Digital Energy Challenge: Start-ups Call for Projects
Are you a Start-up looking to scale up your digital innovation project in the energy sector in Africa?
The 2025 Digital Energy Challenge for Start-ups will reward 3 to 4 start-ups that are developing digital innovative projects aimed at accelerating access to energy, boosting the energy transition and improving the operational efficiency of players in the energy access and grid services in Africa.
Key Dates:
- 10th March 2025: Launch of the Call for Projects
- 1st April 2025: Information webinars (English and French)
- 16th May 2025 – 23h59 CET: Deadline for submission of applications
- Autumn 2025: Notification of award winners and bootcamp
The three themes for the 2025 call for projects are:
- Universal electricity access and mini-grids
- Efficient grid management
- Resilience and decarbonation of power systems
Benefits for Challenge winners
Each winning Start-up will benefit from:
- Financial support of up to €150K including: Grant funding to contribute to costs for equipment, software, training and recruitment; Technical assistance (awarded on a case-by-case basis), which could include project management support, strategic and technical expertise, and accounting/reporting assistance.
- A joint boot camp run by cross-sectorial experts, to support project implementation, provide sectorial insights, foster synergies between project winners, and encourage best-practice sharing,
- Widespread communication campaigns piloted by AFD during the selection phase, award ceremony, bootcamp, and for a period of time after these events.
To learn more and apply, click here.
