Deadline: March 11, 2024.

Delivered by Acumen Academy, the Energy for Livelihoods accelerator aims to build an ecosystem of locally-led scalable social enterprises across East Africa committed to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, small businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs. Through the program, participants will develop and refine a scalable business model that has the potential to transform the lives of low-income people while conserving resources and protecting the environment. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

This accelerator is open to social entrepreneurs who:

Run a for-profit social enterprise in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda), using sustainable energy and energy-efficient solutions to positively impact the livelihoods of low-income people, through one of the following models/sectors: 

• Agriculture & Allied sector – companies with clean energy solutions throughout the agriculture value chain to improve farm incomes/productivity or reduce costs and labour for smallholder farmers.
• Energy for micro-entrepreneurs – companies enabling clean energy & energy-efficient solutions for businesses that reduce costs or unlock new business opportunities, for example in cooling, cooking, transport, or manufacturing.
• Business enablers – companies providing supplementary services for enabling clean energy transition, including but not limited to distribution and financing solutions, skills development, data tools, and market-building approaches for farmers and businesses.

Additionally, all applicants should have: 

• Local founding team members.
• A deep commitment to the work of tackling poverty and injustice and an interest in being part of a global community bound by values. 
• An operational track record of 12 months or more with existing customers. Preference will be given to companies who achieved >$40,000 in revenue in the last 12 months.
• Able to demonstrate impact in job creation/enhancing income generation and reducing emissions.
• A team with relevant sector experience and three or more full-time staff. Ideal candidates will have 5+ years of professional work experience.  

BENEFITS

After participants complete the program they join The Foundry, a global community designed to increase the impact of 1600+ highly effective social innovators as they grow and scale solutions to poverty and build a world based on dignity. Foundry members are a community of like-minded peers from diverse backgrounds who are working across sectors and around the world to tackle the most difficult challenges of our time. They are leaders committed to sharing ideas and experiences, and as Foundry members they gain life-long accompaniment on their journey to creating social change

Foundry members gain exclusive access to:

• Community: A diverse regional and global community of social innovators
• Early-stage funding: Early-stage catalytic capital through Acumen Angels
• Mentoring: Expert coaching and consulting from our partners 
• Visibility: Opportunities to reach more ideal customers, talent, and funders
• Learning Hub: The tools of business to grow and scale your organization.

Apply through the OFFICIAL LINK