TRANSFORM, the impact accelerator led by Unilever, the UK Government, and EY, has announced KSh 85.6 million ($663,000) in grant funding for five innovative enterprises across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. The selected businesses are pioneering solutions that advance circular economies, strengthen agricultural supply chains, and create sustainable livelihoods. The announcement was made on August 28, 2025, following a regional call that drew more than 100 applications.
Winners of the East Africa Challenge
The five enterprises chosen represent a cross-section of impact-driven innovation. In Kenya, Cinch is consolidating fragmented smallholdings into larger, more productive units, while Kuza One trains women and youth as agripreneurs delivering advisory services to farmers. Uganda’s Eco Brixs is converting plastic waste into construction materials and furniture, and Ethiopia’s Green Bean Manufacturing and Green Scene are transforming agro-processing and turmeric production through sustainable, locally designed machinery and solar-powered equipment.
Scaling Grassroots Innovation
Each of the winners will receive not only financial support but also access to TRANSFORM’s global network of expertise. This includes tailored business insights, practical advisory support, and mentoring from industry leaders. The aim is to help the enterprises scale their models, expand operations, and increase their positive impact on local communities.
Local Context and Regional Growth
This is not the first time TRANSFORM has backed East African innovators. In July 2024, the programme announced funding for five Kenyan enterprises, and since then, it has expanded to West and Southern Africa. Over the past year alone, 19 African businesses have been selected to receive TRANSFORM’s support, reflecting the accelerator’s growing continental footprint.
A Locally Led Approach
A distinguishing feature of the Challenge is its locally driven evaluation model. Judging panels are comprised of experts from Unilever, the UK Government, and EY with a deep understanding of local socio-economic and cultural contexts. This ensures that selected enterprises are not only innovative in design but also practical, relevant, and impactful for the communities they serve.
Leadership Perspectives
Unilever East Africa Managing Director Luck Ochieng emphasized that the initiative aligns closely with the company’s sustainability agenda. “We are committed to unlocking opportunities that enable small and growing businesses to scale viable solutions which create jobs, stimulate long-term economic growth, and generate environmental and social benefits,” he said. He highlighted TRANSFORM’s role in tackling regenerative agriculture and advancing the circular economy from the ground up.
EY and UK Government’s Role
Hadijah Nannyomo, Partner at EY Kenya, underscored EY’s commitment to scaling impactful ventures. “We are excited to bring the knowledge, skills, and experience of our EY people to help scale these impactful enterprises and drive progress towards an optimistic future where business, people, society, and the planet thrive,” she noted. Similarly, Dr Ed Barnett, Deputy British High Commissioner, said the programme demonstrates the strength of public-private partnerships in advancing sustainable solutions across Africa.
A Broader Development Agenda
The funding is part of TRANSFORM’s wider ambition to drive development priorities such as regenerative agriculture, sustainable plastics management, and inclusive livelihoods. By supporting locally designed and scalable business models, the accelerator hopes to embed sustainable practices across value chains in East Africa. For participating enterprises, the grants provide a pathway to expand operations and deepen their community impact.
The latest round of grants highlights how collaborative platforms like TRANSFORM are catalyzing Africa’s innovation ecosystem. By combining resources from the private and public sectors with local entrepreneurial talent, TRANSFORM is creating a model for inclusive, sustainable growth. For the five winners of the East Africa Challenge, the funding and support represent an opportunity to accelerate their impact and contribute to building more resilient communities.