Empowering green entrepreneurs through BDS providers - A regional programme to drive sustainable growth in Africa

Empowering green entrepreneurs through local and national BDS providers

As Africa faces a growing climate and economic challenges, it is also becoming one of the most promising frontiers for sustainable innovation. In response, IYBA-SEED in partnership with Bond’Innov, is launching an ambitious regional initiative to strengthen green entrepreneurship ecosystems across five countries: Senegal, Togo, Benin, Kenya, and South Africa.

This bold 18-month program aims to equip local Business Development Services (BDS) providers and green entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and knowledge they need to scale across borders. 

This program is open to any structures, whether public, private or hybrid, that support entrepreneurs and startups in their growth: hubs, business member organizations, chambers of commerce, impact funds, government agencies and any structure providing entrepreneurial support! 

Why this program, and why now?

Green startups in Africa are innovating fast, but their growth is often limited to national markets. Regional expansion remains a challenge due to gaps in support, funding, and strategic guidance. This program tackles those roadblocks head-on.
By strengthening the ecosystems that back these businesses, the program creates a ripple effect: better support, stronger startups and SMEs, wider markets, and ultimately, a more sustainable impact.

What are Green Industries?

Green industries refer to all economic sectors and industrial activities that integrate environmental protection, the reduction of ecological impacts and the sustainable management of natural resources into their operations, production processes and value chains, such as renewable energies, waste management, water and sanitation, sustainable agriculture, eco-construction, clean mobility, the circular economy, technology and green IT, etc.

4 steps to help businesses move beyond borders and tap into new markets across Africa

Running over 18 months, the program is divided into 4 strategic phases:

• Phase 1: Design and launch
  This initial stage includes the development of a results-oriented methodology and the completion of a green industry benchmark study. 
  During this phase, a dedicated call for applications will be launched (from May 6th to 27th) and 12 business development service providers will be selected and onboarded to support the regional expansion of green startups.
   
• Phase 2: Capacity building & Network Development
  Selected structures will undergo a rigorous training program built around the innovative SEED Expansion Box, a powerful toolkit for scaling green businesses.
  This phase also involves the development of country-specific investor portfolios and tailored support through a mix of group workshops and one-on-one advisory sessions.
   
• Phase 3: Startup support and pilot implementation 
  National demos days will be organized at the end of phase 2 to select a cohort of about 22 green startups and SMEs to test and refine their regional expansion strategies. The selection will be done by the BDSs and investors. SEED entrepreneurs will be supported in their regional expansion by their respective BDSs providers, investors and by experts. 
  The SEED Expansion Box will be improved through continuous feedback from the participants.
  A Regional demo day will be organised at the end of the 7-month to select the top 5 BDS and their respective startups to participate in a highly visible Pan-African event.
   
• Phase 4: Capitalization and sustainability
  The final phase is aimed at scaling the program’s impact by promoting best practices, success stories and learning. The top performing BDSs and startups will participate in a pan-African event to foster investment opportunities and market access, while knowledge products and reports will be disseminated to stakeholders.

Strategic insights through a benchmark study

Central to the program is a comprehensive benchmark study that analyzes green industries at national, regional, and international levels. These studies will identify high-potential sectors, investment gaps, and strategic expansion opportunities. It also integrates a gender perspective, assessing female participation in green industries and the presence of women-focused investment funds.

The study findings will shape a practical toolkit that guides entrepreneurs and supports organizations in making data-driven decisions about regional scaling.

An inclusive, co-constructed and continuous learning approach  

Gender inclusion is deeply embedded in the program. From selection processes and training content to monitoring indicators and success stories, women entrepreneurs and investors are actively targeted to ensure balanced participation.
Implementation is driven by close collaboration with national IYBA-SEED teams, ensuring that the program is locally relevant, agile, and aligned with country-specific dynamics.
The continuous learning and improvement of the approach as the tool will be continuously reviewed and improved by both BDS providers and entrepreneurs throughout the entire program.

A vision for green entrepreneurship in Africa

IYBA-SEED and Bond’innov and its partners aim to lay the groundwork for a strong, interconnected network of support organizations capable of sustaining green entrepreneurship across Africa. By investing in training, mentoring, regional cooperation, and visibility, the program seeks to spark a new wave of scalable, sustainable green businesses.

Africa’s green transition will be led by its entrepreneurs, and this program is a strategic step forward in making that future a reality.