Issue #14.Africa's 50 Most Funded Climate-Tech Startups. Part 3 ( 21-30).

Welcome to part III of Africa’s Most Funded Climate-tech Startups. If you are reading this, and didn't read part I or part II, you can find them here for part I and here, for part II. Highly recommend reading them before you read Part III to get proper context. In part III, we are profiling startups ranked 21-30 on our list. Here is a summary of the startups that we are profiling today. 

21. PowerGen 

Country: Kenya 

Amount Raised: USD 32M

Funding Rounds: 3

Sector: Solar 

PowerGen Renewable Energy, founded in 2011, is a leading private power company operating across Africa. The company specializes in building and managing renewable energy infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to customers. PowerGen's solutions include mini-grids, metro-grids, and commercial and industrial (C&I) solar power systems.

In January 2025, PowerGen partnered with international investors to establish a transformative renewable energy platform, targeting the deployment of 120 MW of renewable power solutions, including battery energy storage, across Africa. 

This collaboration involves the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the Danish Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), EDFI Management Company, and the African Development Bank's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). The platform will initially focus on Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with plans for regional expansion.

PowerGen has raised significant funding to support its growth. The company secured $13 million in a Series A round in October 2019, led by True Ventures, bringing its total funding to $20 million at that time. In January 2025, PowerGen raised an additional $11 million in another Series A round led by Octopus Ventures, bringing its total funding to $32 million. 

These investments have enabled PowerGen to expand its operations and impact, with the company now serving over 1 million people daily across 12 countries

22. Roam 

Country: Kenya 

Amount Raised: USD 31.5 M 

Funding Rounds: 6 

Sector: E-mobility 

Roam, formerly known as Opibus, is a Nairobi-based electric mobility company founded in 2017. It designs and manufactures electric motorcycles and buses tailored for the African market, focusing on affordability and reliability. 

Roam's product lineup includes the Roam Air (electric motorcycle), Roam Rapid (mass transit bus), and Roam Move (urban transit bus). The company operates an assembly facility in Nairobi and has partnerships for bus assembly. 

Roam has raised about $31.5 million combined debt and equity. This includes a $14 million Series A equity investment and a $10 million debt commitment from the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Earlier funding rounds included over $7.5 million raised in 2021. 

Roam has also received pro bono support from Microsoft and strategic partnerships with companies like Hitachi. With its innovative products and commitment to sustainability, Roam is driving Africa's transition to electric transportation while addressing environmental challenges. 

23. KarmSolar

Country: Egypt 

Amount Raised: USD 31M 

Funding Rounds: 4 

Sector: Solar 

KarmSolar, founded in 2011 by Ahmed Zahran, is Egypt's largest private solar utility company. It specializes in developing innovative solar energy solutions for both off-grid and on-grid applications. 

KarmSolar provides turnkey solar energy systems that are cost-competitive with fossil fuels and integrates them with sustainable solutions like building efficiency and organic farming. 

The company operates solar power stations across various sectors, including industrial, commercial, agricultural, and tourism, with a focus on environmental sustainability and reducing dependence on traditional fuels.

KarmSolar has secured funding for specific projects, such as a $2 million loan from QNB Alahli for electricity storage at the Cairo 3A poultry farm. 

The company also aims to raise $80 million to expand its operations in Egypt and explore new verticals like solar water desalination through its KarmWater division. KarmSolar has strategic partnerships with local companies and government agencies, contributing to Egypt's renewable energy sector growth.

24. Burn 

Country: Kenya 

Amount Raised: USD 29M 

Funding Rounds: 5

Sector: Clean Energy  

BURN Manufacturing, founded in 2013 by Peter Scott, is a Kenyan climate-tech company revolutionizing clean cooking solutions across Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi, BURN designs, manufactures, and distributes energy-efficient cookstoves that significantly reduce charcoal and wood consumption, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving health outcomes. 

