Applications are now open for the 2025 wAtt-boost – Youth Power Start Up in Africa program . The RES4Africa Foundation (R4A) and Strathmore University, Enel Foundation is launching the Open Call for the inaugural edition of wAtt-boost – Youth Power Start Up in Africa. This initiative includes both pre-acceleration and acceleration programs tailored for startups and entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector in Africa.
wAtt-boost aims to nurture and expand renewable energy-focused businesses within Africa’s startup ecosystem. The program supports both emerging and established entrepreneurs in the African renewable energy sector, helping them develop and grow their enterprises.
Within the wAtt-boost initiative selected startups/entrepreneurs will be invited to join the pre-accelerator and accelerator programs.
The Pre-Accelerator program is meant for aspiring entrepreneurs and startups in the early stages of developing a business idea, aiming to craft and validate their business plan, create a minimum viable product (MVP), and establish functional market access.
The Accelerator program is meant for entrepreneurs and startups seeking market validation and business expansion, aiming to develop a bankable product, finalise a robust team, build an expansive business network, and solidify a recurring clientele.
The Training for the selected Participants will cover both technical and business aspects of boosting a startup in the renewable energy and power sector, offering a comprehensive package of services such as Training, Mentoring & Coaching, Networking & Visibility, Fundraising, and more (all activities and services will be conducted in English).
The Training is composed of two modules:
1. specific lectures from the NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator, a program owned and carried out by IRENA with the support of EF, scheduled between June and July 2025;
2. an ad-hoc training module run by RES4Africa addressing the peculiarities of the evolving African electricity markets.
A maximum of two members from the selected startup’s team (if any) may participate in the training.
Monetary Prize:
As a key component of the wAtt-boost program, participants will have the possibility to compete for two awards of 10.000,00 euros each. One award will be conferred upon the winner of the pre-accelerator programme, while the other will be bestowed upon the winner of the accelerator programme. This dedicated fund is designed to provide crucial financial support to the most promising entrepreneurs and startups that demonstrate significant potential and growth prospects by the conclusion of the program.
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
-Entrepreneurs must be between 18 and 35 years old
-The solution should address the African market
-Ownership: either the entrepreneur must possess African citizenship or the startup must be registered in Africa
The startup must be registered for at least 1 year and operate in the renewable energy and electrification realm (among the others, potential domains may include, but are not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), grids and infrastructure, climate adaptation and mitigation, clean cooking, electric mobility, agrivoltaics)
-The entrepreneur must have proficiency in English, demonstrated by either being a native speaker, holding a CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), or having a degree completely taught in English
