The ClimAccelerator is a global programme for climate startups to innovate, catalyse, and scale the potential of their solutions. The programme supports climate startups that are creating solutions to protect people, their jobs, homes and the environment from the effects of climate change.
Through the programme, startups receive hands-on mentorship from experts who understand the challenges, access to funding that can actually move the needle, expert support to strengthen their climate impact, and the chance to test their solutions where they're needed most. The goal is simple: help you build a business that creates meaningful change for people and the planet.
ClimAccelerator is powered by Climate KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon and resilient world. The ClimAccelerator in Tanzania is run in collaboration with SmartLab and funded by Irish Aid.
We offer a structured, expert-led journey that helps early-stage startups like you grow their impact, strengthen their business and attract the right partners and investors. Here’s what sets us apart:
You will go through a tailored journey, guided by mentors who understand both climate and entrepreneurship. You’ll refine your business model, tackle climate-specific challenges and receive hands-on support through bootcamps, one-to-one sessions and ongoing guidance.
Learn alongside fellow founders tackling similar climate and business challenges while engaging with professionals working in the climate space. Exchange lessons, share feedback, and gain insights from diverse local contexts, benefiting from collective wisdom and real-world experiences that will help you strengthen your solutions and scale your impact.
Learn alongside fellow founders tackling similar climate and business challenges while engaging with professionals working in the climate space. Exchange lessons, share feedback, and gain insights from diverse local contexts, benefiting from collective wisdom and real-world experiences that will help you strengthen your solutions and scale your impact.
Connect with a powerful ecosystem of 400+ global partners, including investors, policymakers, researchers, and leading climate organisations. Build meaningful, long-term relationships that open doors to opportunities, collaborations, and support, helping your startup grow and thrive beyond borders.
Eligible startups will receive grant funding to help build, test, and grow their solutions during the programme. This early support is designed to ease financial barriers so you can focus on creating real impact. By the end of the journey, you’ll have strengthened your visibility, credibility and readiness to attract future investment.
Startups apply through the website and are screened by the accelerator team for eligibility and programme fit. Shortlisted startups will be invited for interviews, after which the top-performing candidates will be selected to join the programme.
Selected startups undergo due diligence and an impact assessment to evaluate their solution’s feasibility and potential climate impact. They also participate in leadership training to strengthen their skills in decision-making, team management and strategic growth.
Intensive training, mentorship and peer learning, as well as grant funding, to test solutions in real-world contexts.
Startups showcase their validated solutions to investors, partners and stakeholders during the final expo. The programme wraps up with networking opportunities, potential funding connections and plans for scaling.
Adaptation and resilience innovations are solutions that protect people, their homes, jobs and the environment from the impacts of climate change. The ClimAccelerator seeks ventures that create meaningful, lasting change by addressing the challenges climate change brings to communities. Examples include (but are not limited to):
Note: Please note, the programme aims to support solutions that are primarily climate adaptation focused (including but not limited to the above list), rather than solutions focused on mitigation.
Slowing down climate change by reducing the problem at its source. Mitigation means cutting greenhouse gas emissions and helping the planet absorb more of them. This includes changing how we produce energy, travel, and grow food. Examples include solar panels, electric vehicles and restoring forests.
Adjusting to the changes we can’t avoid. Adaptation is about finding smart ways to live with a changing climate. This includes updating how we build homes, manage water or grow crops to reduce risks like heatwaves, floods or sea level rise. It helps protect people, nature and daily life from current and future impacts.
Being ready for what the future brings. Resilience means preparing for, responding to and recovering from climate shocks like storms or droughts. It is about staying strong, flexible and being able to bounce back. Resilience includes adaptation, especially over time, because it helps communities deal with both today's challenges and those still to come.
Are you building a solution to help communities adapt to climate change? We’re seeking early-stage startups with bold ideas, local insight and a drive to create a climate-resilient future. Join the ClimAccelerator for expert mentorship, funding, real-world testing and a global network of innovators.
Apply to accelerate your impact.We believe collaboration drives climate innovation. As a mentor, you’ll help shape the journey of climate startups while growing your own impact. Whether it’s technical support, local insight, research or outreach, your contribution helps turn ideas into action.
Guide the next generation of climate innovators.Africa faces a $579 billion climate adaptation gap by 2030, yet only $11.4 billion is mobilized annually, mostly from the public sector. Early-stage startups tackling adaptation have limited access to investment. The ClimAccelerator connects mission-aligned investors to solutions that protect communities, ecosystems and economies. Join us in scaling the next generation of climate innovators.
Fund a climate resilient future.
Apply now to join the Adaptation and Resilience ClimAccelerator and help transform Tanzania's resilience to climate change.
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