Its cookstoves are tailored to local needs, offering models for charcoal, wood, and LPG cooking. BURN has sold over 4 million stoves across 15 African countries, saving users $400 million in fuel costs and mitigating over 8 million tons of CO2 emissions. The company also operates the only modern cookstove manufacturing facility in sub-Saharan Africa.

BURN has raised substantial funding to scale its impact. In 2022, it secured $4 million from the Clean Cooking Alliance to expand its operations and develop new products like electric stoves. Earlier funding included a $25 million investment from Acumen Fund and other impact investors to grow its manufacturing capacity and distribution network. 

BURN also generates revenue through carbon credits earned by reducing emissions from traditional cooking methods. With plans to expand into West Africa and introduce solar-powered cooking solutions, BURN continues to lead Africa’s clean energy transition while addressing climate change and improving livelihoods. 

25. Pula

Country: Kenya 

Amount Raised: USD 28M 

Funding Rounds: 4 

Sector: Agritech 

Pula, founded in 2015 by Rose Goslinga and Thomas Njeru, is a Kenyan insurtech startup addressing climate risks for smallholder farmers through innovative agricultural insurance and digital tools. 

The company helps farmers mitigate losses from floods, droughts, pests, and other climate-related events while improving farming practices and incomes. Pula bundles insurance with essential agricultural inputs like seeds and credit to make protection more affordable and accessible. 

Leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, mobile-based registration systems, remote sensing, and automated tools, Pula has expanded its reach to 22 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. To date, Pula has benefited over 15 million farmers globally.

Pula has raised $28 million in funding across multiple rounds. Notable deals include a $20 million Series B in 2024 led by BlueOrchard, IFC, and GAFSP to scale operations globally and expand into Asia and Latin America. Earlier funding rounds include a $6 million Series A in 2021 led by TLcom Capital. 

The company collaborates with over 70 insurance companies, 20 reinsurance firms, and 100 distribution partners worldwide. With its "Triple 100 Vision," Pula aims to provide insurance to 100 million farmers by 2030 while addressing the vast unmet need for climate insurance among Africa’s smallholder farmers.

26. WATT

Country: Nigeria 

Amount Raised: USD 28M 

Funding Rounds: 2 

Sector: Solar 

WATT Renewable Corporation, founded in 2019, is a Nigerian clean energy company specializing in hybrid solar solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) clients. 

The company focuses on replacing diesel generators with solar hybrid systems, serving sectors such as telecommunications and financial services. Through its innovative Energy-as-a-Service model, WATT delivers reliable, sustainable power while reducing carbon emissions and operational costs for businesses. The company has also contributed to local economic growth by creating jobs and improving energy access in underserved communities.

In October 2023, WATT secured $13 million in funding from Empower New Energy, marking the largest investment to date by the renewable energy financier. This funding will enable WATT to expand its renewable energy portfolio, adding 8MW of installed generating capacity and 14.3MWh of storage capacity to its operations in Nigeria. Additionally, the company obtained a $15 million debt facility from the AFRIGREEN Debt Impact Fund in December 2024 to finance hybrid solar power plants for C&I clients. 

These investments are pivotal in scaling WATT’s efforts to reduce reliance on diesel generators, with an estimated reduction of 3 million liters of diesel consumption per year and avoidance of approximately 7,039 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.

With its commitment to advancing clean energy solutions, WATT Renewable Corporation is playing a transformative role in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, addressing the country’s power challenges while driving environmental sustainability and economic development.

27. Baobab+ 

Country: Senegal 

Amount Raised: USD 27M

Funding Rounds: 7 

Sector: Solar 

Baobab+, founded in 2015 as a subsidiary of the Baobab Group, is a leading African climate-tech startup providing solar energy and digital solutions to underserved communities.

Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, Baobab+ operates in six countries, including Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The company offers pay-as-you-go solar home systems that provide affordable and reliable electricity to off-grid households and small businesses. 

