Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium is calling Small and Medium-sized Enterprises with a focus on sustainable energy solutions from Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa to apply for its first SESA Call for Entrepreneurs. Enterprises with innovative, scalable and impactful business ideas will join the SESA Incubator Programme and receive grant funding of up to 70,000 Euro. Women-led enterprises are particularly encouraged to apply.

Description

SESA aims to test, validate and later replicate scalable energy solutions in multiple locations supported by solid business models and partnerships between African and European stakeholders. SESA focuses on innovation within the three areas of (1) energy access, (2) productive use and (3) circular economy. 

The uptake of new solutions and business models requires close cooperation between innovative entrepreneurs, local enterprises, industry, city administrations and research and academic institutions. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises can play a key role in this process through the provision of their innovative products or services and by having a positive social as well as environmental impact on their communities.

With the acceptance that energy access and productive use are strongly correlated with economic development, this first SESA Call for Entrepreneurs focuses primarily on Productive Use of Energy (PUE) solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa.

Country Challenges

The below country challenges provide further information on thematic and regional focus per country. For more details on the selection and evaluation process, please have a look at our application guidelines.

Funding and SESA Incubator Programme

Each selected enterprise will receive funding from 50,000 Euro up to 70,000 Euro over a period of 18 months. They will also become a member of the SESAIncubator Programme run by the project partner Smart Innovation Norway. SESA consortium partners will evaluate the specific needs of your business and develop an individualised strategy to support you in one of our main topics: business development, organisational development, financial transparency, marketing, sales, and fundraising. Each funded company will have a dedicated mentor (local or international, as per the need) who shall provide regular support in the above-mentioned topics.

Who is qualified to apply?

We can only consider applications, which meet the below minimum criteria:

1. Your enterprise must be registered and operationally active in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco or South Africa;
2. Your enterprise must have officially been in operation for at least two years;
3. Your enterprise must have generated revenues and provide financial statements for the last two years (if 2021 is not available yet, please provide financial statements for 2019 and 2020);
4. Your enterprise must contribute to at least two of the SESA Key Performance Indicators (please see the application form for further detail);
5. There are no pending litigations against your enterprise or members of its management team;
6. Your application should meet the thematic focus of your country’s challenge.

Take a moment and have a look at our application guidelines.