Applications are now open for the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge. Westerwelle Startup Haus Mombasa and GreenCape, in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), invite innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy solutions to enter the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge. This exciting Afri edition expands the original GreenPitch Challenge, running annually since 2017 in South Africa, into Southern and East Africa.
Enter your pre-growth (registered, trading and sales-generating – looking for funding) green business solution to stand a chance of pitching to a panel of esteemed judges and investors at « shark tank-style” networking events, to be hosted in Kenya (Nairobi) and South Africa (Cape Town) in September 2026.
WORTH
- The winner and finalists of the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge will be awarded a range of cash and in-kind prizes to the value of ~$20 000 (Southern Africa).
The winner and finalists of the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge will be awarded a range of cash and in-kind prizes to the value of ~$20 000. These will include but are not limited to:
- Cash prize (Winner)
- A full-day workshop to all finalists on investment strategies hosted by RMB Ventures (All finalists).
- Mentoring support
- Access to a network of potential funders to accelerate your business idea.
ELIGIBILITY
- Innovators and entrepreneurs with economically viable green economy business solutions in the following sectors: Circular economy and waste, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, sustainable mobility, water and wastewater.
- The business idea has to be pre-growth (registered and trading, with sales – looking for series A funding).
Entry requirements
- Your green economy solution should be placed in one of the following green economy sectors: Circular economy and waste, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, sustainable mobility, water and wastewater.
- Your green economy solution needs to be in at least the pre-growth (registered, trading and sales-generating – looking for funding) phase.
Your business can be based within the following countries:
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Tanzania
DEADLINE: June 30, 2026
To apply and for more information, visit here