Kinjani’s Four Key Areas for Climate Innovation
Building Africa’s Climate Future: Join Kinjani’s (Ad)venture Builder Programme
At Kinjani, we are on a mission to back Africa’s climate talent and tackle the continent’s biggest environmental challenges. Our (Ad)venture Builder programme is calling for innovators and founders working on solutions in biochar, carbon mineralisation, enhanced rock weathering, low carbon and bio-based materials, regenerative agriculture and soil rehabilitation, and other regenerative solutions that work with nature to address societal and environmental issues.
Why Regenerative Solutions?
Regenerative solutions are about more than sustainability. These solutions actively rebuild and enhance ecosystems while creating new economic opportunities. By tackling challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity, they turn problems into possibilities.
For Sub-Saharan Africa, regenerative solutions offer a unique opportunity to align economic growth with ecological restoration. For a deeper dive into what we mean by “regenerative solutions,” click here.
How Kinjani's key focus areas (Food Systems, Urbanisation, Critical Minerals, and Materials) intertwine with regenerative solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Our focus is on industries that have the greatest potential for positive impact: Food Systems, Urbanisation, Materials, and Critical Minerals.
These industries have historically been underfunded within the climate space (unlike, for example, energy and mobility), and yet continue to contribute heavily to several climate concerns within carbon removal, circularity, and climate resilience.
To build scalable, science-first ventures in these key industries, this program brings together startups and entrepreneurs with technical expertise or commercial / operational experience within Sub-Saharan Africa. We’re not afraid to get our hands dirty to keep our continent clean.
Who Are We Looking For?
If your work aligns with one of these focus areas, we want to support you in building a scalable business that creates real, measurable impact.
Our 4 Priority Areas
1. Food Systems: Productivity, restoration & futureproofing
With 60% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population relying on smallholder farming, regenerative practices are critical to increasing productivity and restoring soils.
We’re looking for solutions like:
Biochar: Using woody biomass and invasive plant species to create a carbon-sequestering material that restores soils and improves crop productivity.
Enhanced Rock Weathering: Applying crushed silicate rocks to soils to sequester carbon, improve fertility, and restore degraded land.
Fungi / microbes: Restoring degraded lands using practices that boost biodiversity and resilience, such as agroforestry or fungi-based soil treatments.
Agroforestry and biodiversity-focused farming innovations that futureproof food systems.
2. Urbanisation: Resilience & infrastructure
As Africa’s urban population booms, we have the chance to create resilient infrastructure that supports both people and ecosystems.
Innovators in areas like these are key:
Bio-based construction materials, such as hempcrete and timber, to replace high-carbon options.
Green infrastructure projects that integrate vegetation and rehabilitate urban soils.
Modular building designs that minimise waste and enhance climate resilience.
3. Materials: Low carbon manufacturing, construction, concrete
Africa’s manufacturing and construction sectors must decarbonise to meet future demand without harming the planet.
We’re seeking innovations in:
Low carbon concrete & steel: developing low carbon alternatives and supply chain optimisation to reduce heavy emitting construction materials.
Bio-based Materials: Developing low-carbon alternatives like hempcrete, biochar-infused concrete, or plant-derived textiles.
Circular models that turn waste into resources, such as crop residues transformed into textiles or building materials.
4. Critical Minerals: Circularity, biodiversity, mineralisation
Africa’s critical minerals are essential to global renewable energy solutions, but mining must evolve to minimise ecological damage. By driving innovations that help us restore our planet whilst accessing critical minerals for getting to net zero, such as drop-in biodiversity solutions (e.g. plants that extract minerals and restore soils, such as hemp) as well as driving circularity in these ecosystems, (e.g. using mine waste as a construction material).
High-impact opportunities include:
Land rehabilitation solutions like biochar and biodiversity restoration at mining sites.
Circular mining practices that use waste as resources for other industries.
Enhanced rock weathering at mines to capture carbon and revitalise surrounding ecosystems.
Carbon mineralisation: finding ways to sequester carbon dioxide into rocks, locking harmful greenhouse gases away, permanently.
Image source: https://thelandtrust.org.uk/space/northumberlandia/
Why Join Kinjani’s (Ad)venture Builder Programme?
This programme isn’t just about funding. It’s about building. We bring together the technical expertise, networks, and resources you need to scale your business. Whether you’re a technical founder, an operational expert, or a commercial innovator, we’ll help you refine your approach and amplify your impact.
What You’ll Gain:
Access to industry experts and mentors with deep knowledge in climate-tech and regenerative solutions.
Connections to like-minded entrepreneurs and partners across Africa.
Tailored support to help you scale your innovation and build a thriving, impactful business.
Access to monthly business and personal stipends, so you can focus on building.
Opportunities to pitch for follow-on funding to scale your business.
Apply Now
Are you working on biochar, enhanced rock weathering, bio-based materials, soil rehabilitation, or other regenerative solutions in Food Systems, Urbanisation, Materials, or Critical Minerals? This is your opportunity to take your work to the next level.
Join Kinjani’s (ad)Venture Builder programme and be part of the movement shaping Africa’s climate future. Together, we’ll create scalable, regenerative solutions that work with nature and unlock new opportunities for people and the planet.
Apply Now and let’s build the future, one bold solution at a time.