Editor’s note: African-Startups is a sister publication of EU-Startups, bringing trusted coverage of startups, venture capital, and innovation across Africa.
Oslo-based Katapult, the impact investor founded by Tharald Nustad in 2015, has named the 15 companies joining Cohort 3 of its Katapult Africa Climate Program.
The announcement comes as Africa is pressing for a shift from climate commitments to real action as it prepares for COP31 in Antalya and hosts COP32 in Addis Ababa in 2027.
Key issues like climate finance, adaptation, technology, and economic transformation are central to the continent’s climate agenda.
The Fourteenth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-14) took place in Addis Ababa from September 7 to 9.
It brought together African policymakers, climate negotiators, financial institutions, researchers, civil society, youth, women, and private-sector representatives to discuss how to translate commitments from the Paris Agreement into national laws, budgets, investments, and measurable outcomes.
Under the theme “From Pledges to Implementation: The Belém–Antalya–Addis Roadmap,” the conference aimed to enhance Africa’s role in global climate governance and to set priorities for its participation in COP31 and for preparing for an African-led COP32.
For the Katapult Africa Climate Programme, the cohort was picked from more than 1,500 startups screened and over 100 interviewed, and spans mobility, energy, agriculture, carbon removal, and food waste across nine African countries.
Katapult works across several pillars, each with its own team and set of partners, tackling different parts of the system it wants to change: capital, infrastructure, tools, talent, and community.
- These include Katapult Ocean, which invests in ocean-related technologies spanning transportation, circularity, ocean data, energy, and food and water
- The Katapult Impact Platform, which supports early-stage impact investing through sector research and AI-based tools.
- The Katapult Foundation, its non-profit arm, which incubates system-level initiatives and shares knowledge across the impact investing world
- The Katapult Future Fest, its annual event that brings together investors, founders, and others working in impact.
The Africa Climate Program sits within this wider structure. Here’s a closer look at each of the 15 startups in this cohort.
Tayar Inc.
HQ: Cairo
Founded year: 2023
Tayar is an Egyptian startup focused on providing an integrated Electric Fleet-as-a-Service platform for last-mile delivery. The service allows riders to access electric vehicles, battery replacement, maintenance, and support without the costs of vehicle ownership. This approach reduces per-kilometre spending and operating stress for riders. For delivery companies, Tayar offers ready-to-use electric fleets, along with the necessary charging and operational support, enabling them to grow without the complexities of owning a fleet. This model lowers fuel and maintenance costs, reduces downtime, and increases overall efficiency.
Taka Earth
HQ: Nairobi
Founding year: 2022
Taka Earth is a waste-management startup and has developed IoT-connected smart bins that provide users with instant cash rewards for recycling their waste. The startup’s services focus on creating a system to capture, process, and recycle post-consumer packaging waste, providing insights into sustainability. The startup deploys smart bins at waste generation points to encourage responsible disposal of packaging materials. By rewarding consumers for recycling, the platform aims to promote active participation in waste management. The system also collects data on waste patterns and recycling trends, providing useful information to stakeholders for making informed decisions on sustainability.
Tavas Technologies Inc
HQ: South Africa
Founded year: 2024
Tavas is a South African clean energy startup focused on an AI-driven energy management system for microgrids. The company is developing an Operating System for the Decentralised Grid, enabling faster deployment of energy projects for developers and EPCs.
The company provides commercial and industrial facilities with reliable energy independence, smart operational support, and minimal downtime. By optimising energy distribution, the South African company delivers cheaper power and strengthens resilience against grid instability, paving the way for a localised energy future.
Mytochondria
HQ: Zambia
Founded year: 2023
Mytochondria is a Zambian precision agriculture startup that utilises satellite remote sensing and AI to provide smallholder farmers with real-time soil guidance. The company focuses on regenerative agriculture by combining Earth Observation, agronomy, and precision agriculture to help farmers and institutions make informed decisions about their land. They transform satellite data into practical insights on soil health, water stress, nutrient levels, and crop performance.
This helps farmers enhance yields, minimise waste, conserve water, and restore degraded soils without the need for expensive on-farm equipment. Mytochondria collaborates with small and medium-scale farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and public programs to make regenerative farming more affordable and actionable.
NanoPula
HQ: South Africa
Founded year: 2024
A South African deep-tech startup using a hemp biomass nano-gel to recover minerals from mine tailings. The recovered minerals are then used for ocean alkalinity enhancement, creating dual revenue from mineral recovery and carbon credits.
Chargebyte Limited
HQ: South Africa
Founded year: 2023
ChargeByte is a clean energy startup that provides modular solar-hybrid charging and Wi-Fi stations. These stations are installed in schools, hospitals, markets, and transportation hubs to offer reliable energy, device charging, and connectivity in areas with unstable power supply.
