Photo provided by Irri-Hub

While the world is racing to combat climate change, millions still lack access to electricity. The majority of these unelectrified communities are in sub-Saharan Africa, especially remote and vulnerable communities. The solution is distributed renewable solutions that don’t depend on the grid to provide affordable, clean energy. 

East Africa is already leading the way in deploying solar home systems and other off-grid solutions. Some of the region’s most ambitious entrepreneurs are now looking toward a future where off-grid energy powers livelihoods and entire industries that meet the needs of people living in poverty. Productive use of energy (PUE) appliances like solar-powered refrigerators and e-bikes enable farmers and micro-entrepreneurs to move up the value chain while protecting the environment. 

PUE is a win-win, but the industry is still nascent. African entrepreneurs face increased challenges in accessing capital. In 2023, 18% of the $426 million invested in off-grid solar companies went to locally-owned businesses. While this is an upward trend from investments in previous years, it is still far from achieving an equitable landscape for African entrepreneurs. Acumen is committed to addressing this challenge because we’ve seen how locally-led businesses can reach sustainable impact, have a home-team advantage, and support local talent in the countries where they operate. 

Photo provided by Awelo millers

Enter the Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator, part of Acumen’s Pioneer Energy Investment Initiative (PEII+). Delivered by Acumen Academy, the Accelerator features 12 weeks of structured programming for locally-led scalable social enterprises, covering everything from leadership development to financial modeling and marketing skills, built around cohort learning and Acumen investee case studies. This program is replicating a successful first edition that took place in India in 2023, adapting it to the local East African context. 

The 10 inspiring founders in our next cohort represent an African-led industry primed to push boundaries and deliver for women and underserved communities. Half of the cohort is comprised of women entrepreneurs, an intentional bet to support female leaders who also disproportionately face challenges in accessing capital and have proven outsized impact.

Congratulations to each participant for being selected from a competitive pool of founders, and for committing to their personal development and the growth of their businesses. Acumen is proud to support you on this journey. 

Meet the cohort

Agriculture & Allied sector

Eric Onchonga
Kenya

Irri-Hub

Irri-Hub leverages technology to provide smallholder farmers with climate-smart solar-enabled drip irrigation solutions to enable them to maximize productivity and build resilience against climate change.

Ronald Mugaiga 
Uganda

Munakyalo Agrofresh

Munakyalo Agrofresh ​​addresses post-harvest losses in rural communities by providing solar-powered IoT cooling hubs and off-grid refrigeration solutions to smallholder farmers in Uganda.

James Ebuk 
Uganda

Awelo millers

Awelo millers is a youth-led Agro processing enterprise adding value and minimizing post harvest losses of sunflower and maize crops through the provision of collapsible grain drying, seed cleaning, and a guaranteed buy back scheme for farmers.

June Muchuku 
Kenya

Plumbee

Plumbee is a food processing company with a focus on childhood nutrition. Plumbee develops strong linkages with women smallholder farmers — arranging them into groups, and training and contracting them to supply and process the ingredients used in their products through solar dryers.

Shifra Ainomugisha
Uganda

Solafam Uganda

Solafam Uganda addresses the pressing problem of food waste and insecurity in rural Uganda by offering cost-effective solar-powered cold rooms to farmers and food vendors, using a pay-per-use system and selling any surplus solar energy generated to local businesses.

Energy for Micro-entrepreneurs

Amein Eskinder
Ethiopia

Fiberkiosk 

Fiberkiosk tackles the pressing issues of energy access and economic disparity in underserved Ethiopian communities. Through a network of micro-entrepreneurs running solar kiosks, they provide access to charging and refrigeration to communities, and income for the operators.

Celeste Tchetgen Vogel
Kenya

eWAKA Mobility

eWAKA Mobility provides eco-friendly, electric mobility options through access to locally assembled electric cargo bicycles and motorcycles and retrofitted motorcycles for delivery and commuting.  

Diana Mbogo
Tanzania

Millennium Engineers

Millennium Engineers is a female-founded Tanzanian renewable energy company specialized in solar for increasing production and reducing waste for fisherfolk. 

Clement Iradukunda 
Ethiopia 

Yenda Mobility

Yenda Mobility addresses inefficient last-mile delivery and mobility challenges by providing electric cargo bicycles to professional delivery riders, enhancing their efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Norah Magero
Kenya

Drop Access

Drop Access manufactures and supplies solar-powered cold chain solutions to rural communities in Kenya, including VacciBox, a portable solar-powered healthcare refrigerator, and KOYO, a solar fridge ideal for farmers and households.