GreenBiz

Introduction

Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) in partnership with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), is implementing the GreenBiz Programme, running from 2021 to 2025. The programme is supporting 300 climate technologies and related innovative business models to create over 3000 full time job opportunities.The expected outcomes include increased commercialisation and scale up of climate related companies, which create decent jobs, increased access to low carbon energy sources, increased community and household resilience to climate change as well as other environmental and social benefits.

KCIC is engaged in five thematic areas: water; renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE & EE); agriculture; commercial forestry and waste management. By focusing on these sectors, KCIC (and its clients) will directly and indirectly contribute to the achievement of SDG 1 (no poverty); SDG 2 (no hunger); SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), and SDG 13 (climate action). Others are SDG 15 (life on land); SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).

This is a call for applications to all eligible businesses to join the GreenBiz Incubator or Accelerator programme for tailored support including business advisory, mentorship, technical assistance, capacity building, and financing. The GreenBiz Programme will address key challenges that hinder climate technologies and related innovative business models from tapping into the immense potential in the cleantech sector.

This call for applications will onboard 60 climate technologies and enterprises that fall under KCIC’s five thematic areas of renewable energies and energy efficiency, water, agribusiness, commercial forestry and waste management.

Post on-boarding to the programme, a needs assessment exercise will be conducted to ascertain the specific needs of the successful applicants. Based on these needs, successful applicants will receive technical and financial support based on assessment done to support their growth.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants can apply to join either the incubation or the acceleration Programme:

1. GreenBiz Incubation Programme

This is a 12-month program targeting start-ups and early-stage businesses that have at least developed a prototype. The businesses receive intensive practical training and business coaching to enable them prove their concepts in the market and progress towards commercialization. Clients who successfully complete this program can apply for the KCIC GreenBiz Accelerator Programme.

Incubation programme eligibility metrics

  • A legal entity operating and registered in Kenya. If a business is either a Sole proprietorship/Partnership/Self Help Group/Community Based Organization, it should be willing to register as a limited company within the first 3 months in the programme.
  • Business is within KCIC’s five thematic areas (renewable energy and energy efficiency, Water management, Agribusiness, Commercial forestry and Waste management)
  • Have an innovative product, service or business model.
  • Be in the early stages of business development (have a prototype with less than 2 years since business inception).
  • Demonstrate a climate change angle: the business must contribute to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster.
  • Revenues should be between 0 to Kes 2,000,000 in the last 1 year
  • Team of 2+ full time/part time employees

2.GreenBiz Accelerator Programme

This is a 12-month program in which clients are provided with highly individualized services aimed at setting the clients on a rapid business growth path, and preparing clients to be investor ready as well as raising investments.

Accelerator Eligibility metrics

  • A legal entity operating and registered in Kenya. If a business is either a Sole proprietorship/Partnership/Self Help Group/Community Based Organization, it should be willing to register as a limited company within the first 3 months in the programme.
  • The company is within KCIC’s five thematic areas (renewable energy and energy efficiency, Water management, Agribusiness, Commercial forestry and Waste management)
  • Have an Innovative product, service or business model
  • A proven business model and a well-defined financial model
  • Post-revenue stage (Over kes 2,000,000 in the last 1 year)
  • Looking to raise capital
  • Team of 4+ full time/part time employees
  • Demonstrate a climate angle: the business must contribute to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster.

Thematic Areas

  • The company should be within the below mentioned thematic   areas: Agribusiness, Waste Management, Renewable Energy, Water, and Commercial Forestry.

    Agribusiness:

    Businesses focusing in any of the following areas will be considered but are not limited to;

    • Promoting heat and drought resistant crops
    • Sustainable climate-resilient farming methods
    • Energy efficient agricultural machinery and carbon neutral system
    • Efficient irrigation (water saving) mechanisms/Technologies.
    •  Climate friendly inputs/alternatives for example pesticides, fertilizers, and other field operations.
    • Post-harvest management technologies to prevent post-harvest losses in handling, storing and transportation
    • Set up/use of early warning communications system for agricultural purposes (e.g., communications/IT solutions for monitoring crops, precipitation, temperature etc. to avoid crop loss through climate-related stress or disaster)

    Water Management:

    KCIC is focusing on businesses that are developing sustainable and innovative water management interventions associated with, but are not limited to:

