Lighting up rural South Africa with SolarTurtle
Published: 21 June 2019 Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, James Van der Walt tell us how being on a ferry in Ireland and a monastery in New Zealand inspired the founding of his eco-inclusive business idea. These days, they’re busy with SANEDI working on developing Baby Turtles which would be smaller, cheaper versions of their original prototype. Read more
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From waste to wealth: the story of alternative fuel enterprise BioAfriq
Published: 20 June 2019 Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
We caught up with BioAfriq founders and SEED Starter alumni Doreen Achieng Ochieng-Ivisu and James Nyamai, the husband and wife who recently were selected to join the Kenya Acceleration Programme 2019 by CIC Kenya. Their story started when they realised the damage charcoal was doing to their country, where tree cover is at only 3%. In this catch-up, they talk about separating their private from their business life, the difficulty of changing farmer mindsets and why BioAfriq is here to stay. Read more
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Designing policy instruments to benefit green and social enterprises in Southern Africa
Published: 07 June 2019 Camilla Shearman
Last month we launched our SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, a series of Policy Labs in South Africa and Malawi. Bringing together policymakers and enterprise support organisations, we explored the policy challenges facing local social & green enterprises. Using hands-on SEED 'prototyping' tools, we then develop the first concrete solutions to these challenges. Read more
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Services SETA ECDi shares outcomes of BDS Standard presentation
Source: Services SETA ECDi
Dr Tsiliso Tamasane – Services SETA and Mr Div de Villiers – SEED SA, presented the draft Discussion Paper on “Improving the Quality of Business Advisory Services (BAS) in South Africa” at the Annual SEED South Africa Symposium on 03 April 2019. The Discussion Paper was jointly issued by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), SEDA, SEED and the Services SETA ECDi. Read more
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Cool clean tech to tackle climate change
Source: Green Times
As showcased during the SEED South Africa Symposium 2019, South African entrepreneurs are taking climate change seriously: Water filters made from macadamia nut shells, a mobile solar-powered kiosk for charging phones in off-grid areas, vegetable growing systems using recycled plastic bags, and a machine that turns any type of waste into energy (gas) or diesel. Read more
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SANEDI & SolarTurtle develop next generation of green enterprises for grassroots communities
SolarTurtle Source: SA Innovation Summit
The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) has partnered with the Department of Science and Technologies (DST), and SolarTurtle to development the next generation SolarTurtle solar energy kiosks – The BabyTurtle. Read more
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Policy pathways for eco-inclusive enterprise support in Malawi | Policy Landscape Paper
Published: 01 April 2019 Benita Rose, Christine Meyer
The transition to a green, inclusive, and climate-smart Malawi requires collaborative efforts from the public sector, civil society, and the private sector. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are important drivers of growth in Malawi, particularly in emerging economies, andmaking cross-sector partnerships are critical to co-creatinge an enabling environment for enterprises with inclusive and climate-smart business models.
This input paper provides a snapshot of the ecosystem in which eco-inclusive small and growing enterprises operate. By identifying areas where further support is needed, this paper serves as an input to the SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, in which stakeholders across sectors collaborate to co-create policy instruments designed to build a more enabling ecosystem for eco-inclusive entrepreneurs. Read more
This input paper provides a snapshot of the ecosystem in which eco-inclusive small and growing enterprises operate. By identifying areas where further support is needed, this paper serves as an input to the SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, in which stakeholders across sectors collaborate to co-create policy instruments designed to build a more enabling ecosystem for eco-inclusive entrepreneurs. Read more
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Policy pathways for eco-inclusive enterprise support in South Africa | Policy Landscape Paper
Published: 01 April 2019 Camilla Shearman, Christine Meyer, Maggie Sloan
The transition to a green, inclusive, and climate-smart South Africa requires collaborative efforts from the public sector, civil society, and private sector. As small and growing enterprises are an essential driver of growth, particularly in emerging economies, cross-sector partnerships to co-create an enabling environment for enterprises with inclusive and climate-smart business models are critical.
