GreenBiz Program

About the program

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

The expected outcome will be increased commercialization 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 program to support climate smart businesses under the program. The GreenBiz program will address key challenges that hinder climate technologies, and related innovative business models from tapping into the immense potential in the Cleantech sector.

Application process

• 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 program they are applying to join into i.e. The Incubation program or Accelerator Program.
• 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 on their application.
• The Applicant must provide a 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 on 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.

KCIC Programs

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

1. GreenBiz Incubation Program
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 Program.

Incubation program eligibility metrics

• A limited company / Sole proprietorship
• Business is within KCIC’s five thematic areas
• Has 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 Program

This is a 9-month program 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 program 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.

Eligibility

Business Compliance: The applicant should be registered under the laws of Kenya.

• Limited Liability company
• Sole Proprietorship but willing to register the business as a limited company within the first 3 months once a business is selected

Location: The business must be located and legally registered in Kenya.

Scope: The company should be within the below mentioned thematic areas:

• Agribusiness.
• Water management.
• Renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• Waste Management
• Commercial forestry

Financial Support

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

Two types of financial support:

• Successful applicants can receive financial support through either Proof-of-Concept grant financing (POC) or Early-Stage Financing (ESF) to support the innovative businesses.
• In order for the Successful Applicants to be considered for financing under the GreenBiz Program, their business models will be evaluated against the criteria for financing, defined in the KCIC POC and ESF Financing criteria.
• Funds application, evaluation and processing will come after 3 months of technical support and advisory services for POC cases and 3-6 months of technical support and advisory services for ESF cases that will assist businesses develop Bankable proposals.

POC

• The purpose of Proof-of-Concept grant financing is to prove a concept of an idea, test-prototype in the market, product development support before market testing, refine the business model and progress towards commercialization.
• It is a non-repayable matching grant subject to agreed drawdown milestones.
• The size of POC support must fall within the following ranges:
  • -Minimum amount: Kes 1,000,000
  • -Maximum amount: Kes. 5,000,000

ESF

• The purpose of the Early-Stage Financing (ESF) is to support businesses at the growth stage and can scale their business.
• It’s a repayable debt
• Interest rates ranging from 8% – 10% per annum
• The size of ESF support must fall within the following ranges:
  • -Minimum amount: Kes. 5,000,000
  • -Maximum amount: Kes.10,000,000

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