Call for application for ESOs in fostering regional market access for green entrepreneurs
IYBA-SEED in partnership with Bond’Innov, has launched the Regional Expansion of Green Industry SEED Enterprises, an ambitious regional initiative to strengthen green entrepreneurship ecosystems across five countries: Senegal, Togo, Benin, Kenya, and South Africa.
A call for application is open from May 6th to 27th to select 12 ESOs to strengthen their capacity to support SEED enterprises aiming to expand into new markets.
The objectives of this call?
- Strengthen the operational capacities of ESOs to foster regional success stories in Green Industries.
- Empower selected ESOs in Kenya, Senegal, Togo, Benin and South Africa to improve their service offering, helping green industry entrepreneurs expand into regional markets.
- Support a cohort of green entrepreneurs/startups selected from the ESOs in their regional expansion using the newly developed tool.
- Become an ESO champion in supporting green industry startups in their regional expansion.
You’re an ESO and your goals are to :
- Join a cohort of up to 12 leading ESOs across Africa and gain visibility through a curated regional network endorsed by major European and African partners?
- Prepare your most promising green startups to be showcased at a continental investor & innovation forum in August 2026?
- Develop and operationalize your in-house tools, skills and methodology to support green industry startups in their regional expansion?
- Become an ESO champion in supporting green industry startups in their regional expansion!
By the end of the program, the ESOs will :
- Be recognised as local champions and key players to expand SEED businesses in Green Industries
- Improve their Business Development Services for SEED entrepreneurs in the green industry, and through it, their ability to generate revenue.
- Establish structured collaborations with green economy players (e.g. investors, business partners at the national and regional level, resulting in concrete market access and investment opportunities)
- A peer learning model is created among the 12 ESOs fostering continued knowledge exchange, cross-border collaboration and co-supported startup expansion post-program.
Who is this call for?
- ESO based in: Senegal or Togo or Benin or Kenya or South Africa.
- With at least 3 years of legal existence.
- Supporting SEED entrepreneurs in green industries.
- Willing and available to strengthen internal skills in supporting SEED businesses in green industries in their regional expansion.