News & Blog

Sharing the latest insights and updates on eco-inclusive entrepreneurship globally.

Why All Women Recycling considers replication as a new pathway to scale impact

Published: 10 October 2016Authors: Lynn Worsley
“Be creative, be unafraid, and take that step off the mountain. I assure you it’s worth it.” This advice from Lynn Worsley, the founder of the successful eco-inclusive enterprise and 2014 SEED South Africa Award Winner All Women Recycling, encourages women who are considering founding their own social enterprise to go for it. Read more
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From innovative off-grid mobile solar power stations to the polymerised bitumen roads from recycled plastic - Meet the 2016 SEED Award Winners

Published: 28 September 2016
At SEED's largest annual international forum, the SEED Africa Symposium, SEED announced the 20 winners of the 2016 SEED Awards, today. These 20 outstanding eco-inclusive enterprises will be honoured during the international SEED Award Ceremony this evening. Read more
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Training Business Development Service Providers to Boost Eco-Inclusive Innovations

Published: 14 September 2016Authors: Rainer Agster
Working with more than 220 enterprises in 38 countries, we soon realized that although each enterprise is unique, topics are reoccurring. Instead of re-inventing the wheel each time, we put time and effort into ‘toolifying’ our support. Read more
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Replicating successful business models - Moving from lighthouses to a network of street lamps

Published: 05 September 2016Authors: Christine Meyer
It is a challenge to transition to a low carbon economy while improving the well-being of the world’s nine billion people. By replicating proven solutions, positive impact from eco-inclusive enterprises can spread, and facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy while also improving social conditions as set in the SDGs. Read more
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East Africa Fruit Farm and Company: an outstanding enterprise, not just according to President Obama

Published: 19 August 2016Authors: Magdalena Kloibhofer
“[Entrepreneurship] puts rising economies on the path to prosperity and empowers people to come together and tackle our most pressing global problems, from climate change to poverty. When people can start their own businesses, it helps individuals and families succeed." Read more
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Launch of the SAG-SEED Replicator Connect Workshop in Kenya: Apply by 9 September 2016!

Published: 16 August 2016
A SAG-SEED Replicator Connect Workshop will take place on 26 September 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya. Read more
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BDS+ ToT in Kenya: Nominate until 9 September!

Published: 08 August 2016
SEED is pleased to invite nominations for the BDS+ Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on Eco-Enterprise Development. Read more
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From workshop to market in seven weeks

Published: 22 July 2016
The first steps as a startup are the hardest, especially for eco-inclusive startups in emerging markets. It all comes down to the right spirit and lion-hearted attitude. Read more
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The SEED Annual Report 2015

Published: 19 July 2016
2015 was a special year for SEED, in which the partnership celebrated 10 Years of SEED Awards, and took the opportunity to take stock and publish a comprehensive Flagship Report that looked not only on the success of former SEED Winners and the lessons learnt over those 10 Years of SEED Awards, but also on opportunities that could help increase the impact of locally-driven social and environmental entrepreneurship in the years to come. Read more
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SEED Winners expanding access to electricity in Uganda

Published: 28 June 2016
Green Heat Ltd, a 2014 SEED Low Carbon Award Winner, and GRS Commodities Ltd, a 2013 SEED Africa Award Winner, were both winning recipients in the recent Off-Grid Energy Challenge hosted by the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) in Uganda in February. These two enterprises improve access to electricity in off-grid areas of Uganda with renewable energies as the solution. Read more
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Meet the 2016 SEED Accelerator Recipients

Published: 17 June 2016
Announcement of the 2016 SEED Accelerator Recipient took place during the SEED South Africa Symposium on March 15-16th 2016. Read more
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Agriculture: Re-thinking an old industry

Published: 16 June 2016Authors: Carolin Ehrensperger
Agriculture still plays an essential role in the economy, and particular for employment on the African continent. Mozambique is no exception. In 2011, the agricultural sector contributed to almost one-third of the country’s GDP and provided a living for 80% of the working population. Read more
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Launch of the SAG-SEED Starter and BDS+ training in Ghana

Published: 25 May 2016
Two new opportunities for Ghana are now open. SEED is glad to announce a call for applications. Read more
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From Innovation to Imitation: Register now for the 2016 SEED Africa Symposium

Published: 25 May 2016
Registrations are now open for the 2016 SEED Africa Symposium. The Symposium is an annual multi-stakeholder forum for mutual exchange of knowledge and experiences. It will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28-29 September. Read more
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A perspective from India

Published: 10 May 2016Authors: Allison Robertshaw
This past month, it was India’s turn, as SEED hosted an event around investment in the low-carbon, green SME sector.  Whilst it’s fair to say that every region and country has its own challenges, it remains surprising how similar the discussion is and how clearly certain interventions are necessary in order to make the green SME space both more resilient and scalable. Read more
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SEED shares experience at the 2016 Tech4Dev Conference

Published: 05 May 2016
SEED is invited to participate in the panel discussion “Social Innovations for Energy Access: Organizing Sustainable Energy for All" at this year's International Tech4Dev Conference in Lausanne. Read more
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Women-to-women energy networks: essential piece of the puzzle for SE4All

Published: 04 May 2016Authors: Amélie Heuër
Over the last three days, I’ve had the pleasure of attending the 2016 International Tech4Dev Conference, which focussed on innovation to achieve social impact. Read more
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Unlocking capital, boosting support – building the ecosystem for eco-entrepreneurship in South Africa

Published: 14 April 2016Authors: Marion Müller vom Berge
This year’s South Africa Symposium brought together more than 200 entrepreneurs, practitioners, investors and policy makers to discuss how to grow and support social and eco-enterprises in South Africa. The event focused on two key challenges facing SMEs in South Africa. Read more
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SEED hosts Cleantech Investment Forum Asia

Published: 13 April 2016
SMEs will play a vital role in the development of the clean tech industry, and on April 22nd at the Lalit Hotel in Mumbai, SEED will host a full day of discussions surrounding how to encourage investment in this key area. Read more
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BDS+ in Mauritius: Nominate until 13 April!

Published: 08 April 2016
The Call for Nominations for the BDS+ workshop in Mauritius is now open. Read more
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Launch of the SAG-SEED Starter Month in Kenya and Uganda

Published: 05 April 2016
Call for application: SEED is looking for motivated potential entrepreneurs! Read more
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From trash to cash: How to turn waste back into a valuable resource

Published: 09 March 2016Authors: Carolin Ehrensperger
Worldwide heaps of waste are expected to double by 2015 according to the World Bank. The majority of it is burned, dumped into landfills or ends up in our oceans. The small minority of the waste we are producing is taken for what it really is: an important resource. Read more
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9 SEED winners ready to raise funds at Pretoria Investor Forum

Published: 03 March 2016
SEED and the Inclusive Business Accelerator have launched Deal Ready Programme to support selected SEED winners in the capturing of investment finance. Read more
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Social Enterprise in Latin America - A frontier market on the cusp of going mainstream

Published: 24 February 2016Authors: Allison Robertshaw
Last week I had the pleasure of attending New Ventures’ Foro Latinoamericano de Inversion Impacto in Merida, Mexico.  It was an inspiring few days unpicking the latest developments in social entrepreneurship in the region and proved an interesting opportunity to compare to recent developments in Africa where I attended SEED’s African Symposium just a few months ago.  Read more
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