    • Solar filtration
    • Desalination
    • Promoting water conservation in areas subject to increased water stress due to climate change
    • Innovative technologies in rainwater harvesting and storage
    • Efficient irrigation technologies
    • Biotechnology for water treatment.
    •  Smart Water Metering
    • Climate resilient supply and distribution of clean water and storage to ensure access where water resource is limited due to climate change
    • Treatment of water resources with the introduction of recycled water
    • Wastewater management systems, or systems designed to protect the quality and quantity of existing water resources in the face of climate change

    Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:

    KCIC is looking to support innovative businesses that offer climate change mitigation or adaptation solutions through any or all of the following, but are not limited to:

    ●  Off-grid technologies – solar PV, biogas, biomass and wind

    ●  Micro-hydro – domestic and rural mini-grid use

    ●   Bio-energy – bio-gasification, bio-diesel, biomass power and heating

    ●  Energy Efficient Technologies; Cook stoves, Solar Lanterns, Energy metering and Energy Storage technologies.

    ●  E-mobility services running on renewable energy

     Waste Management:

    KCIC is interested in incubating innovative businesses falling within any of the following areas, but are not limited to:

    ●  Efficient waste aggregation and recycling

    ●  Reduction of waste toxicity

    ●  Upcycling waste materials

    ●   Recycling waste materials

    ●   Conversion of waste to energy

    ●   Economic ways of composting waste

    ●   Reduction of waste generation

     Commercial Forestry:

    KCIC is looking to incubate innovative businesses across all commercial forestry value chains demonstrating sustainable practices to build resilient forests leading to increased forest cove. This will focus on but not limited to:

    • Planting Trees for commercial purposes on at least 3 acres of land
    • Use of technologies to grow and monitor forest coverage that reduce deforestation and degradation
    • Innovative best practices in agroforestry that enhance agricultural landscape resiliency, facilitate species movement to more favourable conditions, sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Commercial tree nurseries and seeds production facilities
    • Efficient production, processing and use of wood raw materials

Criteria and Scoring system

  • The following criteria and scoring system will be used for evaluation of the eligible applications for this call.

    ●  Scalability – does the business model that shows clear and compelling mission to grow a sustainable and commercially viable business

    ●  Climate Impact – The extent to which the business/product/technology has an impact on climate mitigation OR climate adaptation OR environmental benefits.

    ● Job Creation – The current employment opportunities and the potential of the business/product/technology towards job creation.

    ● Progress to date – has the applicant taken key steps to move the idea forward?

    ● Innovation – is the business innovative in the way it addresses an identified problem in the market / has a unique business model?

    ●  Revenue and Profitability – What are the current revenues of the business and what is the business’s ability to produce a return on an investment based on its resources in comparison with an alternative investment?

    ●  Entrepreneur commitment – What is the entrepreneur’s commitment in terms of time and resources which informs the business’s purpose and helps it succeed?

Technical support

The following describes the kind of technical support that can be provided by KCIC to successful applicants under the GreenBiz Programme. Support is based on assessment of actual needs on a case-by-case basis.

A) Business Advisory

Successful applicants will be equipped with technical knowledge, tools and skills that will enable them to identify and develop their business. Based on a gap analysis, it will entail the following support:

  1. Entrepreneurship trainings
  2. Technical training and value addition
  3. Business modelling to start and run the business including record keeping, statutory requirements and compliance
  4. Value Chain and Business Linkages Advisory
  5. Financial literacy training and investor readiness programmes
  6. Provide case studies to foster exchange of learning and inspiration among Value Chain groups.
  7. Virtual learning and advisory support via computer platforms or mobile to support programme beneficiaries during and post COVID -19 scenario
  8. Onsite learning and advisory support will be provided
  9. Development of bankable business plans and financial models.

