Seedstars and Shell Foundation have joined forces to look for sustainable, scalable and innovative start-ups addressing universal access to energy-related challenges, as well as sustainable agriculture, mobility and transportation.

Organisers have confirmed that together with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), they are launching the Energy, Mobility and Agriculture Innovation Program to source and engage African tech entrepreneurs.

The Program looks to source entrepreneurs in the mobility, transportation, energy, and agriculture space in order to provide them with the resources, training, and potential funding to scale their start-ups and impact.

The objective of this program is to support, catalyse and train the highest potential tech-based early stage (seed)African-led start-ups working towards:

• universal access to energy (household energy to heat, light and cook; energy for business and large communities);

• sustainable mobility and transportation (clean and safe transportation in rural areas and last mile transportation);

• or sustainable agriculture value chains ( innovations that improve access to knowledge, finance, markets or knowledge for smallholder farmers).

Selected start-ups will be able to take part in Seedstars’ three-month Investment Readiness Program, which will provide the entrepreneurs with 1-on-1 mentoring with industry experts, potential funding opportunities, and leverage human and knowledge resources available within Shell Foundation.

“Start-ups have immense potential to solve Africa’s biggest development challenges and local African entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned to develop these solutions. We are excited to collaborate with Seedstars to identify and support some of the most promising African-led start-ups that will scale these solutions and improve millions of lives across the continent over time” said Tara Collier, Market Development Manager, Shell Foundation.

The following are the criteria for start-ups interested in applying for the program:

• Startup should be African-led and based or operating in at least one Sub-Saharan African country;

• Tech solution must be focused on the mobility, transportation, energy, or agriculture value chains;

• Start-up must be at their early stage/seed round with a minimum viable product (MVP);

• Start-up must have initial traction and already able to generate revenue;

• start-up must have raised only less than US$1m to date; and

• Start-up should have significant positive impact on lower income communities (in line with SDGs 2, 7 or 11)

Applications can be sent to to the Energy and Mobility Innovation Program page before 20 December 2020.