Acumen

RDG Collective was established in 2018 with the ambition to ‘Empower the Future’ by developing and distributing innovative solar home systems throughout Zambia, where an estimated 2.4 million households still lack access to electricity. While the cost of solar energy remained prohibitively high for almost all off-grid households, RDG Collective came up with innovative products distributed on a pay-as-you-go basis. By eliminating this financial barrier, RDG has enabled an increasing number of Zambian households to access solar home systems, refrigerators, solar water pumps and smartphones to improve and empower their lives.

SunCulture, located in Nairobi, Kenya, specializes in solar-powered drip irrigation systems designed to enhance agricultural productivity while promoting sustainability. The company offers the AgroSolar Irrigation Kit, which integrates solar water pumping technology with high-efficiency drip irrigation, providing farmers with a comprehensive solution to improve crop yields and reduce costs. This innovative kit not only supplies reliable access to water but also supports smallholder farmers by offering agronomic services, educational training, and access to financing and markets. SunCulture's unique approach positions it as a one-stop shop for Kenyan farmers, focusing on the quality of both its products and services, while also helping to minimize fertilizer waste through efficient application methods.

Ampersand is a company based in Kigali, Rwanda, that specializes in the manufacture of affordable electric vehicles and charging systems tailored for the three million motorcycle taxi drivers in East Africa. The company aims to enhance mass-market electric mobility by providing a battery swap network and an operating system that facilitates sustainable transport solutions. By making electric mobility accessible and affordable, Ampersand not only improves the livelihoods of drivers but also contributes to environmental sustainability. As of January 2024, the company's customer base has expanded to 2,000 users, who collectively cover 1.5 million kilometers weekly in Nairobi and Kigali.

Kentaste Products Limited is a Kenyan company based in Nairobi that specializes in the processing, production, packaging, and distribution of coconut-based products. Founded in 2011, Kentaste offers a diverse range of natural and locally sourced items, including coconut milk, creams, virgin oil, desiccated coconut, and flour. Additionally, the company produces snacks and chips derived from coconuts, catering to various culinary uses such as sauces, drinks, curries, and desserts. Kentaste's products are available in supermarkets across Kenya, reflecting its commitment to providing quality food and beauty products made from the versatile coconut.

PowerGen Renewable Energy is a leading provider of energy solutions in East Africa, focused on transforming energy access for residential, community, commercial, government, and industrial customers. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with additional offices in Arusha, Tanzania; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Lagos, Nigeria, the company specializes in the development, construction, and operation of solar mini-grids. PowerGen offers a range of services including engineering, procurement, construction, and financing, ensuring affordable and reliable power for communities that are not connected to national electricity networks. As a pioneer in the solar mini-grid sector, PowerGen is committed to driving the clean energy transition across Africa and is a founding member of the Africa Mini-grid Developers Association, collaborating with various sector leaders to enhance energy access in the region.

KopaGas is a technology company that designs, manufactures, and distributes environment-friendly cooking fuel. It develops software and hardware solutions that enable direct-to-customer business models for the next generation of LPG retail operations. The company aims to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions. In 2014, Francisco Rodriguez-Sanchez and Andron Mendes founded the company in Dar Es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.

Sanergy, Inc. focuses on enhancing sanitation infrastructure in urban slums, particularly in Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 2010, the company builds a network of low-cost sanitation centers equipped with essential facilities such as toilets and showers. These centers are then franchised to local entrepreneurs, with financial support from microfinance institutions. Sanergy not only provides access to hygienic sanitation but also collects human waste daily for processing. This waste is converted into valuable byproducts, including organic fertilizers and renewable energy through a biogas generation process. The organic fertilizers are sold to both commercial farms and smallholder farmers, while the generated biogas is used to produce electricity for sale. Sanergy's mission is to promote public health and environmental sustainability by creating an efficient and equitable sanitation system that addresses the needs of underserved urban communities.

SolarNow is a company focused on providing solar energy and financing solutions in East Africa, with its headquarters in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and branch locations in Uganda and Kenya. Founded in 2011 by Willem Nolens, SolarNow manufactures high-quality solar home systems designed to meet the energy needs of both rural and urban households, as well as entrepreneurs and institutions. The company addresses the unmet demand for solar power services by offering a range of products, including solar home systems and electrical appliances. Additionally, SolarNow provides affordable and flexible credit options, enabling customers to access clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for households, small businesses, farming, and corporate needs.

EthioChicken is a prominent poultry production company based in East Africa, comprising several operational entities including AGP Poultry PLC, Mekelle Farms Ltd, and Andasa Poultry PLC. The company focuses on breeding and hatchery operations, primarily producing day-old chickens, along with affordable and blended feed. EthioChicken collaborates with smallholder farmers to enhance nutrition and improve livelihoods in rural areas. By providing accessible poultry products, the company aims to create income opportunities for farmers, contributing to the overall development of the local agricultural sector.

Sanergy, Inc. focuses on enhancing sanitation infrastructure in urban slums, particularly in Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 2010, the company builds a network of low-cost sanitation centers equipped with essential facilities such as toilets and showers. These centers are then franchised to local entrepreneurs, with financial support from microfinance institutions. Sanergy not only provides access to hygienic sanitation but also collects human waste daily for processing. This waste is converted into valuable byproducts, including organic fertilizers and renewable energy through a biogas generation process. The organic fertilizers are sold to both commercial farms and smallholder farmers, while the generated biogas is used to produce electricity for sale. Sanergy's mission is to promote public health and environmental sustainability by creating an efficient and equitable sanitation system that addresses the needs of underserved urban communities.

Juhudi Kilimo Company Limited is a Nairobi-based organization that specializes in providing asset financing, technical assistance, and business training services to smallholder farmers and small-to-medium agro-businesses in Kenya. Founded in 2004, the company offers financing options for various agricultural needs, including livestock such as dairy cows, goats, poultry, pigs, and fish farming. Additionally, it finances agricultural equipment, including irrigation systems and agro-processing machinery, as well as vehicles like motorcycles and bicycles for transporting farm goods. By offering these financial products and services, Juhudi Kilimo aims to improve the livelihoods of rural farmers and micro-entrepreneurs, empowering them with the resources and knowledge necessary for sustainable agricultural practices and business growth.

Gulu Agricultural Development Company (GADC) is a cotton ginning company based in Northern Uganda that supports over 55,000 smallholder farmers by providing them with access to the international agricultural market. The company aims to revitalize the region's cotton industry, which was severely impacted by decades of war and political instability. GADC offers essential support to former refugees, helping them regain their livelihoods. It provides farmers with inputs to enhance yields, purchases cotton and sesame for cash, and processes these crops for export to national and international buyers. This enables smallholder farmers to improve production efficiency and gain market access.

Western Seed Company Limited is a Kenya-based agricultural firm that focuses on the production of high-quality seed varieties to enhance crop yields for smallholder farmers. Established in 1986 and headquartered in Kitale, the company specializes in hybrid maize seeds, bean seeds, and other crops such as sorghum, millets, and peas. Its seed varieties are engineered to resist common agricultural challenges, including maize streak virus, grey leaf spot, and drought. By implementing advanced breeding and research techniques, Western Seed aims to significantly improve agricultural productivity, allowing farmers to potentially double their crop yields and increase their incomes. Over the last few years, the company has reached hundreds of thousands of farmers and continues to work towards impacting millions of households in East Africa.