small and medium enterprises play in the green transition. He adds that with KCIC’s guidance, as an SME, they have been able to respond quickly to community needs and develop innovative solutions using locally available resources.
“The technical assistance we have received from KCIC has been invaluable in exposing us to various stakeholders across the country, opening up market and funding opportunities that we would not have been able to access on our own,” he says. Each new stove produced here brings more hands into the effort to build a cleaner future. With a new partnership with APA Insurance, their customers are now covered by micro insurance benefits of up to Sh20,000 for income replacement. Despite this progress, many regions of Kenya still face deep inequalities in access to modern energy. Climate change continues to intensify droughts, forcing communities to rely even more heavily on scarce wood resources. The solution, he says, lies in innovation that meets real needs and in empowering the next generation of leaders to be part of the transformation.
“True change begins at the community level, where people are most affected by environmental challenges,” he says, adding that waste can be a source of opportunity and clean energy is achievable when technology is designed with empathy and respect for social realities. Vincent plans to scale his enterprise beyond Kenya, building partnerships to replicate the clean energy model across Africa. He is focused on investing in local innovation hubs, supporting young entrepreneurs, and creating circular energy solutions that transform waste into opportunity, ensuring communities benefit economically while protecting the environment for generations to come.
