Exciting wAtt-boost – Youth Power Start Up in Africa for startups and entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector (10,000 euros monitary prize each)

Application Deadlne: 10 June 2025

Exciting wAtt-boost – Youth Power Start Up in Africa for startups and entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector (10,000 euros monetary prize each)

Introduction

Africa’s path to a sustainable and prosperous future hinges on the innovative ideas of its youth. By empowering young talents, innovators, entrepreneurs, and start-ups, we can turn the deployment of renewables, universal access to energy and the energy transition at large into a reality.

To achieve this vision, and with the support of the RES4Africa Foundation (R4A) and Strathmore University, Enel Foundation is launching the Open Call for the inaugural edition of wAtt-boost – Youth Power Start Up in Africa. This initiative includes both pre-acceleration and acceleration programs tailored for startups and entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector in Africa.

wAtt-boost aims to nurture and expand renewable energy-focused businesses within Africa’s startup ecosystem. wAtt-boost support both emerging and established entrepreneurs in the African renewable energy sector, helping them develop and grow their enterprises.
 

1.   THEMATIC FOCUS AND PROGRAMME

wAtt-boost encourage applications from young entrepreneurs in Africa, with a focus on entrepreneurship and renewable energy solutions. The proposed concepts and projects should foster innovation through the lens of start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures in the dynamic field of renewable energy and electrification.

Applicants are invited to submit their business proposals, whether they are new ideas or ongoing projects aimed at fostering and expanding renewable energy-focused businesses within Africa’s startup ecosystem. The challenge seeks innovative solutions in the realm of renewable energy and electrification that can drive sustainable development and address critical energy needs across the continent. Potential solution may include but are not limited to,

(i) artificial intelligence (AI) leveraging AI to optimize energy production, distribution, and consumption, AI-driven predictive maintenance for renewable energy systems, smart grid management using AI algorithms, other innovative AI applications in the renewable energy sector,

(ii) grids and infrastructure such as development of resilient and efficient energy grids infrastructure projects that enhance energy access in remote areas, integration of renewable energy sources into existing grids and other infrastructure solutions that support renewable energy,

(iii) climate adaptation and mitigation such as solutions that help communities adapt to climate change impacts, technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, projects focused on carbon capture and storage, and other climate-related innovations that support sustainability,

(iv) clean cooking such as innovations in clean cooking technologies to reduce reliance on traditional biomass, development of affordable and efficient cookstoves, initiatives that promote the adoption of clean cooking solutions, and other clean cooking advancements that improve health and environment,

(v) electric mobility such as electric vehicle (EV) solutions tailored for African markets, infrastructure for EV charging stations, projects that promote sustainable transportation options, and other electric mobility initiatives that enhance transportation efficiency,

(vi) agrivoltaics such as combining agriculture and solar energy production, solutions that enhance land use efficiency and food security, innovations in solar-powered irrigation systems, and other agrivoltaic technologies that support agricultural sustainability.

Program Compoments

Within the wAtt-boost initiative selected startups/entrepreneurs will be invited to join the pre-accelerator and accelerator programs.

The Pre-Accelerator program is meant for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups in the early stages of developing a business idea, aiming to craft and validate their business plan, create a minimum viable product (MVP), and establish functional market access.

The Accelerator program is meant for entrepreneurs and startups seeking market validation and business expansion, aiming to develop a bankable product, finalise a robust team, build an expansive business network, and solidify a recurring clientele.

The Training for the selected Participants will cover both technical and business aspects of boosting a startup in the renewable energy and power sector, offering a comprehensive package of services such as Training, Mentoring & Coaching, Networking & Visibility, Fundraising, and more (all activities and services will be conducted in English).

The Training is composed of two modules:

1.     specific lectures from the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator, a program owned and carried out by IRENA with the support of EF, scheduled between June and July 2025; 

2.    an ad-hoc training module run by RES4Africa addressing the peculiarities of the evolving African electricity markets.