This policy landscape paper provides a snapshot of the ecosystem in which eco-inclusive, climate-smart small and growing enterprises operate. By identifying areas where further support is needed, this paper is connected to the SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, in which stakeholders across sectors collaborate to co-create policy instruments designed to build a more enabling ecosystem for eco-inclusive entrepreneurs. Read more
This policy landscape paper provides a snapshot of the ecosystem in which eco-inclusive, climate-smart small and growing enterprises operate. By identifying areas where further support is needed, this paper is connected to the SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, in which stakeholders across sectors collaborate to co-create policy instruments designed to build a more enabling ecosystem for eco-inclusive entrepreneurs. Read more
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With Lifepack, two people from Cali seek to curb the use of plastic (Con Lifepack, dos caleños buscan ponerle freno al uso del plástico)
Caracol TV Source: Caracol TV
Lifepack, a 2013 SEED Gender Equality Award Winner, creators of biodegradable dishes were featured on Caracol TV, Colombia. Read more
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BioAfriq Energy Limited, SEED Starter Alumnus, wins TOTAL KENYA STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Source: Startupper of the Year
BioAfriq Energy Limited (SEED Starter participant) has been awarded the TOTAL KENYA STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR AWARD. The enterprise provides affordable dehydration services to small and medium farmers, cooperatives and agricultural processing plants most of which do not have adequate funds to purchase food dehydrators and so incur huge post-harvest losses. Read more
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Jardin Green Hope (Ngalée, De la terre à la terre), SEED Award Winner, is named top 15 in STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR AWARD in Burkina Faso
Source: Startupper of the Year
Jardin Green Hope (Ngalée, De la terre à la terre), SAG-SEED Award Winner in 2016, is named to top 15 finalists in the STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR AWARDS in Burkina Faso. The enterprise has installed the first industrial unit for organic fertiliser production and offers an innovative process capable of revitalising any type of organic waste. Read more
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Founder of EcoAct Tanzania selected as a top 10 African entrepreneur nominated for Innovation Prize for Africa 2018
African Innovation Foundation Source: African Innovation Foundation
Christian Mwijage, founder of EcoAct, Tanzania (SEED Low Carbon Award Winner 2018), selected as among the top 10 African entrepreneurs nominated for Innovation Prize for Africa 2018. This year’s Call for Applications with its theme “African innovation: Investing in Inclusive Innovation Ecosystems” attracted more than 3 000 applications from 52 African countries. Building on the AIF mandate, submissions this year demonstrate significant breakthroughs in ICT, agri-business, public health and the environment/ energy sectors to improve the lives and economic prospects of Africans. Read more
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WASHKing offers eco-friendly solution for a cleaner, more sanitary Ghana
DW Source: Deutsche Welle
Proper disposal of fecal waste in Ghana is a huge environmental and sanitary challenge. Every day, about 100 trucks of untreated waste is dumped into the Atlantic near Accra. A new eco-friendly digester toilet offered by WASHKing (2017 SAG-SEED Award Winner) may help. Read more
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KadAfrica showcased in inspired magazine of Brussels Airlines for empowering Ugandan women
Africa Business Digest Source: Africa Business Digest
KadAfrica (SEED Africa Award Winner 2014), and its founder Eric Kaduru, from Uganda was showcased in Brussels Airlines‘ inspired magazine for using farming to empower Ugandan women. The enterprise’s passion fruit farm runs a year-and-a-half programme for female employees to develop financial management, agriculture and life skills. Upon completion, workers are rewarded with a farm start-up kit with chemical inputs, tools, seedlings and access to a small plot of land. Read more
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Safi Organics wins 2018 Thought for Food award in Rio de Janeiro
Dom Phillips Source: The Guardian
The Kenyan start-up Safi Organics (SAG-SEED Award Winner 2016) won an $5,000 award for its decentralised, organic fertiliser production system during the Thought For Food (TFF) conference 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.The conference attracted several hundred young people from across the world to pitch and discuss ideas on how to feed the world’s booming population with agriculture startups. Read more
