The Climate and Finance Innovations (ClimaFii) Alliance is a multi-year initiative designed to accelerate climate solutions and expand inclusive finance for microenterprises across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It supports early-stage climate enterprises — especially those delivering clean energy, electric mobility, and emission-reducing technologies — with funding, technical assistance, and access to finance partners.
Applications are now open for the second cohort of the programme, inviting startups and SMEs that are ready to scale climate-focused solutions for microentrepreneurs.
What the ClimaFii Alliance Offers (Benefits)
Selected businesses benefit from a package of support that can significantly strengthen early-stage climate ventures:
💰 Catalytic Funding
Participants receive $45,000–$70,000+ in milestone-based capital designed to help refine business models, test products, deploy technology, and prepare for scaling.
🔧 Tailored Venture Support
Hands-on guidance in:
- Product refinement and go-to-market strategy
- Pricing and unit economics
- Operational systems and growth planning
- Investment-readiness preparation and pitch support
💳 Finance & Credit Pilots
Through partnerships with financial service providers (FSPs), the programme helps design affordable finance products — such as mesh financing or embedded credit — that enable microentrepreneurs to afford clean energy and mobility technologies.
🤝 Access to Investors & Market Linkages
ClimaFii connects founders with networks of institutional investors, financiers, and partners to support follow-on capital and broader commercial expansion.
🌍 Technical Ecosystem & Knowledge Sharing
Participants join an ecosystem of climate-tech innovators, fostering collaboration, user research, and insights that help tailor solutions to real world microenterprise needs.
Who Should Apply (Eligibility)
ClimaFii is looking for startups and SMEs that:
- Are registered and active in Sub-Saharan Africa (with one co-founder based in the region).
- Offer clean energy, electric mobility, or product technologies that improve the productivity and resilience of microentrepreneurs.
- Have a minimum viable product (MVP) in the market or proven usage by micro, small, or medium enterprises.
- Show potential to reach at least ~2,000 microentrepreneur customers within the first year of the programme.
- Are ready to engage with financing channels and partnerships that make climate solutions affordable to smaller businesses.
Women-led or women-impacting businesses are encouraged to apply.
Focus Areas & Eligible Solutions
ClimaFii targets climate innovations that deliver practical impact for smaller enterprises, including but not limited to:
- Clean energy systems and distributed renewable energy (solar, biogas, shared power)
- Productive energy solutions (mills, cold-chain, post-harvest tools)
- Electric mobility and logistics for small transport operators
- Waste-to-energy and circular solutions
- Fintech platforms that improve affordability and financial access for climate products
- Nature-positive IoT or ecological solutions linked to climate-resilient livelihoods
Application Deadline & How to Apply
📅 Applications open: 10 December 2025
📅 Deadline: 16 January 2026
To apply, visit the official ClimaFii Alliance application portal and submit your business profile and project details through the form provided on the ClimaFii Alliance site.