B) Mentorship and Coaching

Successful applicants will be mentored by experienced sector specific mentors, business experts, technical experts and certified business mentors to develop specific skills and knowledge that will enhance their business and personal growth. The specific activities include:

  1. Counselling and guidance by successful businesspersons, peers, and professionals.
  2. Sharing of experiences in business forums and associations.
  3. Teaming and virtual training.
  4. Technical Coaching and Expertise
  5. One-on-one coaching
  6. Conduct value chain mapping and needs assessment

C) Access to Information

Successful applicants will benefit from information sharing and establishing partnerships with Ecosystem players, companies and other stakeholders for effective market access through collaborative agreements. The specific activities include:

  1. Create online platforms for information sharing and networking
  2. Providing information on business development within the thematic areas, including policy and regulatory changes.
  3. Ensure participation or hosting of entrepreneurs to local and international start-up conferences
  4. Expose entrepreneurs to business expansion opportunities & international investors
  5. Link entrepreneurs to local and international customers
  6. Research and identification of markets as well as establishment of Market linkages.
  7. Linkage and facilitation to attend exhibitions, trade fairs and other events

D) Enabling Environment

Successful applicants will benefit from access to services that will enable them to improve the current market they are operating in, increase number of customers, have access to various sector specific events that directly affect their business through;

  1. Invitations to Policy dialogues that directly affect the business or the sector in general
  2. Access to exhibition and expos whereby they can be able to actively showcase their products
  3. Networking forums for the entrepreneurs to create partnerships that will foster growth of the company.

E) Access to Facilities

Successful applicants will benefit from access to various business specific resources that will enable them to improve the quality of product and the quality of service they offer and have a central location they can be able to use as their offices; this will be through;

  • Access to office facilities; co-working spaces to facilitate business meetings and improve company relation with potential business partners and also meet potential clients
  • Access to testing and prototyping facilities that will enable the business to improve and develop the current products for better market experience for the entrepreneur.

Financial Support

Kenya Climate Innovation Center will support successful applicants with various types of financial support once they meet the financing criteria for the GreenBiz programme.

Direct financial support will be based on the assessment of actual needs on a case-by-case basis and after three months of being onboarded into the programme.

Kenya Climate Innovation Center will support successful applicants with various types of financial support once they meet the financing criteria for the GreenBiz programme.

Direct financial support will be based on the assessment of actual needs on a case-by-case basis and after three months of being onboarded into the programme.

External Financing

KCIC will also provide transaction advisory services to entrepreneurs to be able to access third party financing such as debts, grants and equity investments

Definitions, Terms and Conditions

Definitions

The following definitions shall apply:

“Applicant” means an individual, group or businesses that submits their application information in the Kenya Climate Innovation Center application portal for review and possible selection into the GREENBIZ programme.

“Application” means the online entry form completed and submitted for the programme on the Kenya Climate Innovation Center Website.

“Application Window” means the period commencing from 19th January 2023 to 18th March 2023 when applications can be submitted.

.“Programme” refers to GreenBiz Programme

“Entity” means a company or other legal entity incorporated or registered and resident in Kenya together owning directly/indirectly more than 50% of the voting rights in the entity.

“Mentor” means an individual/firm selected for their expertise, passion and alignment to the GreenBiz programme vision and engaged to support and guide the entrepreneurs on the programme.

“Successful Applicants” means Applicants who are selected to participate in the GreenBiz Incubation and The GreenBiz accelerator programme.

“Climate technologies/Climate Smart Innovations” means solutions used to address climate change

“Climate Angle” means how the business contributes to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster

Applicants’ innovations and enterprises must contribute to the following;

Mitigation: reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere or absorption of GHGs from the atmosphere.

Adaptation: seeks to adjust natural and human environments to the likely disruption and damage that will result from the effects of climate change and focuses on measures which increase the resilience of vulnerable sectors, such as agriculture, water supply and infrastructure.

Resilience: have the capacity of social, economic and environmental systems to effectively respond to climate related disruption or disaster. Thus, improving the ability of assets and systems that reduces risk, avoids maladaptation, unlocks development and creates inclusive benefits against the increasing prevalence and severity of climate-related stresses and shocks.

Terms and Conditions

  • Successful Applicants shall be subject to the stated terms and conditions, the Letter of Agreement and other rules and guidelines published by Kenya Climate Innovation Center from time to time for the running of the GreenBiz programme.
  • Kenya Climate Innovation Center and its programme affiliates reserves the right to cancel or amend all or any part of the Rules without notice. Any changes to the Rules will be posted on the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website. It is the responsibility of Successful Applicants to keep themselves informed as to any changes to the Rules. Kenya Climate Innovation Center shall not be liable for any loss suffered by a Successful Applicant due to any changes to the Rules, including failure to complete some or all tasks under the programme due to such change.
  • The entrepreneur is expected to be 100% committed towards the success of the project, this is through providing feedback on business updates to the business analyst, providing quarterly data to the monitoring and evaluation team and also time spent in the project, if the client is in breach of this, Kenya Climate Innovation Center has the right to terminate the agreement with the successful applicant.
  • If for any reason the programme is not capable of running as planned for reasons including but not limited to tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, force majeure events or any other causes beyond the control of the Kenya Climate Innovation Center and its funding partners which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this programme, Kenya Climate Innovation Center reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the programme and disqualify any Successful Applicant.
  • Kenya Climate Innovation Center shall not be liable for any loss arising from modification, suspension, or cancellation of the program.