By utilising a solar-first approach, ChargeByte’s infrastructure is tailored to African conditions and managed locally for easier maintenance and faster service. The stations also function as community access points, supporting digital learning for students, enabling healthcare workers to stay connected, and assisting small businesses with payment and communication tools.
JTP Auto LTD
HQ: Tanzania
Founded year: 2025
JTP Auto is a Tanzanian startup focused on electric vehicle (EV) mobility, offering lease-to-own financing options for women and youth. By removing barriers related to collateral and credit history, the company aims to make electric vehicles accessible while developing the necessary infrastructure to support Africa’s transition to clean transportation. Utilising smart driver screening and earnings-based financing, JTP Auto demonstrates that inclusive asset finance and electric mobility can work together effectively.
HENDDU
Founded year: 2025
Henddu is an environmental intelligence startup focused on helping African governments and industries monitor and manage air pollution. The company develops advanced systems that utilise satellite data, IoT sensor networks, and AI analytics to provide real-time information on air quality and climate risks. The company addresses the lack of reliable and actionable environmental data in Africa, where pollution levels are often high. The company aims to transform this data into practical insights, enabling better environmental management and public health protection across the continent.
Zen Carbon
HQ: Kenya
Founded year: 2025
Zen Carbon is a Kenyan carbon-tech startup that captures CO₂ and injects it directly into concrete, strengthening the material while permanently mineralising the carbon. The company transforms captured CO₂ into stable mineral storage, ensuring longevity of over 1,000 years. By doing so, Zen Carbon reduces cement consumption and produces lower-carbon construction materials. The captured CO₂ reacts with cement to form calcium carbonate, effectively locking carbon into buildings, pavers, and infrastructure that contribute to modern urban landscapes.
Croptimus
HQ: Egypt
Founded year: 2021
An Egyptian carbon-tech startup transforms agricultural waste into biochar, activated carbon, and wood vinegar using patented pyrolysis technology. They create customised biochar that improves soil health, boosts crop yields by over 20%, and helps sequester carbon. The company focuses on providing tailored circular soil amendments to enhance climate resilience and food security through decentralised production and strategic partnerships.
Pyrogen
HQ: Nairobi
Founded year: 2022
Pyrogen is a Kenyan climate-tech startup that produces carbon-negative concrete blocks infused with biochar. Their innovative building material permanently sequesters carbon while addressing the housing deficit in Kenya at competitive prices. They aim to remove millions of tons of carbon from Africa’s built environment through their proprietary technology.
By incorporating biochar into structural-grade concrete, they effectively lock away CO₂ for centuries, generating verifiable carbon removal credits. The company operates on a vertically integrated model, developing biochar-based carbon removal projects and manufacturing climate-positive concrete products to meet Africa’s growing infrastructure needs.
Lenol
HQ: Nigeria
Founded year: 2025
Lenol is a Nigerian clean-mobility startup that provides solar-powered e-bike swap stations for informal delivery riders in Lagos. The company operates as a climate-fintech firm, helping micro-entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa access clean energy and affordable financing for income-generating assets.
The Nigerian company finances electric motorcycles and offers battery-as-a-service solutions to replace costly petrol generators for riders and small businesses. By integrating asset financing with IoT technology and flexible payment options, Lenol helps small businesses increase their income, reduce energy costs, and adopt cleaner energy sources.
AgroConform
HQ: Morocco
AgroConform is a Moroccan AgTech startup that creates a verified field record system for smallholder farmers. It combines parametric insurance, blockchain compliance, and a digital passport for production. The platform helps farmers anticipate crop needs, maintain optimal growing conditions, and ensures verified traceability for sustainable and efficient harvests.
LimaBot AI
HQ: Tanzania
LimaBot AI is a Tanzanian agri-fintech startup that helps smallholder farmers by providing accessible, AI-driven agricultural support. The platform uses satellite imagery and advanced machine learning to diagnose crop diseases, recommend effective pesticides, analyse soil conditions, and offer real-time weather updates. Farmers can access LimaBot’s services through SMS, WhatsApp, and a mobile app, ensuring inclusivity even in rural areas with limited internet access.
FOODEALS
HQ: Morocco
Foodeals is a Moroccan B2B2C platform that connects food businesses with consumers, NGOs, and charities to resell or donate surplus food, thereby reducing waste. As a B Corp-certified startup, Foodeals focuses on addressing food waste in the MEA region. Their digital platform offers scalable solutions for various professionals in the food supply chain, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, hotels, bakeries, and restaurants.
Foodeals provides three main services:
- Foodeals DLC- A system to track expiry dates in real-time and optimise shelf management.
- Foodeals Market- A marketplace to sell near-expiry or surplus products at discounted prices.
- Foodeals Donate – A service that facilitates traceable donations to local NGOs and food banks.