In addition to solar energy, Baobab+ provides digital tools such as smartphones and tablets bundled with financial and educational services to promote digital inclusion.

Baobab+ has raised significant funding to expand its impact. In 2022, it secured €10 million from the Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF) and the Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI) to scale its solar operations in West Africa. Earlier funding rounds included support from Proparco and other impact investors. 

The company has equipped over 250,000 households with solar kits and impacted more than 1.5 million lives by improving access to clean energy and digital tools. With plans to expand into new markets and launch innovative products like solar-powered irrigation systems, Baobab+ continues to drive sustainable development across Africa while addressing energy poverty and climate challenges. 

28. Altech Group 

Country: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 

Amount Raised: USD 27M

Funding Rounds: 7

Sector: Solar 

Altech Group, founded in 2013, is a Congolese energy startup specializing in renewable energy solutions for off-grid communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

The company provides a range of clean energy products, including solar home systems, lanterns, and clean cookstoves, focusing on bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) households and institutions. Altech aims to impact over 5 million lives by selling 1 million products, building Africa's largest distribution network for clean energy solutions.

Altech has secured significant funding, including a $350,000 loan from UNCDF in 2020, which catalyzed over $18 million in debt financing. In 2021, it raised £2.5 million through Energise Africa to expand access to clean energy in underserved communities.  

The company is recognized for its innovative business model and was ranked as the 4th fastest-growing African startup by the Financial Times in 2023. 

29. Koa Impact

Country: Ghana 

Amount Raised: USD 25M 

Funding Rounds: 3

Sector: Waste Management 

Koa Impact, founded in 2017, is a Swiss-Ghanaian climate-tech startup revolutionizing the cocoa industry by upcycling cocoa pulp into sustainable food and beverage ingredients. 

Headquartered in Ghana, Koa collaborates directly with smallholder farmers to process previously discarded cocoa pulp into products like juice, dried pulp powder, and concentrates. 

This innovation creates an additional income stream for farmers, reducing reliance on volatile cocoa bean prices while minimizing food waste. Koa operates solar-powered Community Mobile Processing Units (CMPUs) that enable on-farm processing and ensures farmers receive instant payments via mobile wallets, tracked transparently through blockchain technology.

Koa has achieved significant milestones, including inaugurating a $10 million factory in Akim Achiase in 2024, Africa’s largest cocoa fruit processing facility. 

The company is also the first cocoa fruit brand globally to achieve B Corp certification, highlighting its commitment to social and environmental sustainability. 

With products featured in brands like Lindt & Sprüngli’s COCOA PURE chocolate bar and Kumasi Drinks, Koa continues to expand its impact while addressing farmer poverty, gender equality, and responsible consumption goals. 

30. Kopagas

Country: Tanzania 

Amount Raised: USD 25M

Funding Rounds: 1

Sector: Clean Energy. 

KopaGas, founded in 2014 by Sebastian Rodriguez-Sanchez and Andron Mendes, is a Tanzanian clean-tech startup revolutionizing access to clean cooking solutions. The company developed a pioneering pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) using GSM-enabled smart meters. 

This technology eliminates the high upfront cost of LPG cylinders and stoves, allowing low-income households to pay for gas in affordable quantities via mobile payments. KopaGas addresses the harmful health and environmental impacts of charcoal and wood-based cooking, which are used by 96% of Tanzanians. Its innovation has enabled families to save money, reduce indoor air pollution, and prevent deforestation.

In January 2020, KopaGas was acquired by Circle Gas Limited, a UK-based holding company, to scale its PAYG LPG model across sub-Saharan Africa. 

Before the acquisition, KopaGas had gained financial support from Acumen Fund, DEG/KfW, and other investors. 

The company's operations accounted for 7% of Tanzania's LPG distribution in 2017, with high customer satisfaction rates and significant improvements in quality of life for users. 

Through partnerships with mobile operators like Airtel and Vodacom, KopaGas continues to expand access to clean cooking fuels while driving innovation in the clean energy sector.