30 Climate Tech Startups Advance to Phase II of Pre-Acceleration Program in West Africa

The CATAL1.5°T initiative proudly announces the graduation of its first cohort of 30 Climate Tech Ventures into Phase II of its Pre-Acceleration Program in West Africa. Selected from a competitive pool of participants in Phase I, these ventures are driving climate innovation across key sectors such as energy, transport, agri-tech, and more—with 13 ventures proudly led by women.

Over the course of three intensive months, the ventures in Phase I received hands-on support and training in areas such as business modeling, climate adaptation and resilience, and paradigm-shifting approaches to climate entrepreneurship. The program, launched in November 2024, aimed to refine and strengthen the core business levers of each participating venture.

A Regional Force for Climate Innovation

The 30 graduating ventures were selected based on their CO₂-equivalent reduction potential and strong business scalability. Representing eight countries across the region—Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo—the selected startups are working across four high-impact sectors:

• Energy Access & Power Generation – 14 ventures
• Buildings, Cities, Industries & Appliances – 8 ventures
• Forestry & Land Use (incl. Agri-Tech) – 6 ventures
• Low-Emission Transport – 2 ventures

Notably, 13 of these ventures are women-led, underscoring the growing role of female leadership in the region’s climate tech movement.

Phase II: Scaling for Impact

Over the next six months, the ventures will enter an intensive second phase that includes:

• Tailored expert training
• Dedicated mentorship
• Peer-to-peer learning
• Market readiness and sales support
• Access to grants of up to EUR 15,000