Acumen has launched Angels Climate Tech Africa in partnership with EY and ServiceNow, a program aimed at supporting African entrepreneurs building solutions to tackle the climate crisis. The initiative seeks to provide high-impact founders with flexible funding, technical expertise, and access to global networks. By focusing on locally led climate solutions, the program intends to strengthen resilience and open new markets for communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
Addressing Africa’s Climate Urgency
The launch comes at a time when Africa faces growing threats from climate change. According to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization, up to 180 million Africans could be exposed to droughts, floods, and extreme heat by 2030, potentially costing regional economies between 2 and 5 percent of GDP annually. Entrepreneurs across the continent are already developing groundbreaking innovations in renewable energy, agriculture, and adaptation technologies to counter these challenges.
Program Vision and Structure
Angels Climate Tech Africa is part of Acumen’s broader Angels initiative, which provides flexible capital and support to early-stage social entrepreneurs addressing poverty. This program specifically targets the “growth gap” faced by many African founders who struggle to access resources after gaining early traction but before securing significant investment. By combining financing with mentorship and operating support, the initiative aims to help entrepreneurs scale faster and achieve lasting impact.
Partner Roles and Contributions
Each partner brings distinct strengths to the collaboration. Acumen will lead program delivery, leveraging its two decades of impact investing experience and its existing Acumen Angels infrastructure. EY will provide coaching and capacity-building workshops to strengthen the operational foundations of participating ventures, while ServiceNow will contribute grant funding and mentorship to ensure innovators have the resources required to succeed.
Voices from the Partners
Bavidra Mohan, Foundry Director at Acumen, highlighted the unique challenges facing African climate entrepreneurs. He noted the lack of flexible seed capital and hands-on operational guidance as key barriers to growth. Mohan emphasized that this partnership is designed to combine the best of each organization’s capabilities to help founders break through to their next stage of influence.
Gillian Hinde, EY Global Corporate Responsibility Leader, underlined the role of entrepreneurship in solving urgent global issues. She stated that Acumen’s impact investment expertise, ServiceNow’s commitment to sustainable solutions, and EY’s business knowledge will collectively empower founders to scale innovations and deliver tangible change. Lyndsay Harris-Kyei, Vice President of Global Impact and Sustainability at ServiceNow, added that the company’s mission is rooted in expanding access to opportunity and knowledge, and this program is a direct expression of that purpose.
Building on Global Social Impact Efforts
The initiative continues a track record of collaboration between EY and ServiceNow on global social impact projects. Previous joint efforts have included support for WaterAid’s clean water programs, youth technology empowerment through Technovation, and conservation initiatives such as Elephant ID and Cameras for Conservation. These partnerships demonstrate a consistent commitment to using innovation and collaboration to address pressing societal challenges.
Outlook for African Climate Tech
By combining financial resources, business expertise, and mentorship, Angels Climate Tech Africa aims to accelerate the growth of Africa’s most promising climate startups. The program represents a recognition of the continent’s potential to generate globally relevant solutions while directly addressing the vulnerabilities of local communities. With Africa projected to bear disproportionate climate impacts, supporting homegrown innovation is not only urgent but also strategically important for long-term resilience.
Angels Climate Tech Africa stands as a significant step in mobilizing capital, knowledge, and networks to support climate entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa. Through the combined efforts of Acumen, EY, and ServiceNow, the program seeks to bridge critical gaps in funding and support, empowering innovators to transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. By fostering locally driven solutions, the initiative reflects a shared vision of building a more resilient and equitable future for Africa in the face of climate change.