Ineligibility/Disclosure of Conflict of Interest

  • Employees from either the Kenya Climate Innovation Center, KCIC Consulting, KCV or affiliated partners in the GreenBiz programme and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply for the programme, either individually or as part of a team or Entity.

General Application Terms

  • Internet access and adequate English language skills are recommended for the Application process. Candidates with no English reading or speaking skills need to translate the application content at their own cost.
  • This programme is governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya and Applicants submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Kenyan Courts.
  • Applicants are not required to make any purchase or payment to access the website, submit an application or become eligible for the programme.
  • Only one Application or Entity is permitted per Applicant. An Applicant shall not make multiple entries under different names, email identifications, different business Ideas or Entities. Multiple entries by an Applicant or multiple entries for the same Entity shall be a ground for disqualification.
  • Beneficiaries from previous KCIC programmes or their Partners shall not reapply for the programmes in any subsequent year, even for a different business Idea or name – this constitutes multiple application and is grounds for disqualification, and termination of Alumni status.
  • All submissions must be made directly by the Applicant behind the Idea or Entity entering the programmes. Entries made online using methods such as a macro, script, using automated devices or processors are not allowed and shall be disqualified.
  • Kenya Climate Innovation Center accepts no responsibility for late, lost, misdirected damaged or delayed Applications because of any network, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
  • Bulk and third-party entries shall not be permitted.
  • Kenya Climate Innovation Center reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any Applicant for tampering with the entry process or failing to make entries as specified by the Terms and Conditions.
  • No corruption or defect in, failure or delay in the delivery of any email communication from Kenya Climate Innovation Center will entitle an Applicant to an extension of any deadline, or otherwise entitle an Applicant to make any form of claim.

By applying for this programme, each Applicant attests that their application:

  • Is true and correct in all material respects.
  • Does not infringe or violate the rights of any third party, including but not limited to, ownership, copyrights, trademarks, patents, logos, licensing rights, rights of publicity or privacy or any other intellectual property rights.
  • Is not contrary to any applicable laws.

Kenya Climate Innovation Center shall reject applications which, in the reasonable opinion:

  • Contain any content that is likely to be considered offensive or could negatively reflect the name, reputation, or goodwill of Kenya Climate Innovation Center or affiliated partners associated with the GreenBiz program and other parties acting on its behalf.
  • Include trademarks, logos, or copyrighted material not owned by the Applicant or used without the right holder’s prior written permission.
  • Defames, misrepresents, or insults any third parties.
  • Poses adverse risks to the environment, human lives, or property
  • Promotes or is sympathetic to any political agenda.
  • Are affiliated to terrorist or other illegal activity.

Kenya Climate Innovation Center reserves the right, in its absolute discretion to disqualify any Application or Successful Applicant at any point during the program, without granting any opportunity for challenge, if it has reasonable grounds to believe that the application:

  • Has been made fraudulently or contains any false or misleading statement.
  • Has breached any of the Eligibility Criteria or other Rules.
  • Has infringed on any intellectual property of any other person.

Was made in breach of any applicable law.

Fraud, Bribery and Corruption

Kenya Climate Innovation Center does not ask for money for applications or proposals. If approached for money or other favours, or if you have any suspicions of attempted fraud, bribery, corruption, unethical conduct and abuse of power or authority please report immediately and provide as much detail as possible with any reports.

Likewise, if any fraud, bribery, corruption, unethical conduct and abuse of power or authority during the call process is discovered, Kenya Climate Innovation Center reserves the right to terminate the cooperation with the individual or agribusiness in question.

Report to the Internal Auditor through any of the channels below:

Chief Executive Officer,

Kenya Climate Innovation Center,

P.O Box 49162 – 00100, Nairobi.

Strathmore Business School,Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka.

 

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