2.   MONETARY PRIZE

As a key component of the wAtt-boost program, participants will have the possibility to compete for two awards of 10.000,00 euros each. One award will be conferred upon the winner of the pre-accelerator programme, while the other will be bestowed upon the winner of the accelerator programme. This dedicated fund is designed to provide crucial financial support to the most promising entrepreneurs and startups that demonstrate significant potential and growth prospects by the conclusion of the program.

3.   ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Entrepreneurs must be between 18 and 35 years old
• The solution should address the African market
• Ownership: either the entrepreneur must possess African citizenship or the startup must be registered in Africa
• The startup must be registered for at least 1 year and operate in the renewable energy and electrification realm (among the others, potential domains may include, but are not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), grids and infrastructure, climate adaptation and mitigation, clean cooking, electric mobility, agrivoltaics, …)
• The entrepreneur must have proficiency in English, demonstrated by either being a native speaker, holding a CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), or having a degree completely taught in English

5.   SELECTION PROCESS

By participating to this challenge, applicants acknowledge and agree that the evaluation and selection process will be based on the criteria specified below.

An administrative check of the applications will be carried out by Enel Foundation and the other organisation supporting this challenge. If the examination reveals that it does not meet the requirement stated in the eligibility criteria under section 5, the application will be excluded automatically.

A Selection Committee composed by a representative of each of the Partners will select fourteen candidates (“Participants”) to participate to the training and capacity building program (“Training”) based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of the problem/need identified and ability to impact the renewable energy sector while fostering access to energy, job creation, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and economic growth
• Innovation of the enterprise’s solution
• Financial feasibility and solidity of the business model
• Market size, scalability, and replicability of the solution
• Ability to demonstrate the business case, value proposition, and competitive advantage of the enterprise

6.   TRAINING AND SEMI-FINAL EVENT

Following the selection process, the selected Participants will be divided into two categories:

1.     50% in incubation (“pre-accelerator”) for early-stage businesses aiming to create a minimum viable product and establish functional market access.

2.    50% in early-stage business (“accelerator”) for entrepreneurs and startups seeking market validation and business expansion.

The Training is open for maximum 2 participants for each start-ups. Such Training will cover both technical and business aspects of boosting a startup in the renewable energy and power sector. At the end of the Training, a semifinal will be held online through platforms like Teams or Zoom, inviting the fourteen participants to present their business idea to the Selection Committee. Following the presentations, six Participants (three from the pre-accelerator and three from the accelerator) will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Team Strength
• Pitching clarity during presentations that startups will deliver in the Semifinal
• Evaluation of the Participants’ interaction and commitment during the Training and Capacity Building Program
• How the Training and Capacity Building Program significantly enhanced the clarity and effectiveness of the Participant’s final presentation

7.   FINAL EVENT AND AWARDING

Following the Semifinal, the Selection Committee will nominate a jury member to nominate the two Winners, one from the pre-accelerator and one from the accelerator.  The selection of the two Winners will be done in person in Nairobi on the basis of the following criteria:

• Overall impact on the renewable energy sector (f.i. ability to foster access to energy, job creation, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and economic growth
• Innovation and uniqueness of the solution
• Financial solidity and feasibility of the business model
• Market potential in terms of size, scalability, and replicability of the solution in the market
• Clarity and strength of the business case, value proposition, and competitive advantage
• Team Strength, specifically looking into the following values: Trust, Proactivity, Respect, Flexibility and Innovation
• Pitching Clarity: effectiveness and clarity of presentations during the final pitch
• Engagement and Commitment: interaction and commitment during the Training and Capacity Building Program
• Improvement through Training: how significantly the Training enhanced the clarity and effectiveness of the final presentation

The final award (monetary prize) of up to 20.0000,00 €, with 10.000,00 € for each of the two Winners, is contingent upon the full completion of the wAtt-boost – Youth Power Start Up in Africa and acceptance of the provisions set forth in this document, as well as the Application Form, which forms an integral part of it. The award represents a complete payment, net of any transfer fees and local taxes that may be required to withhold, if requested by applicable legislation.

VISIT THE PAGE HERE AND APPLY

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