The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) and Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) have partnered to implement the GreenBiz Programme for the next five years, from January 2021 to December 2025. The support to KCIC under this engagement totals DKK 54,750,00, approximately Kes. 1 billion with a focus on climate technologies and related innovative business models. The programme will support 300 businesses to create over 3,000 full time job opportunities.

The expected outcome will be 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.

Through strategic partnerships, KCIC will work to influence the creation of enabling legal and regulatory frameworks for clean tech businesses as well as the mainstreaming of the green growth and climate change agenda into the Kenyan economy.

KCIC is engaged in five sectors: 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).

The Kenya Climate Innovation Center, which is the implementing partner, is placing a call for applications to our GreenBiz Incubator and Accelerator programme to support climate smart businesses under the programme. 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.

The applications can be submitted online through the KCIC website. The calls for applications will run from 19^th  January 2023 to 18^th March 2023. Thereafter, evaluation of the applications will be done and responses to the applicants will be communicated by KCIC by 31^st March 2023. KCIC will offer successful applicants a letter of agreement for review and thereafter signing. This call for applications aims to onboard One hundred (100) climate technologies that cover renewable energies and energy efficiency, water, agribusiness, commercial forestry and waste management.

Post-on-boarding to the program, 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

• All Applications must be submitted online through the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website Application portal
• The Applicants must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions
• The applicants must indicate which programme they are applying to join into i.e. The Incubation programme or Accelerator Programme
• Personal information supplied in the application form such as names, addresses and date of birth should be verifiable and the applicant is solely responsible for informing KCIC of changes in current contact methods indicated in their application.
• The Applicant must provide current correspondence address, email and telephone numbers and inform of any changes during the review and onboarding process.
• Upon submission of the application form, an email will be sent to the Applicant or via the preferred contact method indicated in their application.
• Once submitted, applications cannot be altered or amended.
• Review of applications will commence immediately after client applications have been received in our system. Shortlisting of applicants will take place following the close of the Application Window.   

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

1. GreenBiz Incubation Programme

This is a 12-month programme 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 limited company / Sole proprietorship
• Business is within KCIC’s five thematic areas
• Have an innovative product, service or business model.
• Be in the early stages of business development.
• 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

2.GreenBiz Accelerator Programme

This is a 9-month programme in which clients are provided with highly individualized services aimed at:

a) Setting the clients on a rapid business growth path

b) Preparing clients to be investor ready as well as raising investments.

GreenBiz Acceleration programme eligibility metrics

• A limited company incorporated and operating in Kenya
• The company is within KCIC’s five thematic areas
• Have an Innovative product, service or business model
• A proven business model and a well-defined financial model
• Post-revenue stage
• Looking to raise capital
• Team of 2+ full 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

• The applications will be screened for eligibility.
• The eligible applications will then be evaluated on a set of criteria. A scoring system will be used to provide incubation applications with a score between 1 and 37 (37 being most successful) and acceleration applications with a score between 1 and 42 (42 being most successful)
• Applicants will receive an official response from KCIC via email on their application determining whether they were successful or not. Successful clients will receive an email indicating terms of the programme and proposed due diligence dates, while unsuccessful clients will receive a regret email. The applicant can contest the evaluation by submitting a formal request to KCIC within 14 days upon receiving the unsuccessful email.
• The applicant can contest the evaluation by submitting a formal request to KCIC within 14 days upon receiving the rejection email.
• Applicants will be contacted via email regarding their application.
• Due Diligence shall be carried out on the successful applicants to verify eligibility prior to any potential offer of a placement in the programme.
• Applications that do not meet all or some of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted.
• If Applicants are offered a place in the programme, they will be expected to execute a legal agreement with Kenya Climate Innovation Center, by signing a Letter of Agreement, which will be sent to them via email.
• Agreement within seven (7) working days, otherwise the offer lapses.

• The following criteria and scoring system will be used for the 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 impact on climate mitigation OR climate adaptation OR environmental benefits.
  • Job Creation – 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?
  • Profitability – 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?

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.

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