Nairobi, Kenya (March 4, 2024) – Village Capital, with support from Moody’s Foundation, launched Greentech 2024: The Future of Sustainability, an investment-readiness accelerator. The program is designed to advance innovative and sustainable solutions, actively contributing towards building resilience and mitigating the effects of climate change across Africa.
The program is part of a broader global effort running in Latin America and Asia as well, that will support and scale startups working to address the effects of climate change by mitigating environmental damage, improving agricultural practices and nutrition, minimizing waste and pollution, preserving and protecting natural resources, and access to water, sanitation, and universal health. Geographically, the sub-Saharan Africa program will focus on startups from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa.
The latest UN Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR 2023) reveals that only two out of 36 targets for 2030 are on track. Climate action and biodiversity are not only falling behind but regressing due to the slow implementation of solutions. Transformational change requires decisive action from individuals, businesses, academia, and science, not just governments and international actors.
Applications close on May 10, 2024. Full details and eligibility criteria can be found here.
The call for applications is open to regional startups that are building solutions to accelerate the shift towards sustainable development, focusing on areas such as:
From August through September 2024, the selected entrepreneurs will meet for three online workshops. The curriculum is focused on helping them develop the networks and tools they need to scale their impact and uplift their communities. They will work closely with industry experts, investors, ecosystem partners, and an investment analyst who will coach them 1:1 on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics to drive both business and investor diligence.
All startups that apply to the program will be invited to join Abaca, Village Capital’s online global network that helps entrepreneurs articulate how ready they are for investment for their next big expansion. The network provides a diagnostic tool and matches entrepreneurs with relevant investors and resources.
For more information, contact Eva Waweru at Village Capital (eva.waweru@vilcap.com).
About Village Capital
Village Capital is reinventing the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Known for its groundbreaking approaches to supporting founders who are building solutions to emergent social, economic, and environmental challenges, VilCap unlocks critical social and financial capital for early-stage companies to maximize business and impact growth.
Village Capital has operated in Africa since 2012 by running over 14 accelerator programs in serving entrepreneurs in 15 countries in the region. VilCap has supported more than 120 locally-based startups and 78 Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESO) working in sectors such as financial health, hardware, sustainability, and the future of work. Learn more at www.vilcap.com and follow @villagecapital.
About Moody’s Corporation
Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) is a global risk assessment firm that empowers organizations to make better decisions. Its data, analytical solutions, and insights help decision-makers identify opportunities and manage the risks of doing business with others. We believe that greater transparency, more informed decisions, and fair access to information open the door to shared progress. With over 14,000 employees in more than 40 countries, Moody’s combines international presence with local expertise and over a century of experience in financial markets. Learn more at moodys.com/about.