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Kick-Off Lab | SEED Practitioner Labs Policy Prototyping
Published: 19 February 2019
The SEED Practitioner Labs Policy Prototyping programme in Malawi will include three hands-on and highly collaborative Practitioner Labs, beginning with the Kick-Off Lab on 09-10 April 2019 in Lilongwe. Read more
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German Environment Minister Ms. Svenja Schulze visits Green the Map, SEED Award Winner (2016)
Published: 18 February 2019
German Environment Minister Ms. Svenja Schulze visited Green the Map, a local green initiative which manufactures upcycled products made from waste or organic materials, and provides environmental education for young people in New Delhi, India. Read more
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A Year at SEED | 2018
Published: 31 January 2019
Our annual visual report (A Year at SEED | 2018) celebrates achievements across both our Direct Enterprise Support and Ecosystem Building programmes plus shares our involvement in key high-level dialogues and milestones in organisational development, while introducing you to this year's SEED Low Carbon Award Winners who offer innovative solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Read more
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SEED-supported enterprises applauded as green economy innovators at PAGE
Published: 15 January 2019
The 2019 PAGE Ministerial Conference drew attention to "Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economies" on 10 and 11 January 2019. By participating in the conference in Cape Town, South Africa, SEED highlighted the importance of supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to realising and strengthening inclusive and green economies. Read more
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Eco-inclusive enterprises get a stake in green economy agendas during GEC discussions
Published: 14 January 2019
SEED backed smaller eco-inclusive enterprises to #GetAStake in the Green Economy transition during action-oriented discussions at the Green Economy Coalition Global Meeting 2019. Read more
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SEED Starter Toolkit
Published: 10 January 2019
This SEED Starter Toolkit preview provides a glimpse into the variety of hands-on business planning tools and processes used by participants of the SEED Starter programme. Our SEED Starter programme guides participants from the early stages of ideation to the generation of a viable business plan used to launch an eco-inclusive enterprise. Participants join together in teams during Starter workshops to blueprint and refine their business plans with the support of peer-learning, expert guidance and the full SEED Starter Toolkit. Read more
Climate-smart innovation and how to adopt a polar bear
Published: 21 December 2018 Kathrin Kirsch
Florian Rehm, participant from our Practitioner Lab Climate Finance in Thailand, developed the cutting-edge prototype for Last of Ours that merges digital innovation based on the blockchain, social entertainment and real-world impact for our planet’s endangered species and natural zones. Read more
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GROVE: Blockchain-based conservation plaform for regenerative mangrove forestry | Climate Finance, Thailand 2018
Published: 20 December 2018 Kathrin Kirsch
GROVE – the Global Reforestation Objective Virement Ecosystem – is set up by the Global Mangrove Trust (GMT). GROVE is a digital platform that runs as a decentralised foundation utilising smart contracts and satellite verification to crowdfund forest growth. Read more
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New Ventures: Portfolio Level Debt Facility for Clean Energy | Climate Finance, India 2018
Published: 20 December 2018 Kathrin Kirsch
The Portfolio Level Debt Facility for Clean Energy Enterprises is targeted towards closing the debt funding gap in the RE sector by creating a corpus for a portfolio of clean energy social enterprises. This aims to create enhanced impact and an overarching ecosystem development for RE off-grid enterprises, catalysing the
uptake of renewable energy in India and especially reaching last-mile communities. Read more
uptake of renewable energy in India and especially reaching last-mile communities. Read more
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Smart-Irrigation-as-a-Service Financing Vehicle | Climate Finance, Thailand 2018
Published: 20 December 2018 Kathrin Kirsch
The Smart-Irrigation-as-a-Service Financing Vehicle directs deal flow for drip-irrigation systems to improve productivity and climate adaptation capacities to small and growing agri-enterprises. This financial instrument offers microfinancing solutions to lower investment risks in agricultural process improvements for both farmers and financial institutions. Read more
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