Africa’s Top Clean Energy Start-ups Crowned in Octopus Energy and Sustainable Markets Initiative Award

  • 50+ clean tech start-ups entered first Africa Energy Entrepreneurship Award
  • Winner slashes costs and emissions with solar-powered water pumps
  • Award supports scaling with funding, mentoring, and resources

London, 14 May 2025 – Africa’s top clean energy trailblazers have been crowned in the first Africa Energy Entrepreneurship Award, launched by Octopus Energy and the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Africa Council.

More than 50 early-stage businesses from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe entered the award program, on a mission to solve some of the continent’s biggest energy challenges.

Nigerian start-up Nimsy Agro Solar Concept took the top prize, planting the seeds of a farming revolution. Launched in 2018, their solar-powered irrigation pumps have helped over 5,000 smallholder farmers swap costly diesel for free sunshine, putting money back into communities’ pockets.

With bold plans to reach half a million farmers by 2030, Nimsy’s work comes at a crucial time as Africa faces growing climate pressures — from rising sea levels to flooding, drought and famine*.

Onimisi Charles Atere, Founder of Nimsy Agro Solar Concept said: "Winning this award is an incredible moment – a validation of the hard work that’s gone into building the business. It has unlocked exciting opportunities like being nominated to apply for the Earthshot Prize and resources to scale our innovations to reach more farmers while creating rural jobs. A huge thank you to Octopus Energy, the SMI, and everyone who’s supported us - the future of solar-powered agriculture is bright!"

Two runners-up also made their mark: PAM AI uses artificial intelligence to optimise mini-grid energy, making it smarter, more efficient, and affordable for businesses and communities. KAMIM Technologies develops solar-powered cooling systems, helping farmers keep their harvests fresh longer and slash food waste in underserved communities.

The winners received grant funding, expert mentoring and on-the-ground support to supercharge their impact across the continent.

Africa is fast becoming a clean energy powerhouse, with a surge in entrepreneurship driving rapid growth in abundant solar, wind and off-grid energy. Having already created over 320,000 jobs**, the sector is set to unlock another three million by 2030 – boosting energy access across the continent***.

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation and member of the SMI Africa Council, said: “Launching the SMI Africa Council’s first Energy Entrepreneurship Award is an incredible honour. Africa is full of brilliant minds tackling energy challenges with creativity and ambition, unlocking a resilient and affordable energy for communities. We were blown away by the level of applications for this award and hope it’s created a valuable springboard to support entrepreneurs as they continue to scale their businesses. ”

Dr. Hubert Danso, CEO of Africa Investor Group and Co-Chair of the SMI Africa Council, stated, “The SMI Africa Council’s Energy Entrepreneurship Award, in partnership with Octopus Energy Generation, is a bold initiative to nurture and celebrate Africa’s future energy leaders. Their innovations will drive green industrialization, transform the continent into a global hub for green technology manufacturing, and unlock an era of affordable, constant clean energy. Their success is not only Africa’s but the world’s.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

The photo shows award winners Nimsy Agro Solar Concept. From left to right: Ibrahim Ishaya (Co-founder and Head of Operations), Rachel Wada (Customer Care Officer), Onimisi Charles Atere (Founder and Team Lead), Eneye Aiyede (Account Intern), and Polycarp Katung (Finance Manager).

Sources:

*Africa faces disproportionate burden from climate change and adaptation costs, World Meteorological Organization, September 2024

**The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported that renewable energies have created 320,000 jobs in Africa, November 2023

*** The FSD Africa and Shortlist, with analysis from the Boston Consulting Group, forecasts that Africa could generate up to 3.3 million new direct green jobs by 2030, July 2024

Press Contacts

Octopus Energy Group

Christina Hofmann

press@octoenergy.com

+44 (0)20 4530 8369

Sustainable Markets Initiative

Sodali & Co., SMI Communications Partner

Email: sodali@sustainable-markets.org

Jennifer Smit, Communications Director

Email: j.smit@sustainable-markets.org

About Octopus Energy Group

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 9 million households globally. Its operations span 32 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.

Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 60 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.

For more information, check out our website

About the Sustainable Markets Initiative

The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) is the world’s go-to private sector organization for sustainable transition; characterized by our unique brand of 'private sector diplomacy'.

With the vision of our founder, His Majesty King Charles III, and our unique convening power, the SMI facilitates action between world leaders and CEOs to position sustainability at the heart of global value creation.

Together, we seek to mobilize the trillions of dollars required to achieve a sustainable future. Investment at this scale requires global systems-level change with a default sustainable orientation across markets, industries and supply chains. Here, our mandates, the Terra Carta and Astra Carta, provide practical private sector trajectories.

The SMI believes that with bold ambition and courageous leadership, we can seize a new era of global prosperity that will last for generations to come. We call this ‘The Growth Story of Our Time’. 

Read more: www.sustainable-markets.org

Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!

×