Is impact investment the key to fixing Africa’s socio-environmental issues?
As is the case with many emerging markets, South Africa has its fair share of socio-environmental problems. If it’s not unsustainable food supply its lack of clean water or access to power. And while government bodies and non-profits alike have initiatives geared to address some of the most pressing of these issues in the interim, some argue that it’s really up to so-called high-impact entrepreneurs to ultimately implement solutions that are sustainable.
However simple that may sound, as always, the problem is a bit more complex. The ecosystem support structure for social enterprises is yet to mature to a stage where these high-impact entrepreneurs can achieve strong growth and scale their businesses.
Last year we told you about the Green Pioneer startup accelerator — one of the region’s few set out to help environmentally focused companies from Kenya and South Africa to become investment ready and ultimately, grow their businesses.
Committed to the 16-week programme, some of the companies selected for the programme included inspiring startups like Solar Turtle which distributes mobile solar battery-charging stations to off-grid communities. Mellowcabs, on the other hand, manufactures and operates electric mini-cabs for affordable transport in urban areas. Most of these businesses have been around for a couple of years but are struggling to take their operations to the next level.
One of the main organisations that headed the Green Pioneer programme, called , is a Cape Town-based business incubator and consultancy firm that helps impact investors realise opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
